Bells Rang Around Town!Ever wonder who rings bells for the Omaha Salvation Army? Every year, The Salvation Army sets up kettles, and bell ringers stand by the kettles ringing out the good news of hope. This year was no different. Here are a few of our outstanding bell ringers. For nearly 25 years, Joe Vlock has organized a day of bell ringing for his South Omaha Optimist Club. He has encouraged the participation of young people in south Omaha and goes to area schools and promotes bell ringing as a way students can meet their community service requirements. In addition to the south Omaha students, Joe has also gotten his office co-workers at New York Life Insurance Company involved. He says that volunteering is a wonderful family activity and sets a good example of giving back to the community.

Since the first year, the number of locations and number of bell ringers has grown. Joe and his dedicated group of bell ringers, including students from Bryan Middle School and Indian Hills Elementary, joined together on December 14 and rang from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at nine locations in the Omaha metro area.

On the coldest day of the year when temperatures were below zero in Omaha, members of the Omaha North Rotary rang bells at Walmart on 99th Street and Blair Road. It was a cold job, but their enthusiasm warmed the hearts of shoppers who gave to the kettle as they entered and exited the store.

The Kettle Klub Cabinet and Advisory Board members with their families volunteered at various times and locations throughout the city. Proving again, just as Joe Vlock said, that bell ringing is a wonderful family activity!

Joe Vlock, (far right) inspires students from Bryan Middle School to give back to the community.

Bobby, Henry and Avery enjoyed the spirit of ringing bells.

(l to r) Captain Pat O’Brien, Captain Scott Dippel, Battalion Chief Keith Main, and Interim Fire Chief Bernard Kanger helped launch the third annual Winter

Warm-Up Coat Drive for The Salvation Army.

The world-renowned Salvation Army Chicago Staff Band, led by Band Master Bill Himes, celebrates

The Salvation Army’s “125 Years Caring for Omaha.” The free public concert drew approximately 750 people

to Omaha’s Dundee Presbyterian Church.

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2013

the Tree of LightsChristmas

Chronicle

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The 2013 Tree of Lights Campaign: The Tradition of Giving Christmas in Omaha is a time of generous giving. Even when the economy is uncertain or the weather just doesn’t agree with us, the Omaha community comes together to help those in need. This year, the Omaha Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights Campaign under the leadership of Honorary Chairman Paul Hogan, founder of Home Instead Senior Care, Inc., raised funds for the 20 plus local services that the Omaha Salvation Army provides to help the less fortunate. Hogan and his leadership team of Honorary Vice-Chairmen, Wayne Smith and Joleen David of SKAR Advertising, actively participated in getting the message of The Salvation Army out to the community. Hogan stated, “The Salvation Army’s Tree of Lights Campaign is among the very most important outreach programs in Omaha. The more than 20 vital services this campaign funds truly help identify the culture of this community as one of caring and support for all.” David expressed similar sentiments, “I am committed to The Salvation Army because they are committed to transforming lives in the community I love. Their selfless service inspires me to support them, not just by giving dollars but also by giving time - and by giving voice to their mission. I am proud to help The Salvation Army do the most good in any way I can, and to encourage others to join me.”Throughout the campaign, the leadership team and the Kettle Klub Cabinet never wavered in their belief that The Salvation Army is a good steward of the community’s generosity. It is with gratitude that we applaud the 2013 Tree of Lights Honorary Chairman, Paul Hogan, and Honorary Vice-Chairmen, Wayne Smith and Joleen David, along with the Kettle Klub Cabinet.

2013 Tree of Lights Honorary Vice-Chairmen give a big smile during the campaign.

The band, Marcos and Sabor, energized a crowd of over 500 with their Latin rock performance.

(l-r) Omaha Salvation Army Advisory Board president, Nick Taylor, is joined at the Tree of Lights Kick-Off by Brite Ideas Decorating president, Travis Freeman;

Salvation Army Omaha City Commander, Major Paula Fleeman and Paul Hogan, Tree of Lights Honorary Chairman.

The Tree of Lights sparkled with a new 125th anniversary display thanks to Brite Ideas Decorating.

www.GiveSalvationArmy.org

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The Big Red Kettle On Parade The Omaha metro area was in for a big treat when the Big Red Kettle went on parade! The Salvation Army’s nine foot, 700 pound kettle delighted parade watchers at three parades. In August, the kettle appeared in Bellevue’s Arrows to Aerospace parade, then Omaha’s Salute To Labor in the SeptemberFest parade. The last parade appearance was on a cold day in November at the Veteran’s Day parade in Bellevue. Intertech donated the trailer that carried the kettle in the parades. Each time the Big Red Kettle appeared along the parade routes, the bystanders clapped and said, “Thank you, Salvation Army.”The kettle represents the support given by our community for the more than 20 Omaha Salvation Army programs. The Big Red Kettle in the Arrows to Aerospace parade.

A Big Red Kettle Event The second annual Bellevue, Neb. Big Red Kettle Event, hosted by Marathon Ventures, Inc., was a festive time for all who participated. No one left without visiting with Santa and Mrs. Claus and having a picture taken with them. The Bellevue East High Singers, Santa’s Elves, Chick-fil-A cows and The Salvation Army Brass Ensemble were present to entertain.A highlight of the festivities was Bellevue West Honor Guard’s posting of the colors, setting the stage for Jimmy Weber to sing the national anthem and “Silent Night.” Weber expressed gratitude for all that The Salvation Army does, and upon his suggestion, everyone was called to make a gift to the Big Red Kettle. The event ended with a special reminder that The Salvation Army provides hope to all in our community.

Omaha Salvation Army leadership had fun with Santa’s elves.

The Big Red Kettle was on display.

Red Kettle Run The Salvation Army’s fourth annual Red Kettle 5K Run/Walk was held Saturday, October 12. The first Red Kettle event of the season drew over 730 participants and over 35 thousand items of food to replenish Salvation Army food pantries in Omaha. Mark your calendars for the 2014 Red Kettle Run to be held Saturday, October 25 at Lake Zorinsky Park.

Red Kettle runners sprint past the finish line at the fourth annual Red Kettle Run, a benefit forThe Salvation Army food pantries.

A record 2,550 local families were adopted through the 14th annual Salvation Army and Star 104.5 Adopt-A-Family Radiothon.

More than 140 individuals volunteered at the event.

You may not realize how you’ve transformed lives.

(402) 898-5912 • www.SalArmyGiving.orgPlease consider a gift in your estate.

You may be unaware of the good you’ve done for the people around you. But you have changed lives for better through the simple act of giving to The Salvation Army.

It’s A Wonderful Life

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Preserving Your Heirlooms, Protecting Your LegacyChristmas in Omaha is a time of generous giving. Even when the economy is uncertain the American novelist, Eudora Welty, once said, “A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” Preserving those photographed moments for future generations was the subject of a recent seminar at the Kroc Center last November.Sponsored by The Salvation Army and Harrison Financial Services, “Preserving your heirlooms, Protecting your legacy” featured Sheila Siegler, an Omaha paper conservator, who discussed the best ways to carefully store and protect heirlooms like fragile photographs and artwork. One simple tip Siegler shared for keeping photographs in good condition is to handle them only while wearing clean, cotton gloves. This will prevent finger oils from damaging the cherished article. Securing items in a protected, stable space can prevent water and sun damage. Another suggestion is to store beloved items where you live day to day because you will be more likely to detect potential irritants before serious damage occurs.While you can see, touch and care for the tangible treasures you accumulate throughout life – like jewelry or real estate - they do not represent your legacy as a whole. Your true legacy will be defined by the values, the hope and the convictions you bestow upon the world. Your estate plan is a written record that conveys your property, responsibilities, values and beliefs in an orderly and thoughtful way to those you trust and wish to honor. The cornerstone of any estate plan is a will. Our complimentary Wills Planning Guide can help you move from uncertainty to the comfort of knowing you have a future plan. As you read the guide, you will see that a will is not about the things you own, but how you will use your resources to care for the people who mean the most to you. To receive your free Wills Planning Guide, please call Jan in our Planned Giving Department at 402-898-5912 or 800-274-0628 or e-mail wst_pg@usc.salvationarmy.org.

