You are invited to participate in a Grantmaking & Participatory Practices Study.

This project is for organizations and funders who serve the Nebraska youth and family system of care.

Please forward to your staff and colleagues to help more voices be heard!

PROJECT PURPOSE What would it take for Nebraska’s youth and family system of care to become more inclusive? How can grantmaking enhance participation?

We are eager to learn more about experiences with grantmaking, participatory practices and relationships between funders, grantees and communities.
PROJECT SPONSORS This project is funded by the Snow-Redfern Foundation in partnership with the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands.

First…

Take the Survey to share your wisdom

 CLICK HERE or use the QR code to enter the survey

•        About 10-12 minutes to complete

•        All data collected is confidential

•        Register to win one of eight $50 gift cards
Then…

Attend the Workshop to share learnings

 CLICK HERE to register to attend one of two (virtual) date options:

  • Tuesday May 7th at 2:00-3:30pm Central
  • Thursday May 9th at 10:00-11:30am Central
  • You can register within the survey also

The survey closes March 29th, 2024.

Please contact project principle Dr. Maya Chilese at [email protected] with any questions.

Another cohort of the Snow-Redfern Foundation Root2Rise program has concluded, and four brilliant young ladies successfully completed the workshop series and earned a $2,000 scholarship that will be used to promote their future career goals established during the program.

The participants of this fall cohort included Kaylee Henthorn of Alliance, Grace Dean of Bridgeport, Regan Anderson of Lakeside, and Mandie Ylander of Alliance.  They attended 6 virtual workshops and completed their own growth map, outlining plans for their future, which aligned with scholarship funds each received.

Snow-Redfern Foundation’s founder, Arvilla, was a strong, independent, female leader who believed that there is great worth in every young person; and as such, each one is a community asset with vast potential for self-defined success.  We celebrate her through this program.

This program is a priority experience for young women interested in growing their leadership potential through exposure to important topics affecting women in leadership roles today. The virtual six-workshop series creates space
for 16-19 year old female-presenting participants to engage in valuable group discussions with other professional women.

The workshop is facilitated by Dr. Maya Chilese, an organizational anthropologist and the founding principal of Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC. Dr. Chiles.  She has over 20 years’ experience in health and human service systems of care at the local, regional, state and national level and uses her gifts and talents to guide the R2R participants through a unique experience, with learning opportunities provided by various guest speakers, all of whom are strong women leaders in their fields of practice.

December 2023, Alliance, NE –The Snow-Redfern Foundation nominated three new board members

 The Snow-Redfern Foundation (SRF), which provides funding support to youth-serving system of care partners across Nebraska, has announced its 2024 board of Directors.  The SRF Board of Directors provides leadership and strategic direction to guide the foundation’s mission to empower youth, inspire change makers, and energize partnerships for impact.

Nominated to the SRF Board of Directors to serve their first term include Jordan Diedrich with Twin Cities Development in Scottsbluff/Gering, Stephanie Vadnais with Nebraska Children and Families Foundation in Lincoln, and Brett Omar with Seasons of Hope Counseling in Alliance.

“Our board members play a vital role in elevating the voices of the communities in which they live, work, and raise families, while supporting the vision to ensure Nebraska youth thrive within inclusive communities and participatory systems of care.  By adding innovative board members from across the state, we have created an environment of shared learning and growth that contributes to the diversity of our work for and with youth”, said SRF Executive Director, Sara Wilcox.  “I would also like to extend gratitude to our departing board members, Brooke Shelmadine with Box Butte General Hospital and Shelmadine Print Shop in Alliance, Nathan Jaggers, a practicing attorney in Alliance, and Jenny Lanik with Alliance Public School in Alliance”.

The SRF Executive Committee nominated for 2024 includes:

  • President: Mara Andersen, Fox Creek Fundraising
  • Vice President/Past President: Denis Harris, Parker Hannifin
  • Secretary: Sean Ridgeway, First National Bank of Omaha
  • Treasurer: Dustin Chester, Nebraska Bank

Returning board members include:  Leslie Shaver, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Tom Elliot, Elliott & Son, Inc., Alliance; Teresa Sanders, Diamond T Livestock Services, Alliance; Andrew Hunzeker, EducationQuest, Scottsbluff; Rob Eirich, UNL Extension, Scottsbluff; Karla Bennetts, Families CARE, Kearney; Rosey Higgs, Nonprofit Association of the Midlands, Omaha; and Megan Walter, Omaha Public Power, Omaha.

