December 2024-January 2025

Movers &Makers

Dec. ’24/Jan. ’25

Publishers’ Letter 4

Arts & Culture 5

MoversMakers.org

May Festival announces two top leaders 5

Sign Museum acquires rare ‘rotosphere’ 5

Emmett Till exhibit coming to Freedom Center 6

ETC goes down rabbit hole with new ‘Alice’ 6

Books for holiday gifting 7

Is ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie? | By David Lyman 8

The A&C List 10

Cover Profile 18

GCF CEO Matthew Randazzo | By John Faherty

Notable Couples

20

The Well – Special advertising section

The Datebook 36

Social calendar with a spotlight on the movers and makers behind Greater Cincinnati’s fundraisers, friend-raisers and community events

Nonprofit News 39

Names in the News 40

Snapshots

42

Christ Hospital Gala raises $2.3M for oncology 42 Ball was a Miracle for Nuxhall Foundation 44

UC Foundation honors volunteers 45

P&G alums celebrate A Night of Gratitude 46

Lighthouse raises $100K at Pinecroft 47

Root Ball supports Great Parks conservation 48

Tool Belt brings in $390K for PWC renovations work 49

Advocates come through with $366K for NKYCAC 50

Live & Let Bloom benefits Stepping Stones 53

OneSource gala illuminates paths to success 54

Bethany House bash earns $282K 55

FotoFocus celebrates art of the lens 56

Ignite Peace honors activists 57

Girl Scouts honor five Changemakers 58

Ruby Foundation garners $900K for foster care 62

CycleNation, Heritage Ohio, Findlay Market & more 64-65

The Last Word 66

Polly Campbell: On volunteering at the Freestore

Randazzo,

Honoring 125 Years of History

With an Investment in Your Future!

Twin Towers is a community of rich tradition with exciting renovations underway to make an impact on your future. New designs include renovated independent and assisted living apartments and a rejuvenation of our community areas.

“I’m thrilled with the advancements and evolution of senior living, especially with the multiple levels of living and care offered. We’ve positively increased residents’ quality of life in the three decades I’ve worked in senior living.”

-Scott McQuinn , President and CEO of Life Enriching Communities

Cover photo: Matthew Randazzo

by Helen Adams for Movers & Makers

Myriad paths can lead to a life working within the nonprofit ecosystem – nearly as complex as the sector itself. This issue reflects some of that diversity.

We Mariners were relatively late arrivals on the nonprofit scene and our path was indeed an indirect one. We wondered about other couples working for nonprofits, separately or jointly, and we solicited nominations for pairs whose influence is seen to be on the upswing. See Page 20 to meet those selected.

Matthew Randazzo recently completed his first year at the helm of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the region’s leading community foundation. He has entered our region with eyes and ears open and has quickly established an open and collaborative spirit at the top of the giving pyramid. Matthew came to philanthropy largely as a result of benefiting from significant acts of generosity as a young boy. He shared milestones along his journey with John Faherty and how those shaped his

thinking. See Page 18. And thanks for your excellent photos, Helen Adams!

Know Theatre is offering a new holiday perspective this year. David Lyman examines the creation story of “ ‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas Movie,” the Know’s answer to that age-old question. See Page 8.

We asked the folks at Roebling Books in Northern Kentucky to share their suggestions for holiday book gifting. See Page 7 and stop by one of their three locations for browsing, a cold brew and a copy of M&M.

We are considering the value of our A&C List in print and

Thanks to everyone who attended one of our happy hours in 2024, and thanks to all our hosting venues: Join M&M for our

Mix & Mingle

our digital replica for 2025. How much do you value these listings in the magazine? Do you use them regularly? If you feel strongly, share your opinions with Thom: tmariner@moversmakers.org.

No matter your political affiliation, it’s clear we are entering a period of uncertainty in the nonprofit world. The new administration has sights set on smaller government and other changes that likely will make the work of nonprofits even more critical than ever before. See Polly Campbell’s thoughts on this topic (Page 66).

We ask you to act generously, giving of time and treasure, to support the organizations of your choice. If you would like to see Movers & Makers expand its voice on behalf of nonprofits, we will be grateful for your investment. Donate via the button on our homepage.

Happy Holidays!

Thom & Elizabeth Mariner, co-publishers

Elizabeth & Thom Mariner, co-publishers; Doug Bolton, board chair

Digital edition & daily posts MoversMakers.org

The Summit Hotel

The Metropolitan Club

Alcove By Madtree

American Sign Museum

Cinema OTR Home Court Tavern

Somm Wine Bar Cincinnati Ballet 21c Museum Hotel Eat Well

Special thanks to our Mix & Mingle sponsors:

Social media @moversmakerscincinnati Movers & Makers Magazine @moversmakers

Advertising & distribution Thom Mariner, 513-543-0890 or tmariner@moversmakers.org

Creative & accounting

Elizabeth Mariner, emariner@moversmakers.org

News/calendar submissions editor@moversmakers.org

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Help keep nonprofit news FREE to all in Cincinnati

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For their work on this issue, our gratitude to:

• Casey Weldon, associate editor

• Phil Fisher and Ray Cooklis, copy editors

• Shasta Taber, volunteer proofreader

• All the nonprofits that contributed news and photos.

Arts coverage supported by:

Publishing schedule

 moversmakers.org/publishing-schedule

Publication of this magazine and its website (MoversMakers.org)

Arts & Culture

Renée Fleming, artistic director of 2025 May Festival (right)

Julianne Akins Smith, new May Festival executive director

May Festival announces lineup, appointment of top leaders

Cincinnati May Festival has made two major announcements: the lineup for its upcoming festival, featuring renowned American soprano Renée Fleming as its director for 2025, and the hiring of Julianne Akins Smith as the new executive director for the festival, plus partner organizations Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble and the Cincinnati Boychoir.

Citing her “consummate artistry and revelatory examination of music at the intersection of arts and neuroscience,” the festival made the Grammy Award-winning Fleming the second director in its new artistic leadership model. The 2024 May Festival featured Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Julia Wolfe at the artistic helm.

