These families devoted to service

To mark Family Week, Heartland Family Service will honor four Nebraska families, four Iowa families and an educator at its Salute to Families Celebrations this month.

The Iowa event will be Thursday at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. The Nebraska celebration will follow a week later, on Nov. 17, at the Happy Hollow Club.

Nominations for the Salute to Families honors, handed out since 1982, are submitted each year by the public. The recipients are selected for their strong family life and service to their communities.

The family honorees are selected in four categories: Community Service, Leadership, Challenged and Successful, and Commitment to Family.

An additional award, the National Family Week Advocacy Award, will be presented this year to Gene Haynes, Omaha North High School principal. This honor is given to an individual who has demonstrated direct action in the services or issues that strengthen families.

"The Salute to Families event is a wonderful way for our community to celebrate the strength of its families," said John Jeanetta, president and CEO of Heartland Family Service. "Most of us don't take enough time to regularly appreciate how precious our families are to us. This celebration serves as a reminder to express that appreciation to our family members."

The National Family Week Advocacy Award

Gene Haynes — has been a teacher, coach and principal with the Omaha Public Schools for more than 40 years.

Haynes agrees that the diverse student body at Omaha North faces big challenges. As its principal, he understands and promotes the critical importance of family stability and support, which allow students to succeed.

He is active in north Omaha's Project Impact, the Urban League of Nebraska, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Pacesetter Scholarship Committee. His leadership is reflected in the annual Owens Educational Services Gene Haynes Community Service Award.

Haynes recently received the African-American Congressional History Award.

Iowa families to be honored

Community Service

The Dave and Arian Haddix family of Council Bluffs — Dave and Arian cq have made community service a way of life for their family. Even though their children are young — Hunter, 11; Jocelyn, 10; and Cooper, 4 — they have already learned the importance of giving back.

Arian and Dave have both lost family members and friends to cancer, so they became involved with the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. They started as volunteers, became members of the planning committee and, eventually, chairmen of the Pottawattamie County event. Arian is now a full-time employee of the cancer society ACS.

The Haddixes have raised their children to be passionate about helping others, and they work together, as a family, to help the cause. Jocelyn and Hunter joined their first relay at just 5 and 6 years old. Cooper has participated ever since he was just 6 weeks old. And the three children haven't missed a race since then.

Jocelyn even serves as captain of her own team, the Lemonheads, and raised more than $1,000 this year. Together, the Haddix family views Relay for Life as a way to do something for those who can't.

Beyond their commitment to the American Cancer Society, the Haddix family helps out wherever they are needed. Arian and Dave They are also involved with the Pottawattamie County Tobacco Prevention Coalition, their children's Parent-Teacher Organization, coaching youth soccer, Leadership Council Bluffs and the Fill the Bus campaign.

Leadership

The Mick and Judy Guttau family of Treynor, Iowa — Mick and Judy's leadership and their commitment to each other and to their community has made a lasting impact on everyone around them.

After Mick served in Vietnam, the couple settled in Treynor. Mick, who majored in agriculture, took a job at the local bank, where he had the opportunity to helped other local farmers — something he was passionate about. Through a fortunate series of events, The couple purchased Treynor State Bank in 1978 and have developed it into TS Bank. Mick is chairman and CEO, and Judy is secretary of the board. Mick also serves as chairman of the board of Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.

Several organizations benefit from the support and assistance of the Guttaus, including Living Hope Community Church, Mercy Hospital, Deaf Missions, 4-H, Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, The Center, the Arts Center at Iowa Western Community College and Treynor Optimist Club.

The couple's two adult children — Heidi and Josh — observed and learned from their parents' example and are now passing their strengths on to their own children. Heidi is an attorney for Baird Holm, serves on the TS Bank board of directors and is active in HOPE Net Ministries, Deaf Missions, Vision Treynor Group and Fellowship of Faith Christian Center. Heidi and her husband, Rick Fox, have three children, Brock, 9; Blake, 7; and Emmersen cq, 5.

Josh is president and CFO of TS Bank and has served as a board member for Heartland Family Service, Treynor School District and Mercy Hospital, among other organizations. Josh and his wife, Shelly, have four children, Star'onna cq, 15; Shianne cq, 14; Joslyn, 6; and Dane, 3.

The family's leadership, dedication and contributions have strengthened Treynor and surrounding communities.

Challenged and Successful

The ReAnn, Ryan and Anna Hildebrand family of Oakland, Iowa — The Hildebrand family was rocked by a terrible tragedy: Father and husband Dean died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack in front of the children. At the time, Ryan was 10 and Anna was 8.

Dean had been loving and devoted, and his death left a painful void in the family. After his passing, his widow, ReAnn, faced many challenges: keeping her family together, healing her young children and keeping their "mom-and-pop" feed business going in order to support the family.

The work was hard and proved to be more than a single mom could handle. Friends and neighbors pitched in to help keep the business afloat. ReAnn struggled with two priorities — grow her husband's legacy through his business or invest that energy in helping their children grow to their potential. She knew what Dean's advice would be and she sold the company.

These were hard times for the family. But through ReAnn's enduring strength and fierce love for her children, they pulled together and worked through those challenges. The three of them are incredibly close and lean on one another through every trial and celebration. This tragedy has given them a unique perspective, and they have an admirable ability to focus on what is important in life.

