Yanneys’ contributions honored at new MMI building

Mike Yanney and Gail Walling Yanney, MD, were honored at a ceremony June 9 at the Munroe-Meyer Institute to mark the naming of the Yanney Conference Center in the new MMI building.

UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, and MMI Director Karoly Mirnics, MD, thanked the Yanneys for their support of MMI, UNMC, the University of Nebraska System and countless other philanthropic endeavors throughout the state.

“Certainly, from our perspective, the Munroe-Meyer Institute would not have been built without their efforts,” Dr. Mirnics said. “They are just remarkable people. But probably a little bit lesser known is that they are great boosters of art and great believers in healing art.”

Melonie Welsh, director of community relations at MMI, said MMI's commitment to the health and wellness for families through art expression and enjoyment — exemplified in the carefully chosen artwork that is displayed throughout the building — is another example of the synergy MMI feels with the Yanneys.

To recognize the Yanneys’ support of healing art, MMI and the University of Nebraska Foundation unveiled a painting by Council Bluffs artist Andrew Peters that will hang in the new Yanney Conference Center. Peters was on hand at the event and spoke of the healing power of art.

MMI’s Rachel Ray and local artist Robert Dewaele also presented the Yanneys with a bronze sculpture created by Dewaele and his students in one of MMI’s Arts and Advocacy classes.

“We thought a long time about how to honor you here,” Dr. Gold said to the Yanneys. “We thought the conference room was the best way to do it, because this is where we receive visitors from all over the world; this is where the most significant decisions are going to be made and have been made about the Munroe-Meyer Institute; this is where the families and patients will derive the benefits of all the care and caring that you have brought forward.”

Mike Yanney spoke in thanks at the conclusion of the event, praising the leadership of Drs. Gold and Mirnics.

“When you have the right leadership, you can really generate people to get behind you,” he said.

Dr. Walling Yanney told the story of a cowboy who found a turtle atop a fence post.

“And he said to his friend, ‘Look at that. What do you make of that?’

“And his friend riding with him said, ‘Well, it didn’t get there by itself.’

“That’s very true for Mike and me,” she said. “We’ve met some wonderful people; we’ve had some wonderful opportunities. We are incredibly blessed – over and over again – to be associated with people just like every one of you. And we thank you very much for what you do every day – and if we can add to it, we need to be there.”