A few years ago, a leader from a local business within the trades industry reached out to me and asked for guidance on how to recruit and retain local young people interested in a future career in the trades.  Though I wish I had an immediate solution, I did not…. however, I am fortunate to know many brilliant individuals who might!

The search for ideas and solutions eventually led us to the most obvious of all notions- ask the young people that will be our future workforce! Though potentially oversimplified, it was obvious and spoke from the heart of our rural community mindset.

This year, the voices of nearly 4,000 students across the 23 panhandle school districts allowed us to begin a course of action that was aimed at creating career pathways with AND for youth in the panhandle.  By leveraging youth voice and the collective wisdom and collaboration of many esteemed leaders within a diverse array of organizations, institutions, and businesses, Career Connections of Western Nebraska was born.

Once the direction and focus were clear, the need for a backbone entity was paramount to continue to drive the work that this group had in mind.  A local economic development hub,

Twin Cities Development, stepped up to the plate as fiscal agent, coordinator, and backbone entity for what the group name Career Connections of Western Nebraska.

As a Private Foundation, we do not always have the opportunity to be directly involved with the fruits of shared labor, but in this scenario, we were able to act as a partner within this collaborative and participatory model, through both funding support and actual involvement in the development and implementation.

2023 has gone very quicky for this team, with numerous successes to report as we move into a new and exciting year, including the proud announcement of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming career exploration for high school students. With a mission to address challenges in workforce recruitment and retention faced by local companies, Career Connections, in collaboration with 23 school districts across 11 counties in the Nebraska Panhandle, conducted a comprehensive Teen Opportunity Survey.

Over the course of the survey, which engaged nearly 4,000 6th through 12th graders, students provided insights into their post-graduation plans, career interests, community involvement, and more. Key findings indicate a shift in aspirations, with 65% of students planning to attend college, down from 75% five years ago, and 13% intending to enter the workforce directly after high school. Notably, 49% envision themselves living in western Nebraska in the future, reflecting a commitment to the local community.

To translate these findings into actionable initiatives, the Career Connections team developed the innovative Career Cabs program. This initiative involved business tours tailored for 10th-grade students, exposing them to diverse career industries. In November, over 650 students from three Panhandle regions explored seven different career sectors across more than 50 Western Nebraska businesses. Industries covered included agriculture, food and natural resources, business management, education, criminal justice, health science, human services, and trades.

2024 promises great things for this work in the panhandle, and we are very proud to have been asked that first tough question, as it has led us to this beautiful collaboration.

Interested in reading the Youth Opportunity Survey results?

https://online.flippingbook.com/view/662942669/

Congratulations to the Selected Root2Rise Participants!

We proudly announce the third cohort of the Snow-Redfern Foundation Root2Rise workshop series and the seven incredible young women that have been selected to participate!

The 2023 cohort will include: Shelby Hardin of Morrill, Kaylee Henthorn of Alliance, Rebecca Shy of OshKosh, Grace Dean of Bridgeport, Mandie Ylander of Alliance, Kyndall Sprague of Henry, and Regan Anderson of Lakeside!

About the Leadership Series

A small cohort of seven high school seniors will engage in valuable group discussions with professional women in Trades, Ag and STEM fields this fall and winter.  The virtual six-workshop series creates space for young women interested in growing their leadership potential through exposure to important topics affecting women in leadership roles today.

As a function of the workshop series, the participants will work together and with the facilitator to create a Growth Map, which will assist them in planning for personal leadership growth.  Upon conclusion of the workshop series, the participants will be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship based upon their identified strategies documented within their Growth Map.

This workshop series was created to help our future leaders develop skills, make connections, discover their potential, grow their future, and provide scholarship support.

Snow-Redfern Foundation’s founder, Arvilla, was a strong, independent, female leader who believed that there is great worth in every young person, and as such, each one is a community asset with vast potential for self-defined success.  We celebrate Arvilla through this workshop series, hopeful that each participant finds value in her individualized growth potential!

