District 5650 Foundation Chair Bill Harvey has recognized Immediate Past-President John Sullivan as a Paul Harris Fellow Plus Seven (7). John was sponsored into The Rotary Club of Omaha (Downtown) in 1999 by PP Jim Murphy. He will complete ten years of Rotary board service on June 30, 2022, including two terms on the board and one term on the Omaha Downtown Rotary Foundation board where he also served as president. Utilizing an RFP process, John restructured the Foundation’s investment portfolio with management by D.A. Davidson’s Brian Schneider, who continues in an advisory role today. John’s executive team hired Executive Director Yolanda Hoffman during his term; he was awarded a Presidential Citation by Rotary International (RI) for his club service as president. John created our South Omaha Club Initiative, has recently served as club nominating chair and served on the interview committee for the new District Governor-Elect Designate.
 
RI Foundation donations by our Club achieved their highest level in club history during John’s term, and he encourages all members to consider an annual donation at a level of their choice. RI offers numerous designated funds to direct your contribution and maintains a five-star recommendation by the third-party Charity Navigator.
 
In March 2022, John celebrated the two-year anniversary of The Sullivan Group, a strategic advisory practice focused on real estate investment, economic development, and early-stage companies. John recently led the sale of the Westroads Pointe office building as managing partner of an equity group and has joined a partnership which is constructing multi-family “apartminiums,” slated to break ground in mid-2022 in Gretna and Elkhorn. John is also an investor and developer of an esports entertainment facility targeted to Omaha’s 18-34-year-old creative class and future STEM leaders. He serves as fiduciary of a 40M condominium building, a trustee of St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church and School, and a supporter of the John Paul II Newman Center at UNO. In Q1 2022, John recruited new leadership for the Midtown Crossing Homeowner’s Association board of directors where he is slated to become president of one of three condominium buildings in April 2022.  John enjoys living, working, playing and serving with other Rotarians in the exciting urban core.

Omaha, NE (April 4, 2022). Last week at Rotary, new UNO Chancellor Joanne Li was our speaker and Rotarians and Rotarians guests filled the ballroom at Field Club of Omaha to welcome Chancellor Li to Omaha. In a highly-spirited speech, Chancellor Li shared her vision for UNO. When asked how many fellow Asians she has so far met, she answered around 28. She was then warmly welcomed by Adam Leong, JZ Zuo, and Yolanda Hoffman making her Asian-American friends to 31. Pictured to the left are Yolanda Hoffman, Chancellor Li, and Adam Leong (photo credit: President Aileen Warren). MIA was JZ.

Also, last week, TRF Chair Heather Legge recognized Dee Haj as Paul Harris Fellow +1. Spencer Secor introduced our newest member Chris Tooley of Methodist Health System. 
 

At the podium is Chancellor Li addressing the Rotarians


TRF Chair Heather Legge recognized Dee Haj as Paul Harris Fellow +1

 

Newest Rotarian Chris Tooley with President Aileen Warren and Membership Chair Spencer Secor

Steve McCollister  is striving hard to maintain a perfect Rotary attendance. He recently travelled to Blair, Nebraska, not only to get attendance credit but more importantly to listen to a speaker who is currently based in Russia but was in town, Nathan Hunt. 

Stephen Center partners with the community, families and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty.

 

Stephen Center has served the homeless and low-income in Omaha since 1984 through their three programs: Emergency Shelter, HERO Program and Transitional Living Program.

 

The Omaha Downtown Rotary partners with Stephens Center in serving hot meals to its residents. On April 1st, Lindy Hoyer, Jim Stewart, Sandy Lemke, and Tobi Mathouser helped serve 110 meals.
 

L to R: Lindy Hoyer, Jim Stewart, Sandy Lemke, and Tobi Mathouser

The Omaha Downtown Rotary Foundation is glad to announce that it is now accepting community grants applications until May 1, 2022. Please visit our website for more information, or click here. For questions, send an email to grants@omaharotary.org.