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Friends give generously to Omaha Gives!

5/24/2018

Twenty-eight Friends gave in support of Friends of Foundation for the 2018 Omaha Gives! The 24-hour charitable giving day powered by the Omaha Community Foundation took place Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

Omaha Gives! is an annual 24-hour charitable challenge to benefit metro-area nonprofits beginning at midnight May 23. We are fortunate to be among the featured nonprofits. Friends of Extension & 4-H Foundation supports Nebraska Extension in Douglas/Sarpy Counties through the program areas including 4-H, Master Gardeners, ServSafe (food safety for restaurant managers and employees), training of professionals who apply pesticides and fertilizers, nutrition education and agriculture programs. Our teams share research-based information from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and assist people in using it to improve their lives and well-being.

I encourage you to check our website: www.friendsofextension.org for more information on Friends of Extension.

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Friends awards $5,500 in Spring 2018 grants

5/16/2018

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Friends of Extension awarded eight requests for funds totaling $5,536.19 during its 2018 spring grant cycle. From providing shelter to purple martins and feeder calfs, to assisting with a garden project and bringing more visibility to winners at the Sarpy County Fair, the requests all fell in line with Friends of Extension's mission of supporting extension in Douglas and Sarpy counties.

Below are the grant recipients and funds received:

Andrew Nelson requested grant funds as part of his Eagle Scout project working with Round Em' Up Cattle Club, to build calf shelters. $500 4-H Youth Development Grant.
Monte Stauffer requested grant funds to purchase a photo backdrop for photos taken at the Sarpy County Fair. $300 4-H Youth Development Grant
Growing Together Garden Project to add more gardens for the team effort of community environment foods and learning child teams. $400 4-H Youth Development Grant.
Purple Martins Project to build bird houses at Eastern NE 4-H Center. $711.19 4-H Youth Development Grant.
MyPl NE Teen Community Camp to provide education for teens for emergency and disaster preparedness. $1,000 4-H Youth Development Grant.
OHB Grant for the 4-H Club $1,000 4-H Youth Development Grant.
4-H Shooting Sports grant for support of the shooting sports program. $1,000 4-H Youth Development Grant.
STEM Robotics Youth grant for support for FLL Robotics Club for 2018-2019 season. $625 4-H Youth Development Grant.

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Cake and conversation

5/7/2018

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Friends of Extension Foundation celebrated the opening of their new office by hosting an open house. Dozens of friends came out for cake and conversation Monday, May 7 from 4-6 p.m. The new location is:

7101 Mercy Rd. Suite 108, Omaha, Nebraska 68106
402-680-8442
director@friendsofextension.org

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Friends celebrates Earth Day

4/21/2018

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Friends of Foundation volunteers had a great time at Omaha's Earth Day celebration April 21. The annual event took place at Elmwood Park.

Master Gardeners answered questions on plant and weed issues and also gave away free seeds. 4-H'ers were also on hand to show off furry friends including rabbits and chickens along with various exhibits they've entered into the fair along with the ribbons they won. Check out the Facebook video for more information.

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Awards recognition luncheon

2/28/2018

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More than 100 friends turned out for the Awards Recognition luncheon sponsored by Midwest Laboratories Inc. The inaugural event sponsored by Friends of Extension Foundation took place February 27 at Anthony's Steakhouse. Honorees included local organizations, non-profits and community members who give of their time and talents in support of Extension efforts in Douglas and Sarpy counties. Foundation President Matt Gunderson kicked off the luncheon and introduced Brent Pohlman, president of Midwest Laboratories Inc., who sponsored the event. Here's a complete list of the 2018 honorees and additional information about them:

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Awards recognition luncheon Feb. 27, 2018

2/1/2018

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Fresh look in the New Year

1/18/2018

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We're excited to unveil our new logo designed by a Douglas County 4-H alumni. The new look with the hands in the shape of a tree aligns more closely with our mission to support and grow the impact of NE Extension in Douglas and Sarpy counties. The logo also represents our goal of reaching out to the community and educating the public about the Extension’s four focus areas including:

4-H Youth Development (represented by the 4-H green stars)
Families (represented by the yellow stars)
Nutrition & Food Safety (represented by the orange stars)
Environment (represented by the NU red stars)

Thanks to Everett Henry, who developed the logo. Please let us know what you think of our new look. Share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

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Friends grants 2017 fall grants

11/10/2017

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Weather Station - The Community Environment Team will construct a Weather station for horticulture for the extension office to provide need information for the public. This will be rolled out in the spring of 2018.
Video Projector - A new projector will be installed at the extension office to replace a 10 year projector to improve the quality of presentations.

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Friends grants 2017 spring grants

5/5/2017

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1. The Community Environment Team will produce videos for the website and YouTube channel. Amount awarded, $500. The videos will illustrate essential edible and ornamental landscape best management practices.

2. Diamond Clover Project – Project Cinderella – This grant will be headed by one of Douglas/Sarpy 4-H members, Becca DeWilde, to complete her Diamond Clover Project. Amount awarded, $750.