The Root2Rise facilitator is Dr. Maya Chilese, an organizational anthropologist and the founding principal of

Blue Agate Collaborative, LLC. Dr. Chilese has over 20 years’ experience in health and human service systems at the local, regional, state and national level. She’s a formally credentialed mental health and addiction practitioner, provided prevention and therapeutic services, facilitated professional development, led complex system transformations, and administered a multitude of behavioral health and public health programs and system initiatives. She is also a gifted facilitator, a brilliant leader, and the perfect person to share in the excitement of girl power.

Estate planning isn’t just for the rich and famous. For example, you may have family heirlooms (such as jewelry or artwork) or real property that has sentimental value to certain family members. Wills and trusts can help ensure that your estate is divvied up fairly after your passing. But you won’t be around to explain or interpret your estate plan when it’s triggered. So, your will and other estate planning documents should be as clear as possible to help ensure your intentions are honored.

Here are some strategies to consider when drafting or revising your estate plan that can help minimize future disputes over your estate.

Treat Heirs Equitably

If your heirs contest your will or trust, it may be tossed out of court. That means your estate will be distributed per the laws of “intestate succession” — as if there’s no will or trust in place. However, if your will or trust follows the applicable laws closely, there’s less likelihood your heirs could successfully contest it.

For example, a will that calls for shares of an estate to be split equally between the decedent’s children, including any stepchildren, seems fair and aligns with applicable laws. Therefore, it’s unlikely that an heir could contest this will.

But this strategy may not be fair or equitable in all situations. For instance, suppose you have a son from your current marriage who’s a college student and a daughter from a previous marriage who’s financially independent. Your son needs more financial assistance, so he might not think it’s fair to divide your estate equally between the siblings who are at different stages of life.

Explain Your Plan

Warren Buffet once described his philosophy for leaving the correct amount to children as, “Enough money so that they … feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.”

Whatever your rationale is for dividing the estate, to avoid disputes or disappointment, it’s a good idea to describe your thinking to your family while you’re still alive. For example, if you leave a child out of your will because he or she is financially independent, the individual might contest the will, arguing that the omission was an oversight. However, your intentions will be clear if you explicitly describe them.

The caveat is that you should be careful about the reasons for disinheriting an individual. If you argue that you’re taking this step because he or she is “financially independent,” the definition of the term can be a reason to litigate.

Thwart Challenges to Your Mental Capacity

When wills are contested, the suits often claim undue influence or lack of testamentary capacity. Typically, states have an age requirement, usually 18 years old, and a mental capacity requirement.

To demonstrate you’re “of sound mind and body” in a legal context, you generally must know:

  • The nature/extent of property,
  • The natural objects of your property,
  • The disposition that your will makes, and
  • How to connect these elements to form a coherent estate plan.

Three common ways to avoid challenges to your testamentary capacity include:

  1.  Acquiring a written evaluation by a physician or psychiatrist,
  2. Selecting witnesses who can attest to your mental capacity and are likely to out-live you, and
  3. Possibly recording your will.

With the third option, be aware that if you appear nervous or hesitant in front of the camera, the court could perceive it as a sign of confusion or duress. Consult with your attorney about this action.

Hire a Professional Executor

Traditionally, the executor of an estate is a trusted child, friend, trustee or personal representative. However, this may open the door to abuse-of-power claims.

To decrease the likelihood of these arguments, consider using an independent, paid professional. Typically, people select their family attorney, CPA or financial advisor, but you can also use an institutional fiduciary, such as a bank or trust company.

For More Information

These are just a few examples of the numerous strategies you can deploy to guard your estate plan against misunderstanding and possible litigation. Your estate planning attorney will help design an estate plan that meets your goals while reducing the risk of litigation.

Property valuationsWhat If You Own a Family Business?

If you own a family business, you may be considering leaving it to children (or other loved ones) who are active in its day-to-day operations. But your will might not be the optimal tool for transferring private business interests. Instead, you might consider selling the business to heirs who are actively involved while you’re still alive. This can help eliminate the risk of another heir contesting your will, which could leave your business in limbo.

In general, disgruntled heirs will have a more difficult time challenging a lifetime sales contract than a bequest in your will. Your financial and legal advisors can help you with options for a lifetime sale, including installment sales and sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts. These plans can spread the payments over numerous years while minimizing the tax impact.

