MEDIA ALERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2006

Contact: Jane Simpson, Director of Public Relations 402-978-5646 jsimpson@lfsneb.org or Dave Lund, Regional Director 308-532-0587 dlund@lfsneb.org

Lutheran Family Services holds open house at the Clifford L. Johnson Center for Healthy Families

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) is hosting an open house at the Clifford L. Johnson Center for Healthy Families complex, 120 East 12th Street in North Platte, to honor the LFS North Platte campaign’s lead donor Clifford L. Johnson of Chappell, Neb.  The open house is Monday, Oct. 30, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. with a brief program at 11:45 and lunch to follow.

Johnson contributed $200,000 as the Center for Healthy Families lead naming gift and gave an additional $25,000 to develop the specialized services offices.  “Clifford Johnson is a true philanthropist.  He has supported his church, community and many organizations in Nebraska and across the Midwest.  When Clifford learned of the need for more adequate space for LFS clients seeking services in North Platte, he was one of the first to respond with a leadership gift for the new office.  We now honor him for his second leadership gift, allowing LFS to complete the purchase of what is proudly named the Clifford L. Johnson Center for Healthy Families,” says Craig Stirtz, LFS vice president of development.

The project initiative goal is $600,000.  Approximately $35,000 remains to meet the goal.  Fundraising efforts will continue until the goal is reached.  Additional primary funders for the Center for Healthy Families Campaign are the Kenneth Huebner family (KASON Farms), First National Bank, Bank of the West and NebraskaLand Bank.  The funds have provided office space, counseling space, conference rooms, extensive renovation, furnishings and technology equipment.

Lutheran Family Services has served North Platte and the surrounding communities since 1978.  It is the second largest LFS office in Nebraska and services include individual, couple and family counseling; substance abuse and gambling addiction services; family support and community treatment home-based services.  In August, LFS broke ground for Josiah Place, a 10-unit apartment complex in North Platte for low-income persons with persistent mental illness. For more information about the open house or the LFS North Platte area services, contact regional director Dave Lund at (308) 532-0587.

About Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska:

Thousands of families of all faiths are served through LFS programs and services that include confidential counseling for stress, anxiety, depression, mental illness, marital issues, and abuse; community services that include immigration legal services, refugee resettlement, community reentry for ex-offenders, and congregational support services; and children services that include foster care, infant, international and foster care adoption, respite care ,children victimized by sexual abuse and parenting programs.  Learn more about LFS at www.lfsneb.org or call (402) 342-7038.

###