Teen Profiles

Teens of Tomorrow has always been a mom and pop program that has been fully operated by a husband and wife team right here in the Omaha metro. These two people have dedicated their adult lives to this program and the teens in it.  Pop was introduced to this program at just 20 years old (now52) and fell in love with it. And brought the idea to Omaha/Lincoln, where his mom grew up, with a dream to make a difference in the community.  Mom was only 19 when she was introduced.  She is now 44

Pop started here in Omaha/Lincoln in 1998 when he moved her to take care of his grandma, who he use to visit in the summer.  Mom grew up in north Omaha off 16th and Binney and met pop when she was 19 y/o.  They have raised 6 kids of their own and had 2 surrogate babies to help other families achieve their dreams.  They also sponsor a young boy through world vision.  They also have 4 grandchildren.  Mom went through nursing school when she was a new mom and continued to work full time while helping to push the program forward.

Through the 30 years of this program, pop spends every single day striving to make it better.  When he is not out with the kids, he is home working on speeches, cards, and coming up with ideas to make this program fun, educational, and even being the mechanic to the many vans over the years.  Mom is a registered nurse and keeps the house financially stable so the program can continue.  When she is not at her nursing job, she is doing everything she can to make this program run like calling kids/parents, obtaining permits, maintaining the website, etc.

Both of them do fun activities with the teens.  Even their own children join in the fun sometimes and have all participated in the program.   Mom and Pop have been running this program in the Omaha/Lincoln Metro for over 25 years.  They have helped over 5000 teens in this area.  Sometimes, when pop goes to pick up a new kid, their dad will come to the door to say hi because he was part of our program as a teen.  Also, if its hot outside, he does not run the air in the van for himself.  If its colder outside, he does not run the heat in the van for himself as he drives around checking on and mentoring the teens.  He is also handing out heated vests, gloves, and water bottles at the teens request.  If he must take a day off, he wishes he was able to work.

Pop is more than a boss to the teens.  He is a father figure, sometimes an uncle, sometimes a brother, friend, and voice of life advice to many of them.  The teens that stay with the program for a while become part of their family.  Mom and pop get invited to graduations, weddings, the birth of a child, sporting events, even getting haircuts by their graduated barber.  A lot of the graduated teens from the program even showed up to pops surprise birthday party.  The teens in this program have come to other family birthday parties, their family farm, and watched their own kids grow up.  Hundreds of teens have stayed in touch over the years.  If they move away and come back, they contact pop just to see if he is still running the program.   If the now grown teens go on vacations, pop’s gets a text saying how are ya! and sometimes it comes from over seas.

Mom and Pop have lived in the same 1,000sqft house and raised their 6 kids in, ran the program from, and they still live in to this day.  Their wish, is to one day, have the program fully supported by the community so they will no longer have to worry about the finances and the future of the program.  The program has only been funded by the generosity of the people at the door.  They are not the only ones to help raise these teens.  Each one of you in the community that has ever given advice, a kind word, or encouragement has help to mold these teens into bright young adults.

This program isn’t just about the teens in it, it’s about the community as well.  Each person that has opened their door has helped to mold these teens into bright young men and women.  Without the support from the Omaha and Lincoln community and the blessings of god, Teens of Tomorrow would not have made it this far.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD!