Meet Us Monday: Cyndi Focht

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How long have you been with CHAD?
I have been with CHAD for two years.

What did you do before joining CHAD?
I worked part-time as an education assistant and interior designer while I raised my kids.

What is your favorite part about working at CHAD.
I enjoy working together with others in the CHAD family to raise money for charities and then reading all the stories about how these funds have helped real people. I also love the occasional opportunity to brainstorm with my co-workers.

What’s the best thing that has happened to you since you started?
I traveled to six states: Minnesota, Oregon, California, Arizona, Pennsylvania and New York

What is one thing about you that might surprise people?
I direct the vision and content for retreats and workshops at my church.

Celebrating Campaign Success: September

Campaign time is going on now, and our statewide staff is busy managing workplace campaigns across the state. Thanks so much to these companies who have hosted us or completed campaigns this month. Whether you gave through our United Way-partnership campaigns in Omaha or Lincoln or through our independent campaigns across the state, you have made a difference for our 21 member charities and those we serve.

Ameritas Receives CHAD Partner in Health Award

CHAD (Combined Health Agencies Drive) honored Ameritas with its annual Partner in Health Award at the organization’s Annual Meeting on Aug. 22. The award recognizes those that actively promote the ongoing awareness of health and wellness and serves as a model of how individuals, commerce, government or industry and the health sector interact to improve the quality of life for those in the community. Ameritas received the award in honor of its United Way/CHAD campaign contributions in Lincoln and the organization’s commitment to the health of its associates.

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CHAD Announces Campaign Total, Elects New State Board of Directors Members

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CHAD (Combined Health Agencies Drive) announced the results of the annual statewide CHAD Campaign at the organization’s annual meeting on Aug. 22. The total raised across the state was $1,740,195. Dollars raised will support more than 20 health charities that are serving all Nebraskans affected by chronic disease, disabilities and end-of-life issues.

American Lung Association Awarded Grant to Study millennials' Lung Health

The American Lung Association has been awarded one of its largest research grants ever by the National Institutes of Health (NIH): a new $24.8 million grant for “The American Lung Association Lung Health Cohort.” Through this historic grant, Northwestern Medicine scientists (among others) will conduct the first-ever national longitudinal study focused on the lung health of millennials.

2019 Curt Gordon Memorial Foundation Grants Announced

Community Health Charities of Nebraska, soon to be CHAD (Combined Health Agencies Drive), announced the 2019 Curt Gordon Memorial Foundation grant recipients. Distributions made from the endowment fund are generated by funds from donors above and beyond the annual workplace campaigns across the state. Seven of the organization’s 22 member charities received programming grants this year.

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Community Choice Grant Voting is Open Now!

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Voting for the #CommunityChoiceGrant is going on now. The winner of the grant will be decided by community vote with the requirement that all who vote also connect with CHAD on social media. Voting runs through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 15. The $1,000 award can be used by the charity recipient in any way they see fit to support their mission, directly serving Nebraskans statewide. This is an easy way to share your voice and support the charity you care most about! Vote here.

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Guest Post: Increasing the "Voice" of Brain Injury across Nebraska

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As you know, individuals of all ages across the state experience a brain injury including TBI, concussions, strokes, anoxia, aneurysms, infections and more are still too often, unseen, unheard and definitely underserved. The individuals that BIA-NE is currently working with through Resource Facilitation are only a fraction of the total number of our huge, growing diverse population living with long-term effects of an injury to the brain.

Guest Blog: The Impact Alzheimer's Disease has on the African American Population

During Black History Month, I’d like to recognize the impact Alzheimer’s disease has on the African American population. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are currently more than 5 million Americans living with the disease, and it’s the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. It is also disproportionately impacting the African American community, as older African Americans are twice as likely as older white Americans to develop the disease.

Community Health Charities of Nebraska to Change Name, Launch Rebrand Campaign in 2019

Effective July 1, 2019, Community Health Charities of Nebraska will change its name back to its original name, CHAD (Combined Health Agencies Drive).

“This opportunity lets us revert back to being a totally local and unique entity in the state and the country,” said Michelle Grossman, President and CEO. “Many of our donors, volunteers and community partners remember us as CHAD, so we are excited to move forward with a name from our past and let our future as an organization reflect all the great work and history the CHAD name encompasses.”