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2019 ANNUAL REPORT 4 12 6 18 44 16 For more information about how you can support Boys Town’s OUR MISSION mission to save children and heal families, visit boystown.org. Changing the way America cares You also can connect with Boys Town through 2 for children and families. facebook.com/boystownmission and twitter.com/boystown. CONTENTS We Remain Committed to Our Mission | 4-5 “When you help a child Help Along the Way | 6-7 today, you write the Lincoln’s Journey for Life-Changing Care | 8-9 history of tomorrow.” In Memory of George R. Bodurow | 10-11 — FATHER EDWARD J. FLANAGAN Family Passion Drives Partnership | 12-13 Boys Town By The Numbers | 14 Our Affiliate Sites | 15 Keeping the Lines of Hope Open 24/7 | 16-17 Generous Donors | 18-43 2019 Financial Highlights | 44-45 Our Governing Boards | 46-47 3 WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO OUR MISSION 4 DEAR FRIEND, Usually, our Annual Report recaps the highlights of the previous year at But even with all these precautions (and others that may be necessary in Boys Town, providing inspiration and information to our loyal donors like you the weeks and months ahead), we remain committed to our mission and and letting them know how their generous support has helped us change the continue our day-to-day operations so those in greatest need can benefit lives of children and families across the country. from the life-changing care and resources we provide. We are able to do that because of you. But as we all know, the last few months have been anything but usual. The coronavirus pandemic has changed our way of life, creating hardships Many challenges still lie ahead. We all must pull together to meet and over- and sacrifices for everyone, especially the children and families that depend come them. That’s why your continued support and prayers for Boys Town on our compassionate, effective care. and its mission are so crucial. I truly believe that the spirit of compassion and generosity that moves you to help our children and families is what will get us As we face these extraordinary and unprecedented challenges, we at through these trying times. Boys Town want you to know we are tremendously grateful for your con- tinued support. In times like these, children and families that are struggling Words cannot fully express how much you mean to our organization and with their own personal challenges feel even more pressure, anxiety and to those who turn to us in times of personal crisis. frustration. As their needs increase, the life-changing services you make I want you to know that everyone at Boys Town is praying for the safety, good possible are even more crucial to their well-being. health and well-being of you and your family. We are in this together and we We know how deeply you care for the boys and girls who find hope while in will get through this together. our care and for the families in crisis that turn to us so they can stay together God’s Blessings, and grow stronger. In this Annual Report, you will find some of their inspi- rational stories of redemption. You’ll also learn about the special ways our donors and staff members supported those in our care and the precaution- ary measures we’ve taken to protect our kids and families and keep them Father Steven E. Boes safe during this difficult time. President and National Executive Director, Boys Town 5 “MY ROOMMATE WAS 17 AND I WAS 8 YEARS OLD AND HE HELP WAS FROM NEW JERSEY AND HE HAD A REGGIE JACKSON ROOKIE CARD THAT SAT UP ALONG ON HIS BULLETIN BOARD. And every day when he got up in the morning before he left for school he’d touch it. And being an 8 year old –and he was a great athlete – and I looked up to him. I wanted to do everything he did. So, I touched that Reggie THE WAY Jackson card. Oh, that was the wrong thing to do. So, what I found out was that Reggie Jackson card was the last thing his father gave him before he walked out of his life. His senior year at Christmas after everybody got their gifts, I get a box from him and in there was a Reggie Jackson card. My roommate told me, ‘This got me through, and this will get you through too,’ and he left it for me. I still have that card.” 6 — PAT GARCIA, A BOYS TOWN ALUMNUS “I was 8 years old and… I looked up to him.” — PAT GARCIA, BOYS TOWN ALUMNUS 7 “The whole hospital experience was great. ...the care here was just phenomenal....” — KYLEE JOHNSTON, PATIENT PARENT 8 LINCOLN’S JOURNEY FOR LIFE-CHANGING CARE Little Lincoln Johnston’s journey to Omaha might have