The following are press releases involving our current campaign and events. Please take the time to read our newsletter, the Village Messenger, and to Learn About Our Campaign.

News

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

December 2007

As we approach the end of 2007, we want to take a moment to thank you for your generous support of Uta Halee's Campaign for Wellness. Your gifts are a tribute to the spirit of young ladies who seek to live healthy and productive lives. Years of struggling to overcome mental and behavioral health issues have left many feeling hopeless and helpless. Because of you and other members of our caring community, these young women have found a healing environment where they can find hope.

When we mailed our first campaign update last February, we reported gifts of $5.2 million. That report included a $1 million challenge grant from the Peter Kiewit Foundation. Since then, donors have contributed an additional $1,275,112. Total gifts, pledges and bequests have reached $6,475,112 of our $7.5 million goal.

We are looking forward to the time this spring when we will "break ground" for the new Wellness Center. This much-anticipated event will recognize the contributions of our many donors. This commitment to healthy young women is greatly appreciated.

The ground breaking will also acknowledge the resiliency of the troubled girls who seek treatment for their minds, bodies and spirits at Uta Halee. On their behalf, thank you for your support. And... please accept our best wishes for a joyful new year.

Nebraska Parents Face Mental Illness Dilemma

Read the Omaha World Herald's December 16th article on Leslie Byers, Family Liaison to Uta Halee, her family and the Mental Health Care Dilemma

By age 10, Megan Byers had already exhausted the lifetime cap on mental health services of more than $70,000 through her family's insurance... Read More

Girls at Uta Halee Celebrate Christmas

Several women representing Church Women United, an ecumenical group who supports Uta Halee on an ongoing basis, celebrated Christmas with the girls of Uta Halee again this year. Pictured to the left is Pat Turek at the December 12th, 2007 event.

ViVa! Village Raises Money for the Arts

Arts supporters gathered at Bruce Billesbach's home in September for a Viva! Village fundraiser that raised more than $6,000 for arts programs at the Villages.

During the poolside party at the Billesbach home, about 115 guests sipped on cocktails and munched on appetizers. A group of girls from Uta Halee Girls Village performed a musical revue under the direction of Dr. Laureen Pickle.
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A special thanks to Honorary Chairman Hal France, and a team of dedicated Uta Halee Girls Village Guild members who planned the event. Also, thanks to illustrator Tom Kerr, who designed invitations for the memorable occasion, and, as always to our host Bruce Billesbach. His generous and welcoming spirit makes this a much-anticipated annual event.

Proceeds from Sept. 3 "Go Girls Run!" Event to Benefit Uta Halee Girls Village

OMAHA, Neb. (Aug. 16, 2007) - Held annually on Labor Day, the Omaha Running Club's "Go Girls Run!" event will benefit the young women at Uta Halee Girls Village.

A women's only event (kids of both genders can participate in the shorter runs), "Go Girls Run!" encourages women to get into running as a lifetime sport. The event is in it's 10th year, and 250 women and 100 kids participate each year. Proceeds from this year's event will be donated to Uta Halee Girls Village and its campaign to build a wellness center on its Ponca Hills campus.

Uta Halee Girls Village Announces $7.5 Million Capital Campaign

OMAHA, Neb. (Oct. 18, 2006) - Uta Halee Girls Village, a gender-specific residential psychiatric treatment program for young women ages 12-18, will announce its $7.5 capital campaign at 10 a.m., Wed. on October 18, 2006. The purpose of the capital campaign is to build a wellness center and two new residential cottages on its campus in Omaha's Ponca Hills.

The campaign, entitled Centering on Mind, Body & Spirit: A Campaign for Wellness, will feature remarks from Suzanne and Walter Scott, Jr., honorary campaign co-chairs; Heidi and Jeff Wilke, campaign co-chairs; Carol Russell, chair of Uta Halee's Board of Directors; and Uta Halee President and CEO Denis McCarville.

Nearly $4 million of the $7.5 million has been raised. This announcement will mark the beginning of the public fundraising.

"Uta Halee has been near and dear to my heart for a very long time - more than two decades as a volunteer or member of its board," said Suzanne Scott, a former member of the Uta Halee Board of Directors and current member of the Endowment Board. "It does the difficult but vital work of rebuilding the lives of troubled young women who need the kind of intensive mental health programming that only Uta Halee can provide."

Walter Scott, Jr. said: "Uta Halee's mission is unique to our region. I think you'd have to look far and wide to find a comparable organization that has a program as effective. Sue and I are pleased to support their campaign, and we encourage the community to also invest in the young women served by Uta Halee by giving."

In addition to a fitness center with weight training and exercise equipment as well as space for aerobics and yoga classes, the Wellness Center will also provide a nutrition center and cafe where young women can learn to make healthy nutritional choices and prepare wholesome foods. There will also be space for personal worship, reflection and meditation and arts and other creative outlets.

Admissions, nursing, medical services and all therapy services will also be housed in the wellness center.