Fleming and Matthew Swanson, May Festival director of choruses, will co-curate 2025 concerts. “Renée has curated an extraordinary series of programs that explore the depths of the human experience –from love and the beauty of dawn to the fragility of life on Earth,” Swanson said.

Fleming has augmented her illustrious career in opera, concerts and recordings by focusing on the intersection of health and the arts, leading the groundbreaking Sound Health Initiative.

Incoming executive director

Julianne Akins Smith, who has led the Wintergreen Music Festival in Virginia since 2016, was hired following a national search to administer the three arts groups. The organizations also cited her experience in business development, patron services, sales and operations roles with the Richmond Symphony in Virginia.

Smith also received praise for her work to promote educational initiatives, making them accessible to participants from all backgrounds.

The Vocal Arts Ensemble, a professional vocal ensemble established in 1979, has operated under a shared administrative services agreement with the May Festival since 2014.

The Cincinnati Boychoir and May Festival recently formed a new strategic alliance to share programming and access goals. Smith will oversee all three organizations.

Now in its 152nd season, the May Festival has announced a 2025 lineup that runs May 16-24 and includes highlights such as Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem,” Igor Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms” and a concert with Fleming performing a song program titled “Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene,” accompanied by the May Festival Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

 mayfestival.com, vaecinci.com, cincinnatiboychoir.org

Sign Museum acquires rare, iconic ‘rotosphere’ for display

The American Sign Museum will soon display a working rotosphere – one of 17 such advertising signs remaining from the original 234 produced –thanks to the work of Jamison Parker, operations manager for North American Signs.

The sign was removed from Factory Tile in South Bend, Indiana, by North American and held for ASM founder Tod Swormstedt, who delivered the disassembled sign to top rotosphere expert Alan Whitaker in Whiteland, Indiana, for restoration.

Rotosphere signs are possibly the largest, most dramatic

neon signs ever mass-produced. They were produced by Warren Milks, who made 234 of them between 1960 and 1971 at his sign shop in Bossier City, Louisiana. Only four are still fully operational.

The signs feature 16 aluminum spikes, each 8 feet long, outlined in neon and mounted on a ball that rotates in various directions.

As the sign from South Bend has to go through an uncertain period of restoration, the local museum has no timeline for when the rotosphere could go on display.

 americansignmuseum.org

Summerfair opens 2025 poster competition

Summerfair Cincinnati is seeking a unique design to serve as the visual icon for its 2025 fine arts and craft festival.

Every year, area artists submit concepts to become the official poster, which is the cornerstone of Summerfair’s advertising and public relations. The winning artist will receive a $3,000 prize.

Eligible artists must be at least 18 years old and live within a 75-mile radius of downtown Cincinnati. The piece can come in any medium, including pastels, oils, gouache or full-color photos and prints. The key is to design something versatile for various applications, such as the program cover, billboards, digital and print ads, and merchandise. The final artwork must be available in a high-resolution digital format.

The deadline for entries is Saturday, Jan. 11. Summerfair 2025 will take place May 31-June 1 at the former Coney Island amusement park site.

 summerfair.org

Photo by a ndrew eccles, d ecca

(left)

2024 winning poster

The rotosphere on its way to being restored.

‘Alice in Wonderland’ a holiday family treat

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is presenting a modern musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved “Alice in Wonderland,” a creative collaboration between two noted Cincinnati artists.

The holiday show is at ETC in Over-the-Rhine through Dec. 30. ETC describes it as “the toe-tapping story of a lost girl, a cool cat, a wild hare and the original ‘dancing queen’ … this beloved musical will delight audiences of all ages this holiday season.”

Joseph McDonough, resident playwright at ETC and Playhouse in the Park, wrote the book for “Alice,” as well as several other musical fairy-tale adaptations such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Frog Princess.”

Composer David Kisor, who has worked with ETC to create several musicals, such as “Robin Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Little Red Riding Hood,” wrote the score and lyrics for “Alice in Wonderland.”

The production’s premiere sponsor is The Markley Family, with the Otto M. Budig Foundation and Paylocity as artist sponsors. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati is at 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine.

 ensemblecincinnati.org

Emmett Till exhibit coming in 2025

A new exhibition at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center tells the tragic story of Emmett Till’s death and his mother’s fight to ensure his death was not in vain.

“Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See” opens Jan. 10, 2025, at the downtown Cincinnati museum. The exhibit focuses on the events surrounding the brutal murder of 14-yearold Emmett Till during his trip to Money, Mississippi in 1955.

Emmett, from Chicago, was abducted, tortured and murdered for whistling at a white woman outside a store in the segregated South. Days later, his mutilated body was found in the Tallahatchie River and sent back to Chicago, where

his grieving mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, waited.

Insisting on an open casket for her child, Mamie said, “Let the world see what they did to my boy.” The highly publicized killing helped spark the civil rights movement.

A centerpiece of the exhibition is a bullet-riddled, vandalized historical marker that both commemorates a tragedy and illustrates the ongoing problem of racism.

The exhibit is a collaboration between the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the Emmett Till and Mamie TillMobley Institute, and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center.

freedomcenter.org

Cincinnati Youth Choir announces promotions

Heather Vest has been promoted to executive director of the Cincinnati Youth Choir. She has served in various roles with the organization, including community programs and resident choirs. Also, Caitlyn McGlynn has become director of choirs and education. She has been with CYC for eight years, taking on responsibilities in marketing, branding and planning for the Queen City Choral Festival. cincinnatichoir.org

Music

https://www.bcbscholarship.org/

 Heather Vest  Caitlyn McGlynn

Amira F. Jackson, Elli Maddock, Timothy Belton and Char Adams at a rehearsal of ‘Alice in Wonderland’

American Museum. It opens at the Freedom Center on Jan. 10.

Books for gifting

 “Another Day: Sabbath Poems 2013-2023,” by Wendell Berry (poetry)

Wendell Berry’s first new poetry collection since 2016, this new selection of Sabbath poems is filled with spiritual longing and political extremity, memorials and celebrations, alongside the occasional rants of the Mad Farmer.