Learn more from our accounting partners at HBE, at: https://hbecpa.com/ways-to-secure-your-estate-plan/

Graduation is just around the corner, and with the preparations for closure of the high school days also comes planning for all the great things that will happen AFTER the big day!  A big part of planning efforts includes determining if college is on the horizon, and, if so, mechanisms for paying for it.

Fortunately, if seniors take the time to scour the web and partner with their parents, school counselors, or others that can guide them, they will find that there are actually many options available to assist with funding a college education.

Our scholarship programs are among those available this year!  Thanks to two very generous and caring donors, Snow-Redfern Foundation will be selecting and awarding eligible seniors with scholarship funds this spring.

Students interested in applying can do so by reaching out to their school guidance counselors for more information and for the link to complete the application.  All applications are due no later than March 31, 2023.  Below are the two scholarship programs offered in the spring:

K.M. Dahlstedt Scholarship

The family of KM Dahlstedt has established an annual memorial scholarship fund to provide support to high school students who are pursuing a degree in vocational training education. This one-year award can be used for education-related expenses if the candidate meets the established criteria. Up to five (5) scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000.00 in the 2023-2024 school years.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the M Dahlstedt Memorial Scholarship, students must meet the following requirements at the time of application:

  • Currently enrolled high school student who will graduate in the current year
  • Citizen of the United States
  • Resident of Box Butte County in Nebraska
  • Accepted to an accredited technical college as a full-time degree seeking student

Edward M. and Eda S. Hempel Family Scholarship

Through the generosity of the Edward M. and Eda S. Hempel and family, this scholarship fund integrates the vision and beliefs once taught to young people at the Nebraska Boys Ranch. Though NBR is no longer in existence, the Snow-Redfern Foundation manages Arvilla Snow-Redfern’s estate through grants and scholarships to youth. Mr. and Ms. Hempel were integral in sustaining the Boys Ranch over the years and were generous contributors. Mr. Hempel was a long-time board member and he and his family gave generously of themselves through service and contributions so that the lives of kids might be better.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Hempel scholarship, students must meet the following requirements at the time of application:

  • Citizen/ permanent resident of Nebraska
  • Motivated to successfully complete a college degree
  • Planning to attend a Nebraska college within the next year
  • Enrolled at a high school within Box Butte or Morrill County
  • Nominated by a school designee (such as school counselor)
  • Preference is given to applicants that have a FAFSA EFC between $7,000 and $12,00

CARE in Central Nebraska

On any given day in Central Nebraska, you can find one of the dedicated employees of Families CARE supporting and advocating for parents, youth, and children.  With funding support from Snow-Redfern Foundation and other vital sources, this non-profit family organization provides services to parents who have children with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.

Parent Voice

Among the many services and supports they provide, teaching parents that they (as parents) are the most important voice in their children’s lives is the most important. Advocacy and support are provided by peers; parents who have lived experience to share with other parents, and includes helping them identify their strengths, needs, and goals, developing strategies to meet their goals, sharing resources and service referrals, supporting them at school meetings, team meetings, or court, providing support groups for parents and youth/children, offering special events, and providing the partially Snow-Redfern Foundation funded Wellness Café.

Wellness Café Support groups are offered to youth in two age groups:  Middle School (5th-8th grade) and Young Adult (9th grade – college).  Meetings consist of time to connect and eat together, activity and hands on learning, sharing and success stories for growth.

Opportunity for Connection

Executive Director, Karla Bennetts, said “this model provides youth an opportunity to build connection and add informal supports through their peers”.

All activities provide youth with a new skill or tool they can utilize in their journey to live a life of wellness.  The discussions provide youth an opportunity to learn, connect and share.  Youth learn from one another and gain support as they share their stories of challenges and successes.

Youth Voice

“Youth voice is prioritized with youth establishing comfort rules for their groups and what they wanted to learn about, discuss and do at future meetings”, said Karla.

To learn more about Families CARE and the work they do to support parents, youth, and children, check them out at: What We Do – FamiliesCare.org Parent AssistanceFamiliesCare.org Parent Assistance

                  

There’s Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, even Children’s Day in some countries around the world. But what about a Family Day — a day where we can celebrate and appreciate all members of the family in one wonderful day?