been long, but his road to recovery looks to be on track thanks to the doctors and staff at Boys Town National Research Hospital®. Kylee Johnston and her husband started to notice ridges on Lincoln’s head at 1 year old. Lincoln’s pediatrician assured his parents the ridges were normal, and kids can grow out of it. However, when they returned for Lincoln’s 18-month checkup, the pediatrician said it was time to look to a specialist. Lincoln was diagnosed with sagittal craniosynostosis. This condition causes pressure on the brain and prevents it from growing. Surgery can reduce the pressure and allow for proper brain development. With the Johnston family being from Collinsville, Oklahoma, they had never heard of Boys Town Hospital, but that all changed. Kylee turned to her craniosynostosis group on Facebook for recommendations and heard great feedback about Dr. Jason Miller, craniofacial surgeon, and Dr. Linden Fornoff, pediatric neurosurgeon, at Boys Town Hospital, and the family decided to make the drive to Omaha. In November of 2019, the Johnstons came to Omaha and decided surgery was Lincoln’s best option. Dr. Miller and Dr. Fornoff removed a small strip of Lincoln’s skull allowing his brain to expand and grow normally. The Johnstons said they couldn’t have been more pleased with their experience at Boys Town Hospital. “The whole hospital experience was great,” Kylee said. “Lincoln had been hospitalized before, but we have never seen the doctors as much as we did here. I felt he was a priority. From the first appointment, to the diagnosis, to the surgery, the care here was just phenomenal, and I haven’t seen that care at another hospital.” For Lincoln and the Johnston family, the journey to Omaha was a life-changer. 9 IN TRIBUTE TO GEORGE R. BODUROW For Dr. Christina Bodurow, establishing an education fund at Boys Town in tribute to her father’s 100th birthday was the perfect way to continue his legacy of giving to Father Flanagan’s home. That’s why she and her son, his life. He felt with the right environment and opportunities to better themselves, George (George’s grandson), have all children could find a path to a productive and successful life.” established the George R. Bodurow Dr. Bodurow said that was what made Boys Town so important to her father. Education Fund. “It was an institution that invested in providing disadvantaged children a path to George R. Bodurow led a life dedi- a better life,” she said. “His personal philosophy was to always be looking out for George R. Bodurow cated to the idea that education is a others, both family and friends. The Boys Town slogan ‘He ain’t heavy, he’s my January 29, 1921 – January 7, 1995 very important path to success for all brother’ was emblematic of how he lived his life. For him, ‘my brother’ pertained people. He shared his passion for edu- to all people with whom he interacted, and the philosophy that every human can cation with everyone and continuously encouraged everyone to better themselves reach out to support and help any other person who might be in need.” through educational opportunities. At the age of 16, he saw the movie Boys Town in his home country of Bulgaria and began sending donations to Father Flanagan. He It was those strong feelings that inspired her to continue what he started when he truly believed that every child should have a chance to reach their greatest poten- made regular donations to Boys Town. tial, and he saw that same commitment at Boys Town. “In providing this endowment, we are honoring my father’s core values and life George’s daughter said he passed his feelings about the movie and Boys Town accomplishments,” Dr. Bodurow said. “For my Dad, Boys Town was an example of down to her over the years. how society should nurture those who may start out with a disadvantage into being “Many of the themes of the 1936 Spencer Tracy Boys Town movie resonated with able to stand on their own two feet and become successful citizens. He came to my father,” she said. “The notion that ‘There is no such thing as a bad boy’ was a the United States as an immigrant, who couldn’t speak one word of the English lan- concept that his family heritage also instilled in him, and that he carried with him all guage, but with a commitment to better himself so he could contribute to society. 10 His life is an important example of how people can overcome challenges and become positive contributors to society.” She said she hopes the education fund is also a valuable life lesson her son can use to understand more about his grandfather.