 “A Haunted Road Atlas” and “A Haunted Road Atlas: Next Stop,” by Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz (paranormal/travel)

Paranormal and true crime podcasters Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz share laughs, road-trip tips and some of the country’s most notorious crime scenes, hauntings and supernatural sightings.

 “Load in Nine Times,” By Frank X Walker (poetry)

For decades, Frank X Walker has reclaimed essential American lives through his pathbreaking historical poetry. In this stirring new collection, he reimagines the experiences of Black Civil War soldiers, including his ancestors, who enlisted in the Union Army in exchange for emancipation.

 “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks,” by Crystal Wilkinson (cooking/family history)

A lyrical culinary journey that explores the hidden stories of Black Appalachians through powerful essays and 40 comforting recipes from the poet laureate of Kentucky.

 “Illuminating Nature: Chasing Light across the Landscape,” by Jon Reynolds (nature photography)

For Jon Reynolds, photography is a pursuit of love. In “Illuminating Nature,” his mesmerizing photographs – waves crashing on Acadia’s Boulder Beach, the icy expanse of the South Dakota Badlands, a solar eclipse tracking above Arches National Park – invite the viewer to share in this admiration and reflect on the peace we find in nature.

 “The No-Girlfriend Rule,” by Christen Randall (young adult fiction)

This queer coming-of-age novel centers on a high school senior living in Covington, Kentucky. Shut out of her boyfriend’s role-playing game group by a “no-girlfriends” rule, Hollis widens her social circle by joining an all-girls RPG group. In the process, Hollis learns about herself and what she wants from life.

 “The River: River Rat to Steamboatman, Riding ‘Magic River Spell’ to 65-year Adventure,” by Capt. Donald J Sanders (memoir)

Capt. Donald Sanders’ column appears weekly in the NKy Tribune. “The River” collects decades of tales from his life, places, and people along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

 “Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball,” by Keith O’Brien (sports)

Sports journalist Keith O’Brien has created a page-turning work of narrative nonfiction chronicling the story of one of America’s most iconic, charismatic and still polarizing figures.

 The Man Who Saved Cincinnati,” by Peter Bronson (history)

Lew Wallace’s claims to fame are surprisingly varied. As a Union general in 1862, he was sent to rescue Cincinnati from a Confederate attack; his later accomplishments included territorial governor of New Mexico, diplomat to the Ottoman Empire in Constantinople and author of the novel “Ben-Hur.” 

This year’s holiday book recommendations are courtesy of the staff at Roebling Books with three locations in Northern Kentucky: Covington, Newport and Dayton.

roeblingbooks.com

According to Know Theatre:

‘Die Hard’ IS a Christmas movie

By David Lyman

Every year they arrive like clockwork.

I’m talking about holiday shows. There’s nothing wrong with the shows. After all, they’re productions that will inevitably be among the year’s best-sellers. You know the ones I’m talking about.

The Playhouse’s “A Christmas Carol” and Cincinnati Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” are the two big ones. But there are others. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati has its annual family musicals. And Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some).”

“A Christmas Carol.”

They are valuable pieces of the cultural landscape. But it’s rare to come across anything truly new. This year, there is something different, a newcomer on the holiday front. Know Theatre, the one professional theater without an annual holiday production, has decided to enter the fray.

In the past, they’ve had a couple of December shows that were as successful as they were quirky. But they weren’t really holiday shows. There was 2015’s “All Childish Things,” about a group of 30-something guys planning the heist of a warehouse full of “Star Wars” memorabilia. And 2019’s “Puffs,” a Harry Potter parody.

But this year, The Know has a new artistic director – Bridget Leak. And she has brought with her a few new ideas about how to expand audiences.

“The question was, how could we make a holiday tradition of our own,” recalled Leak. She didn’t have much time. She took over on May 1 and was tasked with developing a season and an annual budget by July 1. And as if that weren’t enough to have on her plate, she is directing this year’s Playhouse’s production of

Three weeks after she presented the Know Theatre board with a proposed lineup of shows, the theater announced a five-production season. And the holiday centerpiece was as unexpected, as you might expect from The Know: “‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas Movie.”

Holiday-themed mayhem?

Yes, it’s based on that 1988 movie filled with explosions, shootouts and all manner of bloody mayhem. So how does that sort of content add up to it being a Christmas movie? At the beginning of the story, we meet a freewheeling New York detective who travels to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve in hopes of reconciling with his estranged wife.

That’s pretty much it. There are some other Christmassy elements, mostly relating to an office Christmas party that is taken over by terrorists. The film’s distributor, 20th Century Fox didn’t see it as a Christmas story, either, choosing to release it on July 12, 1988.

But in the 36 years since its release, “Die Hard” has garnered a devoted following who are deeply committed to its place in the pantheon of Christmas entertainments.

“I am a firm believer that it is, in fact, a Christmas movie,” said Alexx Rouse, who, with A.J. Baldwin, was commissioned to craft a modestly priced, four-actor stage play out of a movie with hundreds of actors and a $25 million-plus budget.

A whole bunch of people agree with Rouse. According to a 2023 study by YouGov.com – an international research firm, not a government agency – 56% of adults born after 1993 who have actually seen “Die Hard” regard it as a Christmas movie. Among older folks – 65 and older – just 20% think of it in the same way.

That demographic breakdown mirrors The Know’s audience to a T.

“I’ll be honest,” said Rouse, who was born in 1994, “we started off with a very tangential relationship to ‘Die Hard.’ But we became very big Bruce Willis fans.”

Baldwin and Rouse knew one another casually. But they had never worked on a project together. So at the outset, they moved forward very tentatively.

“We are two very different writers,” said Baldwin, speaking from St. Louis, where she was performing in a production of Pedro Calderón de la Barca’s “Life is a Dream.”