Project Cinderella will support the organization Dress A Girl Around the World, an offshoot of Hope for Women International, which is dedicated to protecting and enriching the lives of young women and girls all across the globe. They are based primarily in Uganda, but have distributed dresses to needy girls in over 80 different countries.

Becca stated, "By supporting the organization through my Diamond Clover Project, I will be contributing to a better and brighter future for the world." Becca will coordinate sewing days to sew 100 dresses to be used for the project.

3. Omaha Home for Boys – Valley View 4-H Club. The grant would fund experiential learning through raising and showing livestock. The teaching goals for this grant targets Youth: teaching Urban Ag, Nutrition, Life skills, Entrepreneurship and civic responsibility. This grant will support the club and the 4-H goals. The Valley View 4-H Club at OHB is over 40 years old. They have used 4-H to teach youth life skills for decades. Amount awarded, $1,000.

4. 4-H School Enrichment Grant – This grant will purchase new incubators for the embryology project offered in the schools. The goal of the 4-H staff is to expand the program to reach every 3rd grade class in the Douglas/Sarpy unit. This grant would support the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) efforts of the 4-H program. Amount awarded, $1,000.

Experience has shown that embryology in the classrooms has sparked science interest in all ages of youth. It has led to inquiry and anticipation for the day those chicks hatch. Yet even though it’s a great experience, the learning that is involved is the real reason that this program is successful.

5. Microscopes – Three new (3) microscopes (Infiniview LCD Digital Microscopes) will be purchased to be used by the horticulture staff, which includes the Master Gardeners. One microscope would be in the Douglas office, one in the Sarpy office and one used in the field. These microscopes will allow the staff to improve their diagnostic abilities.Amount awarded, $360.

6. 4-H Shooting Sports Program – This grant is requesting funds to purchase fire arms for the program to expand the program in teaching firearms safety. This 4-H project is a long term program with long time volunteers. Amount awarded, $1,000.

One of the teaching volunteers stated, "The plan for the grant is to promote youth development and nature conservancy. Douglas-Sarpy County Shooting Sports has noted an increase in participating youth interested in learning new outdoor activities and participating in local competitions. The objective of our shooting sports program is to teach safety, critical thinking, decision making, and problem solving, while developing teamwork, self-discipline, and self-confidence."

7. Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at the Douglas County Health Center – This grant will fund upgrading and redoing parts of the demonstration garden at the DCHC site. Amount awarded, $705.65.

The grant will fund the installation of new hardscape under two bird feeding stations as well as upgrading the garden bed. This garden is used for therapeutic purposes and is in need of upgrading. The changes will allow the MG team to be more effective in maintaining the garden. There are over 700 potential people who can use the garden. This garden is one of 15 in the Douglas/Sarpy Counties area used for education. The Master Gardeners have been volunteering at this garden for five years.
Past Grants Recipients:

STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, Math) Curriculum Development. Grant funds support the development of a new STEM curriculum for Douglas/Sarpy 4-H programs. This grant is leveraged by additional grant support of $15,000 from University of Nebraska-Lincoln. $2,500 4-H Youth Development Grant
Branded Festival Tent/Canopy. Grant funds support the Douglas/Sarpy Extension purchase of an identity-branded festival tent/canopy for outdoor display and presentation use during events. Both Douglas/Sarpy Extension and the Foundation logos will be printed on the tent. $1,000 Other Category Grant
Street Signs/Banners. Grant funds support the purchase of two street signs/banners which identify the extension office, to be sited at exterior locations surrounding the Douglas/Sarpy Extension office building. $200 Other Category Grant
Douglas/Sarpy County 4-H Council Food Stand Upgrade Project. Grant funds support the upgrade of the 4-H Food Stand at the Sarpy County Fairground. The food stand serves as the primary annual fundraising project for the 4-H Council. Upgrades include electrical and plumbing work, shelving and other improvements for the facility. $2,500 4-H Youth Development Grant
Douglas/Sarpy County Master Gardeners Dream Garden Raffle Seminar. Grant funds support a free, public educational seminar to be conducted during the annual Dream Garden Raffle event. $500 Environmental Grant
Douglas/Sarpy County Master Gardeners Cookbook. Grant funds support the creation of the first Master Gardener Cookbook in Nebraska. The cookbook will be entitled From Earth to Table: Cooking with the Master Gardeners of UNL Extension in Douglas and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska. $2,000 Environmental Grant
Douglas/Sarpy County Master Gardeners Walnut Creek Demonstration Garden. Grant funds support improvements at the Walnut Creek Master Gardener Demonstration Garden. $1,000 Environmental Grant
4-H Grant for Round 'Em Up Cattle Club. Grant funds support multiple educational opportunities for the Round 'Em Up Cattle Club and their 4-H families. $1,000 4-H Youth Development Grant

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Friends give generously to Omaha Gives!

Friends awards $5,500 in Spring 2018 grants

Cake and conversation

Friends celebrates Earth Day

Awards recognition luncheon

Awards recognition luncheon Feb. 27, 2018

Fresh look in the New Year

Friends grants 2017 fall grants

Friends grants 2017 spring grants

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