Omaha’s Third Annual Realtor Ring Day On Friday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 240 Realtors rang bells at red kettle locations across Omaha and Council Bluffs. Realtors in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota joined together to raise money for The Tree of Lights Campaign. Nebraska is one of 15 states to join the Realtors® Ring Day movement which debuted in 2010 and helped raise about $200,000. The Omaha and Southwest Iowa Realtors raised more than $21,660 for the Tree of Lights Campaign. The idea to hold Realtors® Ring Day came from a Realtor in Fargo, N.D., who wanted to give real estate professionals an opportunity to support a cause that is dear to them: housing. The Salvation Army offers transitional, permanent and scattered site housing programs in Omaha.

Realtors, Danise Wylie and Beverly Giardino enjoyed ringing the bell

for The Salvation Army.

The smiles of Jenny McCracken and Becky Kline brightened Realtor Ring Day

The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center Thrives In Its Third Year By the time you read this, we’ll have welcomed almost a quarter of a million visitors to the Kroc Center for the second consecutive year. This includes members, special events guests, churchgoers, children learning to swim, soccer leagues and, increasingly, people who want to know what’s happening in their community.Omaha’s neighborhood associations, including the one we host at the Kroc Center that represents south Omaha, recently joined with the UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service in a study of residents’ expectations for community centers. The top three things that people want their community center to provide are listed below, with just a few of the things the Kroc Center is already doing to meet these needs.

1. Communicating information to neighbors. Last fall, we hosted Mayor Stothert’s south Omaha Town Hall Meeting, a community input session as part of Heartland 2050, and information sessions about events that affect our primary service area, like the pending improvements to the Q Street bridge.

2. Improving the neighborhood. Each month the Kroc Center partners with another Omaha non-profit, either by providing space free of charge for a special event or working together on a specific need.

3. Identifying problems and developing solutions. Last March, we partnered with the Latino Center of the Midlands for the south Omaha launch of STEP-Up Omaha!, which helped area youth register for summer work, and then we employed four young people for the summer.

As we inform and serve, we’re providing crucial opportunities to our members and those who live near us to exercise personal responsibility and experience the community empowerment that comes from it. As a result, people at the Kroc Center are improving their own lives and engaging in building a better Omaha.

The Kroc Center’s spacious Joyce Mammel Hall is an ideal location for corporate events, community gatherings, meetings, and business receptions.

Toys Galore For Kids In Need The Salvation Army is grateful to Action 3 News and Fat Brain Toys for sponsoring the Action 3 News Toy Drive. The parents of nearly 4,700 less fortunate children registered for Toyland, the Army’s annual Christmas toy and gift distribution program. Thanks to the overwhelming success of the drive, which collected more than 400 gifts, Christmas was made possible for so many children right here in Omaha.

Journal Broadcast Group receptionist, Rosie, looks forward to the annual Toy Drive that brightens the lobby and her spirits!

Fat Brain Toys and Action 3 News teamed up to help The Salvation Army provide Christmas toys

for thousands of local children.

Meals Served! People Helped! Thanks Received! On Wednesday, November 27, 2013, 40 volunteers gathered at The Salvation Army North Corps to serve a full Thanksgiving meal to the community. Over 200 people filed through the doors of the North Corps to receive a hot turkey dinner. The tradition of the American Black Fire Fighters Association continued this year as they suited up in aprons and gloves to serve dinner to those less fortunate. The response from the community was gratefulness for the meal served.The holiday meal tradition continued with the annual ConAgra Christmas dinner on December 10. Each year ConAgra supplies food, chefs and volunteers to prepare a pot roast dinner for people in need throughout the Omaha community. The Omaha North Corps became one of many sites for this special holiday dinner, and this year 215 people enjoyed this wonderful meal. The Salvation Army is very grateful to the volunteers and the service of ConAgra.