Baldwin is a methodical writer, thoughtful

“‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas Movie,” opening Dec. 6 at Know Theatre. Phineas Clark, left, plays John, the character portrayed by Bruce Willis in the blockbuster 1988 film; and Beasley, right, plays several roles.

and systematic. Rouse, on the other hand, is an inveterate comedian and comic writer. Her mind moves so quickly that it is often difficult for the rest of us to keep up with her.

“I remember a point where we were working in our document online at the same time,” said Baldwin. “I was doing some editing. I had done two pages and noticed that she had done 12.”

Not a diehard ‘Die Hard’ fan

When Leak first approached Baldwin about the idea of turning “Die Hard” into a holiday show, she was skeptical.

“I had seen ‘Die Hard,’ obviously, but I can’t say that I was a diehard ‘Die Hard’ fan,” she said. “I was familiar with iconic moments from the movie. And I hear people randomly quote from it. But I definitely did not think of it as a Christmas play. It was just a movie with Bruce Willis.”

But as they discussed the idea at more length, Leak told her more about the family aspects of the story and encouraged her to expand on Christmas-themed elements.

“I was really grateful for her perspective,” said Baldwin. “After I spoke more with her, I realized that, as a writer, I do have a way into this story.”

Fortunately, Leak had hired Tatiana Godfrey to direct the play. Godfrey is the Playhouse’s literary manager. Her extensive work as a dramaturg is likely to be invaluable in wrangling this brand-new script into a stage-worthy production. New plays at larger theaters are often afforded the opportunity to workshop a script for months and sometimes years as they shape it into production-worthy form. Godfrey and her playwrights will only have weeks.

But Rouse said she has few concerns about these final steps of pre-production.

“I am just honored to be working on this,” she added. “I am well known as being a giant goober. And this is a good show for a goober to write on. Also, I haven’t been at The Know for a while. So when Bridget asked me, it was like she was inviting me back home. And it feels really, really good to be coming home for Christmas.” 

The cast of “‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas Movie”: Alexx Rouse (also co-writer of the script), Beasley, Phineas Clark and Andrew Ian Adams

Phineas Clark as John

The A&C List

Cultural Exhibits/Tours

American Legacy Tours | Over-the-Rhine. 859-951-8560. americanlegacytours.com

ƒ Historic tours in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

American Sign Museum | Camp Washington. 513-541-6366. americansignmuseum.org

ƒ Permanent collection

Archaeological Research Institute | Lawrenceburg. 812-290-2966. exploreari.org

ƒ Hands-on educational experiences in Southeast Indiana, Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

Behringer-Crawford Museum | Devou Park, Covington. 859-491-4003. bcmuseum.org

ƒ Artifacts and history of Northern Kentucky

Betts House | West End. 513-651-0734. facebook.com/thebettshouse

ƒ Oldest home in Cincinnati (by appointment only)

Brewing Heritage Trail Tour Center | Over-the-Rhine. 513-604-9812. brewingheritagetrail.org

ƒ Exploring Queen City brewing history

Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame | Brady Music Center, Smale Park, downtown. cincyblackmusicwalkoffame.org

ƒ Open daily, 6 a.m.-11 p.m.

Cincinnati Fire Museum | Downtown. 513-621-5553. cincyfiremuseum.com

ƒ Permanent collection

Cincinnati Food Tours | Over-the-Rhine. 513-602-5602. cincinnatifoodtours.com

ƒ Exploring Queen City food culture

Cincinnati Museum Center | Queensgate. 513-287-7000. cincymuseum.org

ƒ Thru Jan. 6. “Holiday Junction” feat. Duke Energy Holiday Trains

Cincinnati Nature Center | Milford. cincynature.org

ƒ Trails amidst old-growth forest

Cincinnati Observatory | Hyde Park. cincinnatiobservatory.org

ƒ Oldest professional observatory in the United States

Cincinnati Type & Print Museum | Lower Price Hill. cincinnatitypeprintmuseum.org

ƒ Permanent collection of equipment, tools and artifacts

Cincinnati Zoo | Avondale. 513-281-4700. cincinnatizoo.org

ƒ World-class fauna and flora

Friends of Music Hall | Music Hall, Over-the-Rhine. 513-621-2787. friendsofmusichall.org

ƒ Indoor and outdoor tours by appointment

Glendale Heritage Preservation | Glendale. 513-771-8722. glendaleheritage.org

ƒ Permanent exhibit. Displays of Glendale’s history

Greater Cincinnati Police Museum | Pendleton. 513-300-3664. police-museum.org

ƒ Permanent collection

Harriet Beecher Stowe House | Walnut Hills. 513-751-0651. stowehousecincy.org

ƒ Historic family home of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” author, and later a “Green Book” location

Heritage Village Museum | Sharonville. 513-563-9484. heritagevillagecincinnati.org

ƒ Dec. 3 & 10, 6:30-8 p.m. Christmas by Candlelight Dinner

ƒ Wednesday-Fridays, Dec. 4-13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 19th Century Holiday Guided Tour

ƒ Thursdays-Fridays, Dec. 5-13, 6-8 p.m. Holly & Hearth Nights

ƒ Dec. 18-20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Train Days

ƒ Dec. 14, noon-4 p.m. Holly Day: Prairie Little Christmas

ƒ Dec. 7, 7-10 p.m. Spirits by Starlight Ghost Tour

Holocaust & Humanity Center | Cincinnati Museum Center, Queensgate. 513-487-3055. holocaustandhumanity.org

ƒ Media, artifacts, art and interactive exhibitions commemorating the Holocaust

Krohn Conservatory | Eden Park. 513421-4086. cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks

ƒ Thru Jan. 5. “Solstice Glow”

Lloyd Library and Museum | Downtown. 513-721-3707. lloydlibrary.org

ƒ Permanent exhibit. George Rieveschl Jr.: History of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Loveland Castle & Museum | Loveland. lovelandcastle.com

ƒ Full-scale replica of medieval castle

Milford Historical Society | Promont, Milford. 513-248-0324. milfordhistory.net

ƒ Permanent exhibit. Historical displays of art, artifacts and more

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center | The Banks, downtown. 513-333-7500. freedomcenter.org

ƒ Jan. 10-April 6. “Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See”

