By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview on our Kubota Podcast
When Lori Hansen received a phone call informing her she had been selected as North Platte Post's latest Community Hero for Kids, her first reaction wasn't pride—it was surprise.
"First of all, it was extremely surprising," Hansen said. "When you called, I was just shocked, actually."
But after the surprise wore off, Hansen saw the recognition as something else: an opportunity to shine a spotlight on children and families she has spent years advocating for.
Hansen was recently honored as a Community Hero for Kids, presented by Prairie Friends and Flowers, for her work creating opportunities for children with disabilities and special needs through the Level the Field Foundation.
Her involvement began with her own family.
Hansen's daughter has a disability and participated in Buddy Ball, an adaptive baseball program designed to give children of all abilities the opportunity to play. Through that experience, Hansen became involved with the program and eventually stepped into a leadership role.
What started as helping her daughter participate grew into a mission to help other families find the same sense of belonging and opportunity.
Over the years, Hansen watched children build friendships, gain confidence and experience activities that might otherwise be unavailable to them. She also saw gaps that still existed.
As her daughter grew older, Hansen recognized there were many children in the community looking for opportunities beyond traditional sports.
That realization helped inspire the creation and growth of the Level the Field Foundation, which now works to provide adaptive sports, recreational activities and social opportunities for youth with disabilities throughout Lincoln County.
"We know not every kid wants to play baseball and not every kid wants to play sports," Hansen said.
Her vision is to create opportunities that reflect a wide range of interests, whether that involves athletics, art, music, baking or other activities that help children connect with their peers and explore their talents.
Throughout the interview, Hansen repeatedly shifted attention away from herself and back toward the children and families the organization serves. She described those families as the foundation of the program's success and its biggest supporters.
"Our families live it every single day," she said.
That focus on others is part of what made Hansen stand out to those who nominated her for the award.
While teachers are often recognized for their impact on children, community members pointed to Hansen's work outside the classroom—creating opportunities, building programs and advocating for families whose needs can sometimes go unseen.
Today, Hansen continues to lead adaptive baseball programs while pursuing larger goals for the future, including expanding activities and eventually building an adaptive field in the community.
For Hansen, however, the mission remains the same as when she first became involved years ago: making sure every child has a place to belong.