MEDIA ALERT

November 13, 2007

Contact: Jane Simpson, Director of Public Relations
(402) 978-5646 (cell 690-7344) or jsimpson@lfsneb.org

Or: Meghan Malik, Young Families Initiative Program Supervisor
(402) 978-5638 or mmalik@lfsneb.org

Lutheran Family Services holds Open House and Campaign Kickoff for the Fremont Area Building Families Boutique

Fremont, Neb. – Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) is holding an Open House and Campaign Kickoff for the Fremont Area Building Families Boutique Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. The Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce will participate in the Ribbon Cutting which will begin at 9:30 a.m. at 1420 East Military Avenue. Tours will be available throughout the Open House and again from 4-6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

LFS President Ruth Henrichs will lead the Light the Way Campaign Kickoff, a Program and Endowment Campaign for the Fremont Area Boutique. Honorary Campaign Chairs are Rupert and Ruth Dunklau and Sid and Hazel Dillon, and the Campaign Chair is Terry McClain, Vice Chair of the LFS Board of Directors. The campaign goal is $2 million which includes $500,000 for the program fund to meet start-up and operating costs during its initial phase in 2007-09 and $1.5 million for the endowment fund to provide long-term support. The endowment fund will be established at the Fremont Area Community Foundation. Over $520,000 in gifts and pledges has been raised.

The Rupert Dunklau Foundation provided a lead challenge grant of $172,000 to assist in the start-up of the Fremont Area Building Families Boutique. “I hope that my Foundation’s challenge grant will encourage others to join LFS in providing prevention and early intervention services for our young families,” said Rupert Dunklau, president of the Rupert Dunklau Foundation.

Building Families Boutique background: Lutheran Family Services is bringing its Building Families Boutique program to Fremont, and it will open in mid-November. The Fremont Area Boutique will use the same program model as the LFS Boutique in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which serves 340 families with children prenatal to age 5. The incentive-based program promotes healthy family behaviors through parent education and support, family and community awareness, and early detection and intervention for improved physical and mental health. By participating in these activities, parents earn and redeem points for the “purchase” of new and used infant and toddler items at no cost.

Lori Cheshier serves as the Fremont Area Boutique Program Coordinator and Liz Johnson is the Boutique Program Assistant. They can be reached at 941-0075. The Boutique hours are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

LFS is returning home: In 1892, Lutheran congregations of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America formed two orphanages to care for children. These orphanages grew into human care agencies which later merged to become Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska. The Fremont orphanage was founded by Trinity Lutheran Church and once stood where Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is now located. LFS is returning home to its roots as the Building Families Boutique opens on the grounds of the original Fremont orphanage. The Boutique resides in one of the buildings that served as a foster care group home when the orphanage was closed in the l950’s.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is providing program and office space as well as assistance with securing Boutique store items and volunteers. Fremont area volunteers have provided over 700 hours of service while assisting LFS in site planning, building renovation and the acquisition of materials.

LFS also provides pregnancy counseling, adoption, mental health and substance abuse services through its Fremont location at 513 North D Street. Learn more about LFS at www.lfsneb.org.