National VOA Museum of Broadcasting | West Chester. 513-777-0027. voamuseum.org

ƒ Radio’s golden age and Cincinnati’s role in America’s global voice

Newport Aquarium | Newport. newportaquarium.com

ƒ Thousands of the world’s most exotic aquatic creatures

Skirball Museum | Hebrew Union College, Clifton. 513-221-1875. csm.huc.edu

ƒ Permanent exhibit: “An Eternal People: The Jewish Experience”

Tri-State Warbird Museum | Batavia. tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org

ƒ Permanent exhibitions of military and historic aviation

Revolution Dance Company director

David Choate’s “Hot Chocolate” returns for a fourth holiday season at the Carson-Kaplan Theater, Dec. 13-15

Valley View Nature Preserve | Milford. valleyviewcampus.org

ƒ Preserved 190-acre farm and open land

Vent Haven Museum | Ft. Mitchell. 859-341-0461. venthaven.org

ƒ World’s only museum dedicated to ventriloquism (by appointment only)

White Water Shaker Village | Harrison. whitewatervillage.org

ƒ Preserved historic village

Dance

Cincinnati Ballet | Music Hall, Over-the-Rhine. 513-621-5219. cballet.org

ƒ Dec. 19-29. “The Nutcracker”

College-Conservatory of Music | Corbett Theater, University of Cincinnati. 513-556-4183. ccm.uc.edu

ƒ Dec. 5-7. “Dance Works”

ƒ Dec. 13-15. Fall Youth Ballet Concert

DE LA Dance Company | Kennedy Heights. 513-871-0914. deladancecompany.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 15. “The Nutcracker, Jazzed Up!”

Miami Valley Ballet Theatre | Fairfield Community Arts Center, Fairfield. mvbtdance.org

ƒ Dec. 6-15. “The Nutcracker”

Mutual Dance Theatre | Mutual Arts Center, Hartwell. 513-494-6526. mutualdance.org

ƒ Dec. 5-14. “Up-Close: Nature/Nurture”

Revolution Dance Theatre | Jarson-Kaplan Theater, Aronoff Center, downtown. revodance.com

ƒ Dec. 13-15. David Choate’s “Hot Chocolate”

School for Creative & Performing Arts | Over-the-Rhine. 513-363-8100. scpa.cps-k12.org

ƒ Dec. 6-8. “The Nutcracker”

Fairs/Festivals/Markets

Adath Israel | Amberley Village. kellywalsh.space/sisterhood

ƒ Dec. 8, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Chanukah Bazaar

Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center | Covington. 859-431-0020. bakerhunt.org

ƒ Dec. 5, 4-8 p.m. Sip & Shop Art Market

Cincinnati Christkindlmarkt | Moerlein Lager House, Smale Park, downtown. cincinnatichristkindlmarkt.com

ƒ Wednesdays-Sundays thru Jan. 5

Cincinnati Nights of Lights | Clermont County Fairgrounds, Owensville. queencitylightshow.com

ƒ Thru Jan. 5. Drive-thru holiday light display

Cincinnati Zoo | Avondale. 513-281-4700. cincinnatizoo.org

ƒ Thru Jan. 5. Festival of Lights

ƒ Dec. 31, 8 p.m. Happy Zoo Year

City Flea | thecityflea.com

ƒ Dec. 7-8, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Factory 52, Norwood)

ƒ Dec. 14, 3-8 p.m. (Washington Park)

Civic Garden Center | Avondale. 513-221-0981. civicgardencenter.org

ƒ Dec. 5-7. Holiday Weekend

Covington Farmers Market | Braxton Brewing Company, Covington. greatneighborhoods.org

ƒ Dec. 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Holiday Market (Hellmann Creative Center, Covington)

Findlay Market | Over-the-Rhine. findlaymarket.org

ƒ Ohio’s oldest surviving municipal market house

ƒ Saturdays, Dec. 7-21, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Holiday Market Weekend

Great Parks of Hamilton County | 513-521-7275. greatparks.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 31. Holidays on the Farm (Parky’s Farm)

Kings Island | Mason. 513-754-5700. visitkingsisland.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 31. WinterFest

Madeira Farmers Market | Dawson Road at Miami Avenue, Madeira. madeirafarmersmarket.com

ƒ Thursdays, 4-6 p.m. Local growers and purveyors

Market Bleu | Contemporary Arts Center, downtown. marketbleu.com

ƒ Dec. 7, 6-10 p.m. Artisan handcrafts and fine arts

Midwest Prana Flea Market | Esoteric Brewing, Walnut Hills. midwestprana.com

ƒ Dec. 14-15, noon-6 p.m.

Northside Farmers Market | Heart of Northside, Northside. northsidefm.org

ƒ Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. Regional food and beverage market

Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce | otrchamber.com

ƒ Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Holly Jolly Jamboree Market (Vine Street, Over-the-Rhine)

Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum | Hamilton. pyramidhill.org

ƒ Thru Jan. 5. Pyramid Hill Lights Film

Cincinnati Museum Center | Queensgate. 513-287-7000. cincymuseum.org/omnimax

ƒ Now playing/OMNIMAX. “Blue Whales: Return of the Giants” • “Rocky Mountain Express” • “T. Rex”

Cincinnati World Cinema | Garfield Theatre, downtown. 859-957-3456. cincyworldcinema.org

ƒ Films from across the globe

Woodward Theater | Over-the-Rhine. 513-345-7981. woodwardtheater.com

ƒ Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m. “Stop Making Sense”

Literary/Lectures

Barnes & Noble | Virtual. 513-972-5146. stores.barnesandnoble.com/store/3408

ƒ Dec. 2, 7 p.m. Discussion: Shannon Messenger “Unraveled”

ƒ Dec. 12, 7 p.m. Discussion: A Holiday

Romance Panel Event with Tessa Bailey, Ally Carter, Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

ƒ Jan. 14, 3 p.m. Discussion: Grady Hendrix “Witchcraft For Wayward Girls”

