2024 New Mexico Humanitarian Awards celebrate lives devoted to service

A couple who devoted decades to providing education, another couple that served the Jewish community, a resident who was pivotal in creating the National Hispanic Cultural Center, a community planner who fought for equity, and a 102-year-old aeronautical engineer.

The spirit of giving was alive this Thursday as the 2024 New Mexico Humanitarian Awards brought together these honorees and their supporters. Organized by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque with local community partners, the annual event celebrated those who have devoted their lives to the betterment of New Mexico and beyond.

The NMHA, founded in 2008, has become a tradition in New Mexico, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to humanitarianism. This year’s event at the JCC honored distinguished New Mexicans whose contributions span education, culture, social justice and philanthropy.

The evening’s honorees included Sarah and Doug Brown, Edward Lujan, Sandra Ortsman, and Marina Efroymson and Eric Maxon, who received the Harold B. Albert Jewish Community Service Award. Additionally, a new accolade, the Sustained Community Leadership Award, was presented to Harold “Hal” Behl, acknowledging his lifetime of service.

The first to be awarded that night were Sarah and Doug Brown, a couple whose love for New Mexico has translated into decades of philanthropy.

After being appointed as the 28th New Mexico State Treasurer, Doug was instrumental in revitalizing the state’s Treasury Department. And his contributions didn’t stop there; he served as the Dean of the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico, where he influenced the next generation of business leaders.

Sarah’s passion for helping children is seen in her work teaching English to Spanish-speaking students in California before moving to New Mexico. Once in New Mexico, she continued her dedication to the community by founding the Sarah Belle Brown Community Service Award at UNM, which honors faculty or staff who make significant contributions to the community. She has also been a driving force behind numerous nonprofits, bringing her energy and creativity to organizations such as the Women’s International Study Center in Santa Fe.

Doug, speaking about why he values service, said, “I found that fundraising was also friendraising.” He added that charity is where he found the best people he’s met.

Edward Lujan was recognized for his pivotal role in the creation of the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC). Lujan’s work for the NHCC began in the mid-1990s, when he played a central role in advocating for its creation. He served as the president of the center’s board while it was being formed, tirelessly working to secure funding and community support. His efforts resulted in the NHCC, a place that celebrates Hispanic heritage through art, music, education and history.

Lujan said that the center is not just a place for Hispanics, but about Hispanics for others to learn.

“If I teach you my culture, there’s a good chance you’ll teach me yours,” he said. “And if we do that, can you imagine what this world would look like?”

Sandra Ortsman, a seasoned community planner, has been a driving force in advancing social justice and equity across New Mexico.

Since joining the board of Encuentro, a nonprofit dedicated to immigrant rights education and career development, in 2015 and later leading it as president, she has been important in guiding the organization through significant strategic planning and expanding its support network.

Ortsman also serves as an adjunct instructor at the School of Architecture and Planning. Each fall, she teaches students the skills to engage in community-based practice, with a focus on uplifting marginalized populations.

The Harold B. Albert Jewish Community Service Award was presented to couple Marina Efroymson and Eric Maxon.

Maxon has been a pillar in the Jewish youth community for more than 30 years through his involvement with BBYO, the leading Jewish teen movement. His work with BBYO has taken him across the globe, including multiple trips to Israel, where he has helped foster meaningful experiences for youth.

Efroymson worked as a resettlement coordinator for Jewish Family Services, where she helped Eastern European Jews, as well as members of the Baha’i and Muslim communities, find housing, secure jobs and access language classes in Albuquerque. She has also been an advocate for financial literacy through her volunteer efforts with Junior Achievement, where she educates students on the importance of managing finances and instills the value of philanthropy at an early age.

Harold “Hal” Behl, 102 years old, was the recipient of the Sustained Community Leadership Award.

Behl’s career began with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering. His early career saw him working in aeronautics and propulsion science, working with the Boeing Company and the Strategic Defense Initiative Office.

Despite a career that could have kept him in national defense and engineering, Behl chose to focus much of his energy on the city of Albuquerque. He became involved with the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, where he served as a trustee and is now trustee emeritus. Behl was instrumental in shaping the museum’s direction and ensuring its role as a key educational resource.