YMCA Omaha -- Jessica and her two siblings grew up in Grandma and Grandpa’s house. There wasn’t much money for extras, but she had a talent for basketball.  Someone from the YMCA’s youth team asked her to join at age six, and with the help of a financial scholarship provided by United Way donors, she literally “took the ball and ran with it.”  Practicing with the team every day “changed my life” says Jessica, who says she learned about more than just hoops – she learned important lessons about hard work, persistence, and friendship. Jessica went to college on a basketball scholarship…and even played in the WNBA. She spent some time guiding other youngsters in youth sports programs at the Y, sharing some of her own life lessons. Jessica chose a helping profession; she works with troubled youngsters, teaching them life skills they so desperately need to survive on their own in the world. How to budget their money. Basic skills that pay off on every job. Perhaps because others reached out to her as a youngster, she’s giving that gift back, to others. 

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