Many years ago, I had the honor of interviewing Dick Holland, the legendary Omaha community leader and philanthropist renowned for his generous giving and even bigger heart. He and his wife, Mary, were enormous supporters of Omaha’s medical projects, arts, and education. He is perhaps best known for the iconic downtown building that bears his and Mary’s last name: the Holland Performing Arts Center, which was built in 2005 and has served as a primary cultural hub ever since. When reflecting on his largesse to the community, Holland shared that he and Mary felt duty-bound to give back to the community because they had been so fortunate in their own lives.
That spirit and sense of doing what’s right is evident throughout our city. It’s not just the monikers on prominent buildings (think surnames like Scott, Kiewit, Hawks, Buffett, Eppley, and Joslyn for starters), it’s also the small donors who contribute to local causes close to their hearts. It’s the community members who quietly volunteer for area nonprofits. It’s the folks who check in on elderly residents in their neighborhoods.
Omaha, is, in short, filled with people committed to making this city unlike any other in the nation. We are indeed the “Big O,” and I believe that letter stands for “openhearted.”
This issue explores the spirit of generosity that exists around the region through multiple lenses. There is Dan Whitney, better known by his stage name “Larry the Cable Guy,” who established the Git-R-Done Foundation along with his wife, Cara, to aid children and veterans though external organizations. Sophia Ochoa, a junior at Duchesne Academy, takes time out of her busy high school schedule to volunteer regularly at the Henry Doorly Zoo. Katie Wiliams and Jamie Schneider lead the Offutt Enlisted Spouses Club as a way for “spouses to support spouses.
These people are just the beginning of the generosity evident throughout this special issue. Every donation and effort, no matter how small, makes an impact, and we couldn’t be prouder to serve a community so filled with some of the most generous residents in the country.
With gratitude,
Kim Carpenter
Editor-in-Chief, Omaha Publications
kim@omahapublications.com
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