When you think of Boys Town, what comes to mind? For many, it’s the 1938 movie “Boys Town” starring Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy who won an Academy Award for his performance. Some think of our founder Father Flanagan or an all-boys orphanage. If you’ve ever been to Nebraska, you may think of Boys Town as the Village where the more than 400 girls and boys we serve on campus every year call home. Boys Town can mean different things to people. That’s why whenever we interview a boy or girl on campus or a parent, teacher or employee, we ask them what Boys Town means to them by having them finish this sentence:
Boys Town is...
The responses we get are heartwarming, inspiring and sometimes even a little surprising. One thing is for sure, they always make me smile, feel proud of where I work and grateful to be able to witness and learn about the lives Boys Town changes. Here are some of my favorite responses:
Boys Town is... “home,” “a second chance,” “a home that I always wanted but never had,” “miraculous,” “changing how we deliver education,” “a place where I’ve learned to be happy again.”
See our latest heartwarming video featuring kids in our Family Home Program here in Nebraska.