Brady Music Center | Smale Park, downtown. bradymusiccenter.com

ƒ Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. Jordan Peterson

Cincinnati Art Museum | Eden Park. 513-721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum.org

ƒ Jan. 18, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. See the Story: Shelley Noble “Tiffany Girls”

Harriet Beecher Stowe House | Walnut Hills. 513-751-0651. stowehousecincy.org

ƒ Dec. 3, 7 p.m. A Harriet Beecher Stowe Christmas with author Pamela McColl

ƒ Dec. 4, 7 p.m. Discussion: “Christmas Hope in Adversity”

Joseph-Beth Booksellers | Rookwood Commons, Norwood. 513-396-8960. josephbeth.com

ƒ Dec. 4, 7 p.m. Discussion: Sharon Short “Trouble Island: A Novel”

ƒ Jan. 15, 7 p.m. Discussion: Alice Feeney “Beautiful Ugly: A Novel”

ƒ Jan. 16, 7 p.m. Discussion: Chloe Liese “Once Smitten, Twice Shy”

ARTS & CULTURE | The List

Mercantile Library | Downtown. 513-621-0717. mercantilelibrary.com

ƒ Newly reopened following renovation

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center | The Banks, downtown. 513-333-7500. freedomcenter.org

ƒ Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m. Nathaniel R. Jones Freedom Speaker Series: “Facing Racism Today”

Urban Appalachian Community Coalition | Virtual. uacvoice.org

ƒ Final Wednesday, 5-6:30 p.m. Place Keepers Wide Open Mic

The Well | Virtual. thewell.world

ƒ Jan. 22, 3 p.m. Mindful Poetry Moments Gathering: Elena Estella Green

Word of Mouth Cincinnati | MOTR Pub, Over-the-Rhine. cincywordofmouth.com

ƒ Final Sunday, 6 p.m. Open poetry

Music

ArtsWave | artswave.org

ƒ Jan. 17, 6 p.m. Flow Social for Cincinnati Pops: “Simply the Best” The Music of Tina Turner (Music Hall, Over-the-Rhine)

Athenaeum of Ohio | Mt. Washington. athenaeum.edu

ƒ Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. Athenaeum Chorale and Mount St. Mary’s Latin Schola: “First Vespers for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception” (Chapel of St. Gregory the Great)

Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas | St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Terrace Park. 513-831-2052. bachensemble.org

ƒ Dec. 8, 5 p.m. “Christmas at St. Thomas” orchestra and chorale

ƒ Jan. 26, 5 p.m. “Vespers” orchestra and Bachtet

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL

Sublime music in worship and concert

Sunday, December 1 | 5:00 pm

Advent Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 8 | 3:00 pm

Handel’s complete Messiah

Saturday, December 14 | 7:00 pm

Sheehan’s A Christmas Carol

Sunday, December 22 | 5:00 pm Christmas Lessons and Carols

Saturday, January 4 | 5:00 pm

Sunday, January 5 | 2:30 & 5:00 pm

The Boar’s Head Festival

The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra brings back its “Nutcracker Remix” as part of “Jingle Jazz,” Dec. 11 & 12 at The Redmoor.

Benjamin Carlson-Scholarship Foundation | School for Creative and Performing Arts, Over-the-Rhine. bcbscholarship.org

ƒ Jan. 19, 3 p.m. Benefit concert: Kelly Hall-Tompkins, violin

Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra | Summit City Church, Montgomery. 513-549-2197. bamso.org

ƒ Dec. 1, 7 p.m. Kindel Memorial Holiday Concert

Bogart’s | Short Vine, Corryville. bogarts.com

ƒ Dec. 6, 7 p.m. Benjamin Tod & Lost Dog Street Band

ƒ Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m. Tropidelic

ƒ Dec. 8, 6 p.m. Arin Ray

ƒ Dec. 14, 7 p.m. A Very Motherfolk Xmas

ƒ Dec. 15, 7 p.m. Juvenile

ƒ Dec. 18, 6 p.m. Zakk Sabbath

ƒ Dec. 20, 7 p.m. The Prince Experience

Dec. 27, 8 p.m. Sixteen Candles

Dec. 28, 6 p.m. The Wonderlands

Jan. 16, 7 p.m. Muscadine Bloodline Jan. 30, 5:30 p.m. Nile / Six Feet Under

Brady Music Center | Smale Park, downtown. bradymusiccenter.com

Dec. 8, 8 p.m. Derek Hough: “Dance for the Holidays”

Bromwell’s Härth Room | Downtown. bromwellshearthroom.com/music

Wednesday-Saturday evenings. Live jazz

Butler Philharmonic | 513-844-5151. butlerphil.org

ƒ Dec. 7, 7 p.m. Youth Orchestra: Holiday Concert (Fairfield High School)

ƒ Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. Home for the Holidays (Miami University Parrish Auditorium, Hamilton)

Caffe Vivace | Walnut Hills. 513-601-9897. caffevivace.com

ƒ Most evenings. Live jazz

The Carnegie | Covington. 859-957-1940. thecarnegie.com

ƒ Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. Queen City Cabaret “A Cozy Christmas”

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption | Covington. 859-431-2060. cathedralconcertseries.org

ƒ Dec. 8, 3 p.m. Basilica Bishop’s Choir: “Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols” ƒ Jan. 12, 3 p.m. An Epiphany Epilogue

Chamber Music Cincinnati | Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine. 513-342-6870. cincychamber.org

ƒ Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m. Sheku & Isata Kanneh-Mason

Christ Church Cathedral | Downtown. 513-621-1817. cincinnaticathedral.com

ƒ Dec. 1, 5 p.m. An Advent Procession with Lessons and Carols

ƒ Dec. 15, 7 p.m. “A Christmas Carol,” Charles Dickens’ story retold by narrator and choir

ƒ Dec. 22, 5 p.m. A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

ƒ Jan. 4-5. 85th annual Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival

ƒ Jan. 12, 5 p.m. An Epiphany Procession

ƒ 12:10 p.m. Music Live@Lunch (Christ Church Chapel):

ƒ Dec. 3. Queen City Klezmorim

ƒ Dec. 10. Heri et Hodie, women’s vocal ensemble

ƒ Dec. 17. Benjamin Britten: “A Ceremony of Carols,” Trebles of Cathedral Choir

ƒ Jan. 7. Laney and the Tramps

ƒ Jan. 14. Clark and Jones Trio

ƒ Jan. 21. Donald Broerman, guitar, Michael Ronstadt, cello

ƒ Jan. 28. James Loughery, jazz piano

Christ Church Glendale | Glendale. 513-771-1544. christchurchglendale.org

ƒ Dec. 5, 12:05 p.m. Abe Wallace, organ

ƒ Dec. 15, 4 p.m. Nine Lessons & Carols

ƒ Jan. 9, 12:05 p.m. Queen City Sisters

Do you use these listings?

We are considering some changes to our print magazine (and digital replica) and need to hear from you. Are the A&C Listings important to you, or would you rather see more room for other kinds of content? Let us know your thoughts. Use the QR code to email Thom at tmariner@moversmakers.org

Cincinnati Camerata | cincinnaticamerata.com

ƒ Dec. 14, 3 p.m. “Incarnate: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love” (Trinity Episcopal Church, Covington)

ƒ Dec. 15, 3 p.m. “Incarnate: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love” (St. Catharine of Siena Catholic Church, Westwood)

Cincinnati Civic Orchestra | 513-861-9978. cincinnaticivicorchestra.org

ƒ Dec. 8, 4 p.m. Holiday Concert (ArtsConnect, Springfield Township)

ƒ Dec. 12, 7 p.m. Holiday Concert (Kenton County Library, Erlanger)

Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra | 513-280-8181. cincinnatijazz.org

ƒ Dec. 11-12, 7 p.m. Big Band Series: “Jingle Jazz: The Nutcracker Remix” (The Redmoor)

ƒ Dec. 15, 2 p.m. Jazz@First Series: “White Christmas” w/ Phil DeGreg Trio and special guests (First Unitarian Church, Avondale)

Cincinnati Symphony & Pops | Music Hall, Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-3300. cincinnatisymphony.org

ƒ Nov. 30-Dec. 1. (Pops) “Home Alone: Film in Concert” Damon Gupton, conductor

ƒ Dec. 6-7. (CSO) Bach: Christmas Oratorio. Richard Egarr, conductor. May Festival Chorus. Joélle Harvey, soprano; Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano

ƒ Dec. 13-15. (Pops) “Holiday Pops” Norm Lewis, vocalist (also, livestream)

ƒ Dec. 31, 8 p.m. (Pops) “Let’s Misbehave: The Music of Cole Porter” Tony DeSare, piano and vocals; Aubrey Logan, trombone and vocals; John Manzari, tap dance and vocals

ƒ Jan. 3-5. (Pops) “A Night at Hogwarts: The Music of Harry Potter”

ƒ Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m. (CSO) “Copland: Symphony in Light”

ƒ Jan. 11-12. (CSO) “Rachmaninoff &

Copland” Matthias Pintscher, conductor; George Li, piano

ƒ Jan. 14, 7:30 p.m. (CSO Recital) “Hilary Hahn in Recital” Hilary Hahn, violin

ƒ Jan. 17-19. (Pops) “Simply the Best: The Music of Tina Turner” Damon Gupton, conductor

ƒ Jan. 24-25. (CSO) “The Magic Cello” Christian Reif, conductor; Ilya Finkelshteyn, cello

ƒ Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m. (Winstead Chamber Series) “Folk Traditions” (Music Hall Ballroom)

ƒ Jan. 31-Feb. 1. (CSO)

“Strauss & Debussy” Jun Märkl, conductor; Elizabeth Freimuth, horn

Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra | Music Hall, Over-the-Rhine. cincinnatisymphony.org/csyo

ƒ Dec. 8, 2 p.m. (Philharmonic)

“Invitation to the Dance”

ƒ Dec. 15, 7 p.m. (Concert Orchestra) “Slavonic Legends”

Cincinnati Youth Choir | CollegeConservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. 513-556-4183. cincinnatichoir.org

ƒ Dec. 14, 2 & 5 p.m. Cincinnati Youth Choir, Anthony Trecek-King, artist-in-residence (Corbett Auditorium)

Classical Revolution | classicalrevolutioncincinnati.com

ƒ Second Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Chamber music in casual bar setting (various)

Clifton Cultural Arts Center | Clifton. 513-497-2860. cliftonculturalarts.org

ƒ Dec. 8, 2 p.m. CSO Holiday Concert

College-Conservatory of Music | University of Cincinnati. 513-556-4183. ccm.uc.edu

ƒ Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. Chamber Music Bash (Cohen Studio Theater)

ƒ Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. Musica Nova (Cohen Studio Theater)

ƒ Dec. 7, noon. Chamber Music Bash (Watson Recital Hall)

ƒ Dec. 7-8, 2 & 5 p.m. “Feast of Carols” CCM choruses and guest choirs (Corbett Auditorium)

ƒ Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. Chamber Music Bash (CCM Rm. 3250)

ƒ Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Chamber Music Bash (Watson Recital Hall)

ƒ Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. “Winter Concert” UC Symphony Orchestra (Corbett Auditorium)

ƒ Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. “Winter Concert” Bearcat Bands (Corbett Auditorium)

ƒ Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. Chamber Music Bash (CCM Rm. 3250)

Collegium Cincinnati | Christ Church Cathedral, downtown. collegiumcincinnati.org

ƒ Dec. 8, 3 p.m. Handel: “Messiah,” Matthew Phelps, conductor

DownTowne Listening Room | downtownelisteningroom.com

ƒ Jan. 12, 4 p.m. The Woods

Fitton Center | Hamilton. 513-863-8873. fittoncenter.org

ƒ Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. Sunburners Party Band: “Calypso Christmas”

ƒ Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. Just Vince and the Fellas: “A Motown & More Christmas”

ƒ Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m. Phil DeGreg Trio: “Good Grief!”