Today, Ryan is a sophomore at the University of South Dakota, studying English, and is a member of the college marching band. Anna, a senior at Riverside High School, has participated with the school's golf, volleyball, softball and girls basketball teams.

Commitment to Family

The Shane and Amy Sanders family of Council Bluffs — The concept of family comes naturally to the Sanders family. Upon meeting them, one immediately sees that this is a family built on a strong foundation of love and acceptance.

Shane and Amy met after high school, married and had two children, Logan, now 16; and Mackenzie, 13.

Through Amy's work as a nurse with the Children's Respite Care Center in Omaha the Sanders family has spent a great deal of time together volunteering to help children with special needs.

In 2004, Zach arrived at the center as a foster child. He was born prematurely with a crack cocaine addiction. Despite being told that Zach would have developmental setbacks, the entire Sanders family soon fell head over heels. Shane and Amy's children begged their parents to make Zach hary a part of their family.

After careful consideration, Shane and Amy became foster parents and, by 2006, had officially adopted Zach. He continues to challenge the doctors' warnings as he develops into a healthy and active 7-year-old.

In 2007, the family fell in love again — this time with Carly, who has battled an inoperable cancerous tumor in her neck since birth. The three Sanders children wanted to share their family with her, and it wasn't long before she permanently became part of it.

Together, the four children are the focus and the joy of Shane and Amy's world. Despite the special needs of their family, they can't imagine their family any other way.

Nebraska families to be honored

Community Service

The Paul and Robin Bryant family of Omaha — Paul and Robin have worked to develop leadership qualities in urban teenagers.

In 2005, Paul walked away from a career in corporate finance. Following in the footsteps of his father, Doyle Bryant — a coach who influenced young people to make good choices and fulfill their futures — he developed a young leadership academy as executive director of Wesley House. Last November he moved on again, this time to establish the Leadership Institute for Urban Education and its Purpose Living Leadership Academy program.

Robin is also involved with the institute as well as being a member of the claims leadership team at State Farm Insurance. She credits her family's heritage of advocating for civil rights for steering her to a life of service to others.

The couple have instilled these concepts and beliefs in their own three children: Brazier, 19, a sophomore honor student at Hampton University in Virginia; Paul II, 15, a freshman at Creighton Prep who attended a junior leadership conference in Washington, D.C.; and Madison, 10, a fifth-grader at Holy Name who will dance in "The Nutcracker."

Leadership

The John and Lorry Gomez family of Omaha — John R. Gomez Sr. has long been an advocate for underserved people in the community. His wife, Lorry, enriches people's lives through her church and volunteerism.

John's position as union steward for Swift & Co. made him a valuable resource for community leaders and employees. As his reputation and his influence grew, he received numerous appointments and achieved city and state leadership positions, including the Omaha Civil Rights Board and the Strategic Planning Committee. He was 1989's Nebraska Hispanic Man of the Year.

Lorry taught music, John coached sports and their sons helped fill the house with laughter. John and Lorry both sing in the Our Lady of Guadalupe choir; Lorry also plays piano there and has done committee work for the church's ladies society.

In 1992, they established the Babe Gomez Chapter of the American G.I. Forum, which has awarded $150,000 in scholarships.

Their adult sons — Johnny Ray, Larry, Jerry, Tom and Dan — have continued the family's good deeds. Organizations that benefit from their leadership include Keep Omaha Beautiful, Omaha Economic Development Corp., Girls Inc. and the Omaha Community Playhouse. Musician Johnny Ray Gomez has provided volunteer entertainment for numerous organizations.

Challenged and Successful

The Jose and Maria Lopez family of Omaha — Jose and Maria faced critical health problems with their two sons, but their faith, a strong extended family and love for each other has sustained them.

Older son David, born in 1998, was a week old when he contracted viral meningitis, which resulted in brain damage, multiple disabilities and 350 to 400 seizures a day. After unsuccessful treatments, a neurologist tried a Ketogenetic diet. In three years, David's seizures stopped, and he was able to give up all medication.

Rafael, born in 2002, was diagnosed with Wilms' tumor, a rare kidney tumor in children. But surgery, chemotherapy and radiation have given Rafael a positive prognosis.

To pay forward all the support they have received, Jose, Maria and the children have become a resource for cancer families.

Jose also joined the board of directors of Parent Training and Information Nebraska. Maria helped set up Cuidando a Nuestros Angelitos, an organization that aids Hispanic families who have children with disabilities.

Both parents are members of Candlelighters of Omaha Kids Group, and they are certified family life and parenting instructors for the Omaha Archdiocese. Jose is on the Omaha Administrative Board of Appeals.

Commitment to Family

The Fred Zydek and Garold Storm family of Omaha — Fred and Garold took in Daryl, a teen with mental disabilities who was living with his brothers after their parents' deaths, to avoid the boy's being placed in an institution. After a year, he became a permanent member of the family.

Through ENCOR, the two men found John, who has Down syndrome, and took him in so Daryl wouldn't be an only child. Ten years later, Daryl's brother Gary was rescued from an abusive home and joined the family.

Today, Fred and Garold are retired, and their "boys" are leading healthy, productive lives with jobs and many friends. Fred and Garold have made arrangements for their sons in their wills so Daryl, John and Gary can continue to live in the home and receive services for the rest of their lives.

Fred and Garold are active members of First United Methodist Church. In making their family strong and enriched, all members care for others and make a contribution to the community.

The World-Herald news service contributed to this report.

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