More than 400 hungry people came to the Omaha North Corps to receive holiday meals served up by ConAgra and the

American Black Fire Fighters Association.

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The Salvation Army Thanks the owners, managers and employees of these

Tree of Lights red kettle sitesA B’s 66 Gas Station

American National BankBag’N Save

Baker’sBarry O’s

Bass Pro ShopBlimpie Restaurants

Bohemian CaféCabela’s

Center HardwareChick-fil-A

China BuffetChina Palace

Delice European BakeryDillon Brothers Harley Davidson

Fantasy’s Food & FuelFareway FoodsHobby Lobby

Husker Hounds

No Frills SupermarketsOmaha Hair ChoiceOmaha Trans Video

Orsi’s Bakery & PizzeriaPapa John’s Pizza

Pruitt Outdoor PowerRagazzi’s Pizza

Runza RestaurantsSam & Louie’s

Sam’s ClubSears

Security National BankSgt. Peffer’s Italian Café

ShopkoSubway

Super SaverWalmart

Westlake ACE HardwareWheatField’s Eatery & Bakery

Thank You!

HyVeeJCPenney

KmartLa Casa Pizzeria

Le Peep RestaurantMama’s PizzaMangelson’s

Nebraska Crossing Outlet mallNebraska Furniture Mart

Our special Thanks to the following for their support in helping us deliver the red kettles

• Atchley Ford • Baxter Ford • Beardmore Chevrolet • Gregg Young Chevrolet • Lexus of Omaha • Performance Chrysler • Performance Ford • Performance Toyota • Performance VW • Todd Archer Hundai

Spreading Holiday Cheer! For the second year in a row, the Omaha Conservatory of Music students at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center partnered with the Omaha Symphony for the Kroc Center’s Holiday Concert.Children from the Kroc Center, who have been learning how to play musical instruments free of charge through a partnership with the Omaha Conservatory of Music (OCM), were able to showcase their musical talent thanks to this great collaboration in the Joyce Mammel Assembly Hall at the Kroc Center. The concert was a mix of classical and holiday favorites conducted by the Omaha Symphony’s accomplished Hal France. The Kroc Center’s OCM students were also joined by a local youth choir composed of students from Highland Elementary, Phoenix Academy and Wilson Focus School under the direction of the talented Dr. Laureen Pickle. The choir beautifully joined in with song to make the evening’s performance even merrier. The Conservatory instructors started musical instruction a year ago in partnership with the Kroc Center, and members have been participating enthusiastically ever since. Each semester the program grows larger, and more and more families are impacted by this phenomenal partnership.

The ongoing partnership with the Kroc Center, Omaha Symphony and the

Omaha Conservatory of Music combined to produce a memorable holiday concert for an audience of over 650.

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TurkeyFestA record number of 1550 seniors received Thanksgiving meals this holiday season. Each year, volunteers continue to faithfully prepare and deliver complete Thanksgiving dinners from The Salvation Army Kroc Center to the homebound in our community. Thanksgiving morning there were 160 driving teams and nearly 100 additional volunteers working in the kitchen and behind the scenes. The Boy Scouts, Telephone Pioneers, Centris Federal Credit Union employees and many more Salvation Army staff and volunteers worked to make TurkeyFest a success!

Dedicated volunteers helped make TurkeyFest a record success.

Thank You!

