Simon Says: "Live a Better Life" Mission

Simon Says: “Live a Better Life” Mission along with Olive Crest UMC, provides Birthday Celebrations and High School Scholarships for children experiencing hardships; whether financial, emotional or physical.

The inspiration for the mission was Simon Jones. He lived a courageous and generous lifetime in 18 short years. The last 5 years he did so battling a rare, aggressive cancer. In the last year of his amazing life he began writing an inspirational Facebook blog entitled
Simon Says: “Live A Better Life”.
Through this blog he encouraged thousands with a simple message.
“Find the blessing in what you think is a struggle and use it to make the world a better place. We get to choose how we put it back out into the world".

You can choose to be the light and hope for someone else by being the kingdom of God right here on Earth. Simon lived that life lesson to the fullest and by doing
so has shown us all how to 'Live a Better Life'.

One of Simon’s passions was the Simon Says’ “Happy Birthday” Toy Drive that he created for the Living Hope Food Pantry. In a few short months his efforts collected over 300 toys.
After he passed away his family along with Olive Crest UMC,
decided to continue his message by creating the

Simon Says: “Live a Better Life” Mission.

Currently we offer four types of Birthday Celebrations for children facing hardships and an annual Scholarship for a High School Senior. These programs are offered to children ages 1-18 facing financial, emotional or health related issues.

Programs

The Birthday Party Program provides a monthly party at local outreach organizations. Children ages 1-18 with birthdays in that month will be invited to celebrate. Simon Says Mission will provide all the party supplies, entertainment, and presents for each birthday child. Currently we offer parties at the Open Door Mission, Ronald McDonald House, Project Intentional, NorthStar Foundation and through the Completely KIDS Shelter Program.

The Birthday Kit Program provides a themed party kit filled with presents and supplies for children to celebrate their birthday at their own convenience. The Simon Says Mission will make the kits available to the child by recommendations from outreach organizations based on family circumstances, health issues and
financial hardships.

The Birthday Wish Program provides individual children with a Birthday Party at a local "Birthday Party Venue" where they can invite their family and friends, Recommendations from outreach organizations based on family circumstances, health issues and financial hardships will be considered for this program.

The Birthday Blessing Program distributes new books and room decorations to children who are inpatient at Children’s Hospital on or near their Birthday. Simon Says provides the books and supplies and the Child Life Department decorates the child's room.

The Simon Says: Live A Better Life Scholarship is awarded to a student that, despite the struggles of their circumstances, has strived to help others either through volunteer work or by the way they have chosen to make a difference in their community or family and at the same time continued to make school a priority.

How You Can Help

Click on the links below to help support our mission and to #CreateJoyDuringHardships

Mail

Donate your Birthday or an “In Memory” Birthday to fund a Birthday Kit or Birthday Wish for a child. Contact us for more information.

Donate to Simon Says

Support Simon Says: “Live a Better Life” with monetary donations. As a mission of the Olive Crest United Methodist Church we will use all donations to provide Joy to children experiencing hardships through our programs. Checks can be made payable to Olive Crest UMC (memo: Simon Says Mission) and be mail to: Olive Crest UMC 7180 North 60th St. Omaha NE. 68152 .

Host a Toy Drive, Book Drive, Teen Gift Card Drive or Party Supply Drive at your place of work, worship or neighborhood. Donations from the drives will provide Joy to children we support through our programs. Contact us for more information.

Mail

Donate to OPSF

Contribute to the Simon Says: “Live a Better Life” Scholarship through the Omaha Public Schools Foundation. When you donate to OPSF please select the Scholarships tab at the top of the page. In the drop-down menu choose the Donate to OPSF Scholarship tab. You will open a donation form, look for Simon Says Scholarship in the drop-down menu, then follow the prompts.

SHOP

Provide New Unwrapped toys or books for children ages 1-12 and gift cards for the teens. Call Brenda Jones @ 402-571-7468 to arrange a pick-up or shop our Simon Says Wish Lists on Amazon. (Send toys and books to: Simon Says Mission 11435 Sahler St. Omaha, Ne. 68164)

JOIN US

Became a Birthday Party Partner: Your business
or group chooses the month that they would like to support one of our Simon Says: “Happy Birthday” Parties. As a partner you provide volunteers, games and food for the party. Volunteers will set-up, interact with the children and clean-up.