Receive Harlan J. Noddle Distinguished Development Service Award
The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s top fundraising team has been honored by the University of Nebraska Foundation.
UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., and John Niemann, Ed.D., senior vice president of the University of Nebraska Foundation, were honored last month with the Harlan J. Noddle Distinguished Development Service Award.
"Working with these two honorees has been a happy experience for us," said longtime university benefactor Ruth Scott, who along with her husband, Bill, presented the awards at the foundation’s annual meeting of trustees.
The Scotts have made multiple gifts to UNMC, including the lead gifts on new buildings for four UNMC colleges — medicine, nursing, public health and pharmacy.
Ruth Scott stole the show with her humorous comments on the two award winners.
"John is always smiling because he collects the dollars," she said. "Hal is always smiling because he gets to spend the dollars and the entire state of Nebraska is smiling because we enjoy the highest level of quality health care from our professionals — trained to perfection at UNMC."
She added, "There is a song, ‘Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets,’ so John worked tirelessly by Hal’s side to see that whatever Harold wants, Harold gets."
The award is in memory of Noddle, a longtime University of Nebraska supporter who served in various volunteer roles for the foundation, including chairman of the board of directors. Noddle died in 2005. The award, created in partnership with his family, recognizes a university or foundation staff member who exemplifies Noddle’s initiative, honesty, integrity, compassion, commitment, foresight, tolerance and diligence.
Chancellor for 13 years, Dr. Maurer’s vision and strategic plan has repositioned UNMC from a regional to a national center of excellence in the 21st century.
With the foundation since 1987, Niemann has been instrumental in developing long-term relationships with many Omaha philanthropists and supporters of the university.
The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that has connected the dreams and passions of donors to the mission of the university for more than 75 years. In 2011, donors gave more than $172 million in gifts to scholarships, academic programs, medical research and other priorities at the university. The foundation’s $1.2 billion fundraising initiative, the Campaign for Nebraska: Unlimited Possibilities, concludes in 2014. For more information, visit nufoundation.org.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.