Winners Circle Vision and History

The Winners Circle Educational Foundation was established in 1996. Winners Circle was developed from an “Adopt-a-School” relationship between Cookie and Jerry Hoberman, owners of Tires, Inc., and Belvedere Academy, an inner-city public elementary school in North Omaha. The key elements of the program were based upon the successful incentive system applied at Jerry Hoberman’s business. Adaptation of these elements to the educational setting was completed by the Hobermans and the Belvedere Academy principal, creating the Winners Circle Program.

The Winners Circle's goal is to improve access to educational opportunities and promote academic success for all students. The program does this using an approach of early intervention that targets students in grades Pre-K through Six. We believe that providing disadvantaged elementary-age students with rewards and positive feedback for academic achievement and good citizenship at an early age will establish a foundation for subsequent educational success. We further believe this foundation is essential to prepare these students for educational opportunities beyond high school.

Winners Circle utilizes Goal Buddies, corporate and individual volunteers, who motivate the students involved in the program. Goal Buddies meet one-on-one with students throughout the school year and serve as role models and motivators to individual classrooms. More than 250 Goal Buddies currently volunteer their time in participating classrooms, encouraging students to succeed academically and encouraging students to be good citizens.

In 2007, Winners Circle joined forces with All Our Kids, a mentoring and scholarship program targeted to high-risk middle school and high school students, to form Partnership for Our Kids. Working together the two organizations ensure children are provided the support to achieve their educational goals from elementary school through high school.