Join Bags of Fun Omaha for our Fifth Annual Game Night Gala for an evening filled with games, laughter, fun and purpose. Your participation helps bring Joy, Laughter & Relief to children facing life-threatening illnesses, including mental health challenges.
We’re excited to share that we’ve settled into our new home. Our new address is 2316 S 156th Circle, Omaha, NE 68130
Bags of Fun Omaha began its journey in September 2019, inspired by the wish of a 6-year-old girl, Gabby Krause, and a vision to bring the POWER OF PLAY to children facing life-threatening illnesses. From the beginning, our mission has been to deliver laughter, hope, comfort, and a little sense of normalcy during a time in a child’s life that can feel anything but normal.
What began as a heartfelt mission quickly grew into something much bigger. In our first year, we delivered more than 120 Bags of Fun to children in the Omaha area. Today, our medical bag program has reached over 2,000 children and families, thanks to the incredible generosity of our community and the support of our growing network of donors, volunteers, and community partners. We are proud to report that funds raised through Omaha fundraising efforts remain dedicated to supporting the Omaha program.
We work alongside Nebraska Medicine, Children’s Nebraska, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, and numerous nonprofit organizations to reach children facing critical and life-threatening illnesses. In partnership with Fat Brain Toys, a local toy company, we provide educational, developmentally appropriate, and engaging toys and activities tailored to each child’s age, interests, and individual needs. Every bag is thoughtfully customized to remind children that they are more than their illness and that they deserve moments of joy, play, and simply being a kid, even during life’s most difficult journeys.
In 2024, we expanded our mission by launching a youth mental health initiative in response to the growing mental health crisis affecting children and teens in our community. Through partnerships with Children’s Nebraska’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, Children’s Nebraska’s emergency department, Boys Town National Research Hospital’s behavioral health facility, and CHI Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, we provide Bags of Fun to youth experiencing mental health challenges. These bags offer comfort, encouragement, and meaningful reminders that they are seen, supported, and not alone. As we have grown this initiative, we have seen firsthand how important it is to bring moments of joy and connection to young people navigating mental health struggles.
Today, Bags of Fun Omaha continues to grow, reaching more families, building new partnerships, and raising awareness about the importance of the POWER OF PLAY in both medical and mental health journeys. While our reach has expanded, the heart of our mission remains the same: to bring joy into the hands of children when they need it most.
We are incredibly grateful for the Omaha community and surrounding region that make this work possible. With every bag delivered, we are reminded that even in the most challenging moments, a little joy can make a meaningful difference.
Mission: To deliver a Bag of Fun to every child fighting a critical, long-term and life-threatening condition.
Vision: We exist to bring joy, laughter and relief to every child whose health and happiness is threatened and/or compromised.