Well, there is a day for that, too, and it’s called International Day of Families. It’s held May 15th every year, and is a great way to celebrate our own families and families around the world. Happy International Day of Families.

What Is International Day Of Families?

International Day of Families, or International Family Day, is a global observance that’s celebrated each year on May 15th. While it’s not a public holiday, the day celebrates the importance of families, people, society, and cultures around the world. Its aim is to raise awareness of issues relating to families across the globe, while giving attention to the fact that families are the basic unit of a society.

On this day, we must recognize that some families are facing hardships, while also being grateful for our own families. This day can be what you make of it. It’s a day to celebrate your family and acknowledge what your family means to you.

Some things we can see on or leading up to International Day of Families each year are awareness-raising events, broadcasts, media reports, and national family days.

For example, many families play a role in their children’s education, even as they get older.  Snow-Redfern Foundation is here to celebrate you and your family as you work towards your degree and a rewarding career.

Why International Day Of Families Is Important

International Day of Families is important for several reasons. Not only does it raise awareness about issues impacting families globally, it reminds us how crucial family is to society. Without family, many of us would not be where we are today.

Family raises us in our formative years until we become adults. While not every family is perfect and there are certainly people who do not have good relationships with their families, you can use this day to celebrate whomever it is in your life that you consider “family” — even if they may not be blood relatives.

 

Amy Gullion currently serves as our Executive Assistant, but she has been impacting youth through our foundation for 38 years! Over nearly 4 decades, Amy and her husband, Steve, have held various positions with the foundation and the Nebraska Boys Ranch and even raised their children at the Ranch for a period of time!

Amy generously shared a bit about her history with Snow-Redfern Foundation and the impact it has had on her.  Anyone that has had the opportunity to meet Amy has felt her warmth and compassion, and it is no wonder that she has impacted so many kids over the years.  She expresses, however, that it was working at the Ranch that changed her perspective on life, stating, “You don’t have to look very far to see someone worse off than you.  Reaching out to those in need gives them hope!”

Let’s hear from Amy on some of her experiences at Nebraska Boys Ranch!

How did you and Steve find yourselves working at the Ranch?  What year was it?  

Steve had applied for the Recreation Director position,  but they had hired someone else.  There was a houseparent job, so we accepted that position as a “couple” in 1984.   When we had our interview at the Ranch, we fell in love with the area and were drawn to wanting to help the boys that we met.   We had a 3 year old son and 3 month old daughter when we moved from Lincoln to the Ranch.  At that time, housing was provided for us connected to the housing for 8 teenage boys. 

What were your general duties as house parents?  

When we were hired, there were no night staff, so our duties were 24/7 with 8 teenage boys – doing just what you would do with your own kids…..getting them up, reminding them to brush their teeth, make their bed, put their laundry away, making sure they were on the bus on time for school or activities, work along side them on “work crews” (cleaning the house, etc)  As a house mother, I helped with the cooking when the full time cooks were off duty and supervised boys in the kitchen.

What was it like raising your own kids at the ranch?  How did it help make them better people?

It was both difficult and rewarding raising our own kids at the ranch.  We were only house parents for a couple of years out of our 25 years at the Ranch as Steve became the Recreation Director and late on the Campus Administrator.  I worked in the office at the Ranch and later at the Business office in Alliance.   When we lived away from the campus area, it was easier to separate our own kids and as they grew, they became involved in school activities and friends.  We still ate meals “family style” in the dining room with the boys.   It helped our kids become compassionate and caring adults.

What impact do you think you and the other house parents/staff have on the boys at the ranch that came to you with so many challenges?  

 I feel we, as staff/house parents, had a great impact on the boys that were at the ranch.  We set boundaries, created some structure for them, but had fun, too.  When first went to the Ranch, there were boys who had been there for 7 years, so it was their “home”.  As time went on, the boys did not stay at the ranch near that long and it was difficult to really make a difference.

Perhaps you can take a moment today to send Amy a message and tell her how wonderful she is!  It is the incredible humans, like Amy, that make our world a better place for kids!  Thank you for all you do and all you are, Amy!