Mutual’s Dan Neary Named “Citizen of the Year”; Terry Moore, UPS, American Red Cross and Metropolitan Community College Also Honored

He’s recognized for his clear vision, hard work and the way he empowers those around him to excel. Dan Neary rose through the ranks at Mutual of Omaha to become CEO and Chairman. And on Thursday, March 31, his peers and the community presented Neary with United Way’s “Citizen of the Year” award.

At a time when the economy may have caused others to back down, Neary and his team designed, built and completed Midtown Crossing, an internationally-recognized development that is reinvigorating the city’s center. Neary and his wife, Shirley, led the United Way fundraising drive to a record total just as the stock market dropped in the fall of 2008.   He was chair of the Boy Scouts, Mid-America Council when a tornado killed scouts at the camp in Little Sioux, Iowa. Dan was there on site for many days after the tragedy, and led the rebuilding effort as well. Neary has also served many educational, civic and nonprofit organizations including Creighton University, the Greater Omaha Chamber, the Joslyn Art Museum and the Omaha Zoological Society.  

“He is committed to his family, his community, and to making the world around him a better place,” said Richard Holland, who received the “Citizen” award last spring. We’re truly lucky that someone like Dan has invested his vision, skills and leadership right here at home.” Friends and colleagues of Neary’s also presented a video tribute; included were John Gottschalk, David Brown and Mogens Bay.

Terry Moore, president of the Omaha Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, was also honored, with a national recognition from United Way Worldwide.   The Joseph A. Beirne Community Services Award is bestowed upon a local labor leader who exemplifies the highest standards in service to others and to the community. In presenting the award, Nancy McCormick of United Way Worldwide cited Moore’s thousands of hours donated to nonprofits including the food bank, St. Vincent DePaul Society, The Salvation Army and United Way. Moore currently leads the committee to select the next president of the Federal Reserve Bank’s Tenth District, headquartered in Kansas City.

     
OTHER AWARDS OF THE DAY:
UPS received United Way’s “Community Service Award.” In 2010, UPS passed an impressive milestone – $1 Billion in corporate and employee giving to United Ways nationally since 1982. Local employees have provided countless hours of volunteer service to Omaha area nonprofit and civic efforts, including United Way’s Day of Caring and Loaned Executive programs.  The company also hosts a volunteer leadership course for management-level employees, and provides international volunteer opportunities for its team. Accepting the award was Terry Brown, Area Human Resources Manager for UPS in Omaha.

Two organizations received “Chair’s Partnership Awards.” The American Red Cross-Heartland Chapter coordinates with the Eastern Nebraska-Western Iowa Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) on disaster drills and response efforts; the MRC is managed by United Way.  The chapter hosts a team of United Way’s Summer Youth Volunteer Corps each year, offering the teens an opportunity to teach fire safety to youngsters and gain valuable leadership skills. It also helps provide CPR and first aid training to team leaders at all of the programs’ summer sites. Red Cross’ Heartland Chapter executive director, Tina Labellarte, accepted the award.

Metropolitan Community College (MCC) was also honored for its partnership on several projects. MCC hosts “Project Bridge,” part of a United Way initiative that connects internationally-trained health professionals with the coursework and guidance needed to earn their U.S. certification. The program eases under- and unemployment among this group, and is providing much-needed medical professionals to address the growing need for health care workers.  MCC also joins with United Way and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Omaha Mayor’s Office on “Heartland Workforce Solutions.” Stacey Ocander and Victoria Nakibuuka-Muli accepted the award on the college’s behalf.

2010 CAMPAIGN TOTAL ANNOUNCED
United Way announced the total amount of money raised in the 2010 fall fundraising drive. Outgoing United Way Board Chair Rex Fisher told the gathering that donors contributed $21,165,000. Donations came from approximately 80,000 individuals; participating organizations include companies, foundations, labor unions and nonprofits. Fisher is Director of Corporate Communications at HDR, Inc.

CEO TRANSITION TAKES PLACE
Michael J. McLarney presided over his final United Way annual meeting.  McLarney retires today, after 38 years of service to the organization. His achievements include the evidence-based measurements that United Way volunteers use to ensure that people’s lives are indeed changed positively by the programs the organization supports. McLarney was presented with a caricature drawn by Omaha World-Herald editorial cartoonist, Jeff Koterba.

Terry Kroeger, incoming United Way Chair, introduced the new President and CEO, Karen Bricklemyer.  Bricklemyer and her family come to Omaha from Gainesville, Florida, where she was President and CEO of United Way of Central Florida. Among her achievements there, Bricklemyer developed and implemented a network of research-based programs that targeted the barriers to school readiness through home visitation and teaching, parenting support, a mobile health van and food drives for children.  Kroeger is President and Publisher of the Omaha World-Herald.

Loretta Carroll of Carroll Communications served as emcee of the annual meeting and awards luncheon; Reverend Jane Florence of First United Methodist Church in Omaha delivered the invocation. UPS provided sponsorship for the event, which was held at the CoCo Key Convention Center in Omaha. 

United Way of the Midlands celebrates 88 years of service in 2011 by mobilizing the caring power of people who live and work in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties. People in the metropolitan area received services through United Way Community Care Fund programs 592,203 times in 2010.