Angel Tree 2013A Big Thank You to the Participating Businesses and Organizations listed below:

ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education)

Ackerman ElementaryAction 3 News/Fat Brain ToysAdvance AmericaAlegent HealthAmerican Interstate BancorpAndrea DriscollAnthony’s SteakhouseAureus Medical GroupBergan Mercy MAC Diagnostic Testing

OfficeCasslingClark Chiropractic ClinicCollege of St. MaryCommunity Covenant ChurchCornhusker International TruckingCracker BarrelCreighton School of LawCreighton School of NursingCVS Pharmacy

Dollar GeneralDollar StoreEgan SupplyExecu-SuitesFirst National Bank of Omaha

Corporate Audit ServicesFirst State BankFreddy’s Frozen Custard & SteakburgersG & G Manufacturing CompanyGirl Scout Troops: #42104 & #42485Golden LivingHarland Technology ServicesHewlett PackardHusker ExpressInflection JazzerciseJCPenneyKellogg Co.Leadership LinkLockton CompaniesLockwood Development

Lund CompanyMaplewood Lanes Millard West High SchoolMutual of Omaha Insurance CompanyNatural Life Chiropractic of OmahaNorthwest BankOakview MallOffutt AFB Weather AgencyOmaha North RotaryOmaha School of MassageOmaha Steel Castings CompanyOmaha SymphonyPayroll MaxxPhysician’s MutualProxibidRoto-RooterScooter’s CoffeeSelect Specialty HospitalSojernSpiritual Life Group (St. Cecilia’s)St. Joseph Villa

Staples Print SolutionsStreck, Inc.Sweet AdelinesThe DugoutThe Salvation Army Women’s AuxiliaryTJ MaxxTravel & TransportTSYS Merchant SolutionsUNO Cadre ProjectU.S. BankValentino’sVetter Health ServicesVillage Inn RestaurantsWalmartWarren DistributionWeber OrthodonticsWestern BowlWestroads MallWinner’s Edge ChurchWynne Transportation

Breakfast with Santa Was Enjoyed By All! More than 250 family members joined Santa Claus on December 14 at The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. The morning was filled with fun Christmas activities, caroling, a delicious breakfast and photos with Santa Claus. Major Todd Thielke shared the devotional Christmas message and the importance of families being together. This free event was made possible by generous donations from the community.

Santa Claus was the main attraction at the annual breakfast.

Thank you to our very special Tree of Lights partners:American National Bank • Andersen Electric • Brite Ideas Decorating • Duke Aerial

Hunt Transportation • Ironworkers Local 21 • Kiewit Building Group Inc. Moen Steel Erection • Omaha Police Department •Patriot Crane & Rigging • UNMC

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDThe Salvation Army

Inside This Issue:

Chicago Staff Band

Bells Rang Around Town

Winter Warm-Up Coat Drive

The Salvation Army The Tree of Lights TribuneWestern Division Headquarters Major Paul Fleeman, Divisional Commander10755 Burt Street Joanne Bemis, Development DirectorOmaha, Nebraska 68114-2065 Susan Eustice, Public Relations Directorwww.GiveSalvationArmy.org Hayley Henriksen, Public Relations Intern

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Mark Your Calendar2014 DJ’s Hero Awards Luncheon Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., will be the featured speaker at the DJ’s Hero Awards Luncheon on May 13, 2014. Carson is a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he has directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center for over a quarter of a century.

• Among his career highlights is the first and only successful separation of craniopagus (Siamese) twins joined at the back of the head in 1987.

• In 2001, Carson was named by CNN and TIME magazine as one of the nation’s 20 foremost physicians and scientists.

• In June 2008, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the president which is the highest civilian honor in the country.

• Carson is the president and co-founder of the Carson Scholars Fund which recognizes young people of all backgrounds for exceptional academic and humanitarian accomplishments.

The luncheon will take place at the CenturyLink Center Omaha and begin at 11:45 a.m. Reserve seats now by calling 402-898-5906.

Tom Becka, radio personality and host of the “Tom Becka Show” on the Mighty 1290 KOIL, is a veteran bellringer and, despite the cold weather,

pulled a two-hour shift at Shadow Lake Towne Center.

Bellevue Mayor Rita Sanders rings the bell at Shadow Lake Towne Center accompanied by singing elves!