Goodwill Omaha ‘Round-It-Up’ Campaign Will Benefit Benson First Friday

OMAHA, Neb., September 22, 2022 — Benson First Friday (BFF) is “Building Community Through Arts Engagement” by encouraging Omaha youth to grow & engage in the local art scene. Youth arts engagement offers an important outlet for at-risk youth or those living in poverty, evokes outlets for therapy & expression, addresses behavioral issues, and provides opportunities for new skill development & education.

BFF plans to use the funds raised by Goodwill customers who round up their purchases during the month of October to support its youth engagement programs. These programs provide community engagement, hands-on learning, & real-life arts experiences for area youth, local schools, and other educational partners.

BFF has two youth engagement programs – Teenline & BFF Kids.

Teenline provides opportunities for teens via public art projects, “teen zine” (or mini-mag) publications, monthly exhibition opportunities during First Fridays, and an internship program.

BFF Kids continues offering monthly hands-on learning during First Fridays, remote photography activities, art exhibitions, and art clubs.

These programs give youth creative outlets and a clear pathways to careers in the arts within Omaha, giving youth the ability to grow their skills and keep their talent within our community.

“Goodwill holds campaigns like this throughout the year to benefit other nonprofits in our communities,” President & CEO Tobi Mathouser said.  “It’s a way we can give back to the communities and partners who show so much support for Goodwill and our employment programs.  Our shoppers tend to be very generous, and our Round-It-Up campaigns can raise a surprising amount of money.  We love doing it.  To us, giving back is just part of what it means to be a good steward of the community.”

Goodwill Omaha’s “Round-It-Up for Benson First Friday” campaign begins when Goodwill stores open on October 1 and ends on October 31. For more information, please visit GoodwillOmaha.org/round-it-up