In early August, the College Possible Omaha team joined United Way of the Midlands for Shine Bright, a multi-day volunteer event that provides students with hygiene products to help them feel comfortable and confident as they head back to school.
Together with other volunteers, we helped pack more than 5,400 hygiene kits filled with full-size essential items. These kits were distributed across Omaha, Council Bluffs, and Papillion La Vista school districts, ensuring that thousands of students started the school year with the supplies they needed.
Packing these kits was a meaningful way for our team to give back to the community we serve every day. It’s about more than what goes into the bag—it’s about giving students the confidence they need to succeed.
Our Partnership With United Way
United Way has also been a long-time supporter of our mission to provide college access and success support for Nebraska students. For the past two years, our program has been awarded a $30,000 grant through their Community Impact Fund. Thanks to this support, students from low-income backgrounds are receiving the tools, strategies and coaching they need to get into and graduate from college.
“We’re so grateful for United Way of the Midlands and the community members who made this support possible,” says Melissa Robinson, executive director of College Possible Omaha. “This grant helps ensure students have the guidance and resources they need to keep moving forward on their path to a college degree.”
Helping Students Achieve Their Dreams
The Community Impact Fund grant helps us provide:
- Personalized coaching: Students work closely with our advising specialists, who provide intensive, one-on-one support.
- 6+ years of mentorship: Students in our program receive one of the longest support cycles available, from high school through college graduation.
- Continuous support: No matter the challenges or transitions students face, we remain a constant source of encouragement and guidance.
- Free programming: All of our services are offered at no cost to students or their families.
The impact of this partnership is best seen through the students we serve. Hector, a freshman at Creighton University, worked with his senior coach Katie to secure life-changing scholarships—including the Walter and Suzanne Scott Scholarship, a full-ride award valued at $250,000 over four years.
“College Possible completely took the financial burden off my shoulders. Without this program, I wouldn’t have even known where to start,” Hector says.
Moving Forward Together
From packing hygiene kits at Shine Bright to helping students like Hector achieve their dreams, our partnership with United Way of the Midlands is built on the shared belief that every student deserves the chance to succeed.
As we go into another year of supporting more than 1,600 students on their path to a college degree, we’re proud to continue standing alongside United Way of the Midlands, working together to build a thriving community where all students can shine.
