Looking back on her senior year of high school, Michelle Zych often wonders how her family survived. In the span of a month, her older brother was indicted on drug distribution charges and the family discovered that her stepfather was using methamphetamine, leading to violent behavior. The situation at home quickly deteriorated for Michelle, her mother and her 7-year-old brother.
In retrospect, she says the challenges made them stronger and drew them closer - a response characteristic of the joy and passion the 25-year-old exudes on a daily basis as a community resource manager for the Midlands Council of Camp Fire USA, the organization she credits with helping her family through their darkest hour.
"When I was in high school, Camp Fire gave my little brother a place to go when things were really rotten at home," said Michelle. "Knowing that he would be safe and with people who cared about him until I could pick him up from school really helped us deal with the situation. Camp Fire allowed us to be a somewhat normal family during a time that was not normal at all."
Eight years later, Michelle now works for Camp Fire as a community liaison, reaching out to volunteers and donors to help them see the difference they can make in the lives of Camp Fire kids. Not unlike Michelle, many of the kids come from difficult situations at home where they face daunting obstacles.
"My favorite part is being able to talk to people and help them connect with what Camp Fire does – to help them understand that if it wasn't for this program, some of these kids wouldn't eat over the weekend,” said Michelle, referring to Camp Fire's "snack pack" program which provides healthy weekend snacks to kids from low-income families. "Helping people see the connection between what they can do and what these kids need is something I totally relish."
Building on a rich history that dates back to the early 1900s, Camp Fire has evolved and adapted over the years to meet the needs of the community. Today, the nonprofit organization reaches more than 19,000 mostly inner-city boys and girls in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area through innovative after-school and prevention education programs. With staff and volunteers at 17 schools and four homeless shelters, Camp Fire provides the kids with a safe environment and positive role models who foster their academic, social and emotional development.
Organizations like Camp Fire and the people they serve are the reason the Mutual of Omaha Foundation exists – to empower families to overcome obstacles and work toward positive change. To accomplish that mission, the Foundation supports programs and organizations that reach out to families facing critical issues - issues like domestic abuse, substance abuse, illiteracy and homelessness.
That's why the Foundation has provided financial support to Camp Fire, including a recent grant to help the organization purchase and renovate a building to serve as its new headquarters.
"Mutual of Omaha was instrumental in making a key gift to help us realize our vision for our new building," said Penny Parker, executive director of Camp Fire. “There just seems to be a really good fit and connection with what the Foundation focuses on and what we do."
For Michelle, the support is very personal. "Knowing that someone has given money to make sure that I was able to succeed, that my little brother continues to succeed and that all of our kids can succeed is just very humbling."
Learn more about the Mutual of Omaha Foundation’s focus on education.
