“It really did catch us totally by surprise.” That’s how Amy Haddad and Steve Martin characterized their reaction to the news that they had been selected as Aksarben’s Most Honored Citizens for 2019.
Though they were taken aback by the honor, the fact that it’s based on community service and philanthropy makes this couple a perfect choice. “It prompted us to do a lot of reflection about how we look at philanthropy and what is important to us,” said Martin.
From Haddad’s perspective, the distinction comes with responsibility. “I feel there’s an obligation to represent Aksarben in a way that shows the positive impact the organization is having on our state.”
“Mogens and Cindy Bay handled the recognition of Aksarben’s first Citizens of the Year with such class. We began to think about how to build on the honor and not lose sight of the historic support of the event – how to thank those who have helped make Nebraska better over time,” said Martin.
Making Nebraska better is a theme the couple has embraced throughout the years, starting with their work to improve the delivery of health care. Each has an educational and professional background in the field, and while they retired a few years ago – Haddad from her post as a Creighton University professor and director of its Center for Health Policy and Ethics and Martin from his position as CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska – health care continues to be an important topic for them.
These days, Martin invests his time and capital in a handful of young companies that develop innovative medical technologies. He also is an active member of a number of boards, from local to international in scope.
Haddad recently added a Master of Fine Arts to her list of degrees, and now devotes much of her time to writing poetry with an emphasis on health care from the perspectives of provider, patient, caregiver and family member. As a former registered nurse who has faced medical issues of her own and also provided care for loved ones, she has deep insight into each role.
While poetry is a relatively new calling, the list of Haddad’s acclaims and awards is growing. A book of her work has just been published and her poems also are being incorporated into a prevalent health care textbook.
Both Haddad and Martin have long histories of nonprofit service, and though the couple continues to support health-related causes, their philanthropic efforts of late have become more focused on education and the arts.
Haddad is a board member of the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. “We’re the only state in the country that has a private/public partnership to fund the arts, so that’s pretty amazing. The idea that there’s an impact in the arts across the state that people aren’t likely aware of is profound. To me, it’s similar to what Aksarben is doing with the foundation scholarships – asking people to invest in students who they don’t personally know because it’s going to have an impact on the well-being of our communities in the future,” she said.
“The Aksarben Foundation scholarships are incredibly important for community stability, to help young people find meaningful careers and get a strong start with little or no debt,” Martin added. “Finding ways for more young people to get an education matters to us because knowledge is the great equalizer. And this experience has really refocused that.”
The interconnectedness of education, the arts and strong communities isn’t lost on the couple. It’s part of what makes them proud to represent the mission of the Aksarben Foundation as Nebraska’s Most Honored Citizens.
“Those are things that help retain our workforce. Today’s perspectives of art have become much more diverse, and our towns and cities need to keep up with that, said Martin. “It’s a big part of what’s being realized with the Foundation’s ‘Growing Together’ initiative in Norfolk, that we need to do more than build housing downtown. We also need to freshen up communal spaces and fund places for people to experience art. It’s all interrelated and we want to see that continue to branch out across the state as part of workforce development.”
Haddad and Martin also are believers in the internship program that’s part of Aksarben’s workforce development plan. “More and more companies are getting on board to meet the need for intern experiences so that young people can see the range of opportunities that are available out there. Internships provide young people with some direction and it’s a growing program that we know is working,” said Martin.
These types of partnerships are vital for the future of our state, according to Martin. “Aksarben recognizes there’s an opportunity to unite urban and rural Nebraska around strong communities, workforce development and the arts. They’re partnering with many, many other organizations in this effort, and that will only continue to grow.”
“It’s wonderful to see Aksarben bringing all of these elements together in a way that unites us and encourages younger people to get involved and see that there’s just so much to be proud of here,” said Haddad.
