As a Nebraska-based company, we believe strongly in giving back to our communities. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) has a long tradition of providing significant support to nonprofit organizations statewide.

“The grants are an opportunity for our company to recognize the meaningful work being done by organizations across the state to impact and improve the lives and health of Nebraskans,” said Malorie Maddox, BCBSNE vice president. “We’re excited to help them achieve their goals and see results.”

As part of our support, we award quarterly grants to nonprofit organizations across the state, and recently selected the following 16 organizations for our final round of grants in 2018:

• Compass—BCBSNE grant funds transportation cost support for Compass, which provides foster homes for abused, neglected and at-risk children and youth in central and western Nebraska.

• DIBS for Kids—The mission of DIBS for Kids is to provide all children in Omaha with access to books. The organization serves 1,390 families, distributing books through elementary schools and after school programs.

• Girls, Inc.—Support of health and wellness programs at Girls, Inc., an after school and summer youth development agency focused on girls ages 5 to 18.

• Heartland Family Service—Funding to support the Nebraska Family Works program, a long-term residential substance abuse and mental health treatment program that allows mothers to receive services while retaining custody of their children.

• Lincoln Housing Charities—Funding for the organization’s Reading Matters program, which supplies books to children ages 14 and younger whose families reside in Lincoln Housing Authority low-income housing.

• Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital—Support for the Therapeutic Learning Classroom, Madonna’s school within the hospital, providing learning support for pediatric patients so they can stay current with their school work while recovering from a traumatic illness or injury.

• Metropolitan Community College Foundation—Funding support for MCC’s ProtoLab Day Camp, exposing underserved youth to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) careers and important life skills, such as creativity, problem-solving, teamwork and determination.

• Nebraska Chinese Association—Funding support for health screening and consultations.

• New Visions Homeless Services—Creating a safe and empowering place for veterans in the Omaha metro area to live, focusing on healing trauma, promoting sober living and providing veterans with the tools to become self-sufficient.

• NorthStar—NorthStar’s mission is to change young men’s lives through programming that supports, challenges, inspires and instills a life rooted in education, self-discipline and service to the community. BCBSNE grant funding helps support NorthStar’s Outward Bound program.

• Ollie Webb Center—BCBSNE grant funding helps support the Ollie Webb Center’s HealthMatters Program, an evidence-based curriculum designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Open Door Mission—Funding to help purchase medical supplies for the Open Door Mission’s free Health and Healing Clinic.

• Project Houseworks—BCBSNE’s grant funding supports the Project Houseworks mission of providing low-income senior homeowners with solutions that allow them to stay safely in their homes, including free critical home repairs and modifications for seniors with disabilities.

• Radio Talking Book—BCBSNE grant funding supports Radio Talking Book’s statewide efforts to provide human-voiced information choices to individuals who have disabilities that prevent them from reading.

• Vocational Development Center—Vodec provides services to persons with disabilities. BCBSNE funding will enable Vodec staff to train participants in nutrition, meal preparation and healthy cooking.

• YMCA of Greater Omaha—BCBSNE grant funding supports the YMCA’s Strong Communities campaign, which serves at-risk communities and low-income families in the Omaha area.