The Nebraska Blue Foundation recently awarded a $5,000 grant to The Dreamweaver Foundation, a nonprofit organization that operates three programs aimed at enriching the lives of Nebraska seniors.
Through the organization’s Merrymakers program, grant funding will bring live, monthly professional music performances to senior living communities in Beemer, Wisner and West Point.
“The support from the Nebraska Blue Foundation will help us continue making an impact in these areas,” said Jan Moore, CEO of The Dreamweaver Foundation. “Rural communities are often overlooked and may not have the resources to bring in live entertainment. This grant allows us to reach those areas and support their residents.”
The performances, offered at no cost to residents, aim to reduce feelings of loneliness, isolation and the effects of chronic illness associated with aging. The music selections are designed to encourage movement, memory recall and emotional expression.
“We have residents who are nonverbal, have limited mobility or isolate themselves in their rooms,” said Whitney Rief, activity director at St. Joseph’s Hillside Villa in West Point. “But when they hear the Merrymakers are here, they’re pressing their call buttons to be first in line. They tap their feet, mouth the lyrics and some even sing along with staff.”
On July 28, the grant funded a performance by Mary Link at St. Joseph’s Retirement Community in West Point. Link, who has been performing with Merrymakers since 2010, often travels across the service area, sometimes performing multiple times a day.
“Without support like this grant, we couldn’t do what we do,” Link said. “Without funding, we’d be limited to local shows. We couldn’t do the travel and deal with the expenses. This support is everything. It helps us make a difference, even if it’s just in one person’s life.”
The grant was part of the Nebraska Blue Foundation’s spring 2025 grant cycle. As the philanthropic arm of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, the foundation awarded $300,000 to 20 nonprofits across the state to support preventive health initiatives and enhance senior well-being.
“The Merrymakers do a fantastic job of meeting the needs of Nebraska’s seniors,” said Jay Warren-Teamer, community and strategic engagement leader and director of the Nebraska Blue Foundation. “We are proud to support organizations like this that do so much to ensure our aging population has access to programs that promote social connection.”
Learn more about The Dreamweaver Foundation and other grant recipients at NebraskaBlue.com/Foundation.
