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Omahans for Orphans

History

Dave Bandars, a local businessman, created Omahans for Orphans in the fall of 1999 after learning of the partnership between Artemivsk and Omaha, the large number of orphaned children living in Ukraine, and the need for assistance in caring for these children in Artemivsk. With assistance provided by the Omaha South Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Omaha North, Omahans for Orphans conducted its first fundraiser in November of 2000. A silent auction and dance, this initial event raised nearly $4,000! Utilizing the Matching Grant program coordinated by the Rotary Foundation, these funds were augmented by Rotary District 5650 and Rotary International. This fundraiser was initially an annual event, timed to include cultural performances by the students from Artemivsk visiting under the auspices of the Secondary School Partnership Program, and raised over $12,000!

Organization

Omahans for Orphans is in the process of registering as a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization in the State of Nebraska. It is a voluntary organization; all donations to Omahans for Orphans go directly to orphaned children in Ukraine.

Mission

To help the orphaned children of Ukraine.

Priorities

Raise and distribute funds to meet the immediate survival needs of Ukrainian orphans: food, clothing, medical supplies, shelter, etc.
Increase educational opportunities that will expand opportunities for Ukrainian orphans.
Implement economic development programs that build self-sufficiency for Ukrainian orphans.
Highlight the opportunity for international adoption in Ukraine.

Accomplishments

Purchased clothing, educational materials, and toys for orphans of Artemivsk (toddlers).
Purchased clothing, educational materials, and toys for orphans of Cherkassy.
Developed and implemented an English program for orphans of Artemivsk (school-age), with students from local high schools providing instruction and mentoring to the participating youth.

Wish List

Educational materials – English books, manipulatives, games, etc.
Educational supplies – Colors, paints, pens, construction paper, etc.
Clothing
Toys
Medical supplies
Computers and computer peripherals
Cash donations (make checks payable to, ‘Omahans for Orphans

How You Can Help

Become a pen pal to an orphan.
Collect items from the wish list and send it to Omahans for Orphans.
Adopt an orphan from Ukraine.
Attend the Omahans for Orphans annual fundraiser.
E-mail this website to your friends.
Create a scholarship to fund the postsecondary education of an orphan.
Donate money for a micro loan program to help orphaned entrepreneurs.
Check with your company to see if your donation to Omahans for Orphans can be matched.

Operation Ukraine

Omahans for Orphans is the proud partner of this new initiative to help the orphaned children of Artemivsk. Operation Ukraine, started in 2004, is a group of churches, non-profit organizations, and individuals working to improve the lives of children living in Artemivsk’s orphanages. The organization’s efforts are aimed at providing both material and moral support through:

Fundraisers and collection of needed items.
An active Pen Pal program with the children.
Ongoing shipments of medicines, blankets and other vital supplies.
A monthly Birthday Fairy shipment of essentials and birthday greetings for each child.

In the future, the organization also hopes to develop work-trips to help improve the physical conditions of the orphanages and an annual art show and auction of items created by the talented children of Artemivsk.

Currently, Operation Ukraine is selling holiday cards featuring artwork drawn by the orphans themselves. All of the proceeds will go toward the purchase of clothing, medicine, food and other essentials for the children. The holiday card fundraiser fell into place when a local printer offered to print 10,000 cards to sell and a paper supply company donated 10,000 envelopes.

Groups involved in the Holiday Card fundraiser include St. John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington, who has spearheaded Operation Ukraine; Wright Printing/Specialty Finishing, who will print the cards; Field Paper, who donated the envelopes; OnPoint Communications and Ervin & Smith Advertising, who designed and wrote the cards using the children’s art; Omahans for Orphans, who helped Operation Ukraine establish connections with the orphanage in Ukraine and will transport the funds raised in December; the Applied Information Management Institute, who signed on early and purchased their corporate holiday cards from the project, and a variety of other groups and businesses who agreed to sell the cards, including the Omaha Yoga School, Garden Flowers and the North Omaha Rotary Club.

The cards will be sold in packs of 10 for $5 and include one of each of the winning designs. They will be available Nov 24. The Operation Ukraine website, www.operation-ukraine.org, will go live Nov. 22, and will include images of all the cards and information on the child artists who participated. The site will also offer information on the orphan crisis in Ukraine and various ways people in Omaha can help.