Friends of Music Hall | Music Hall Ballroom, Over-the-Rhine. 513-621-2787. friendsofmusichall.org

ƒ Dec. 6, 7 p.m. Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer

Hard Rock Casino | Downtown. hardrockcasinocincinnati.com

ƒ Dec. 20, 8 p.m. Pop 2000 Tour

ƒ Dec. 28, 8 p.m. Marcus King

ƒ Dec. 31, 10 p.m. Rebecca Black

Heritage Bank Center | Downtown. heritagebankcenter.com

ƒ Dec. 6, 3 & 7:30 p.m. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The Jazz Spoon | Forest Park. thejazzspoon.com

ƒ Friday and Saturday evenings. Live jazz

Kentucky Symphony Orchestra | Greaves Hall, Northern Kentucky University. 859-431-6216. kyso.org

ƒ Dec. 13-14, 7:30 p.m. “Merry Christmas Darling”

ƒ Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m. “Back in the USSR”

Knox Church | Hyde Park. 513-321-2573. knox.org/music

ƒ Dec. 15, 5 p.m. Berlioz: “L’enfance du Christ.” Earl Rivers, conductor; Knox Choir and Orchestra

Linton Chamber Music | 513-381-6868. lintonmusic.org

ƒ Dec. 8, 4 p.m. “Colorful and Romantic Trios” Chien-Kim-Watkins Trio (First Unitarian Church, Avondale)

ƒ Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m. “Colorful and Romantic Trios” Chien-Kim-Watkins Trio (Congregation Beth Adam, Loveland)

ƒ Jan. 26, 4 p.m. “Essentially French” Gillian Sella, harp; Randolph Bowman, flute; Christopher Pell, clarinet; Ariel String Quartet (First Unitarian Church, Avondale)

ƒ Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. “Essentially French” Gillian Sella, harp; Randolph Bowman, flute; Christopher Pell, clarinet; Ariel String Quartet (Congregation Beth Adam, Loveland)

Linton Peanut Butter & Jam Sessions | 513-381-6868. peanutbutterandjam.org

◆ Brasstacular:

ƒ Jan. 4, 11 a.m. (Cincinnati Art Museum)

ƒ Jan. 11, 10:30 a.m. (Union Presbyterian Church)

ƒ Jan. 12, 2:30 p.m. (Taft Museum)

ƒ Jan. 18, 10:30 a.m. (Immanuel Presbyterian, Clifton)

ƒ Jan. 20, 7 p.m. (Covington Public Library)

ƒ Jan. 22, 10:30 a.m. (College Hill Library)

ƒ Jan. 25, 10:30 a.m. (Living God Church, Avondale)

ƒ Jan. 29, 6 p.m. (Madisonville Library)

ƒ Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m. (Harriet Beecher Stowe House)

Ludlow Garage | Clifton. ludlowgaragecincinnati.com

ƒ Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. Mindi Abair

ƒ Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. Magical Mystery Doors

ƒ Dec. 7, 3:30 & 7:30 p.m. Aja

ƒ Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. English Beat

ƒ Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. Eric Roberson

ƒ Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. Dailey & Vincent

ƒ Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m. Irish Christmas

ƒ Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. Raheem DeVaughn

ƒ Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m. Luann de Lesseps

ƒ Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m. E5C4P3 –The Journey Tribute

ƒ Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m. Eric Darius

ƒ Dec. 29, 7:30 p.m. Taylorville –

A Tribute to Taylor Swift

ƒ Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m. Lez Zeppelin

ƒ Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m. Floyd Nation

ƒ Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m. Najee

ƒ Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m. Ultimate Doors

ƒ Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m. Vincent Ingala

ƒ Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m. Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah

Madison Theater | Covington. 859-491-2444. madisontheater.com

ƒ Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. Homegrown Concert 2024

ƒ Dec. 8, 3 p.m. Mentoring Plus Music Festival

ƒ Dec. 11, 7 p.m. Spafford

ƒ Dec. 13, 9 p.m. Tape B

ƒ Dec. 21, 8 p.m. Harbour

Matinée Musicale | Memorial Hall, Overthe-Rhine. matineemusicalecincinnati.org

ƒ Dec. 1, 5 p.m. Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano

MegaCorp Pavilion at Ovation | Newport. promowestlive.com

ƒ Dec. 31, 9 p.m. Naked Karate Girls

ƒ Jan. 28, 7 p.m. Two Friends

ƒ Jan. 29, 7 p.m. Lotus

Memorial Hall | Over-the-Rhine. 513-977-8838. memorialhallotr.com

ƒ Dec. 2-3, 7 p.m. Phil DeGreg Trio:

“A Charlie Brown Christmas”

ƒ Dec. 8, 8 p.m. Christmas with The Tenors

ƒ Dec. 9, 7 p.m. Old Green Eyes:

“Christmas with the Rat Pack”

ƒ Dec. 16, 7 p.m. Queen City Cabaret

“The Doris Day Christmas Album”

ƒ Jan. 13, 7 p.m. Queen of The Queen City: Ben Levin “A Tribute to Mamie Smith”

ƒ Jan. 20, 7 p.m. Marc Fields Plays Black Composers on King’s Day

ƒ Jan. 27, 7 p.m. Faux Frenchmen play Hot Club of France

Merit Theatre Company & Orchestra | 859-795-1860. merittheatre.org

ƒ Dec. 6-7. “A Very Merit Christmas” (Corbett Theatre, NKU)

Miami University | Hall Auditorium, Oxford. 513-529-3200. miamioh.edu/music

ƒ Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. String Chamber Recital (Center for Performing Arts)

ƒ Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. Wind Ensemble

ƒ Dec. 6, 7 & 9 p.m. Choraliers and Chamber Singers: Candlelight Service (Kumpler Chapel)

Muse Café | Westwood. musecafecincy.com/events

ƒ Tuesdays, 7-9:30 p.m. Phil DeGreg Trio

No Promises Vocal Band | nopromisesvocalband.com

◆ “Christmas with No Promises”:

ƒ Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. (St. Columban Parish, Loveland)

ƒ Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. (Warsaw Federal Incline Theatre, Price Hill)

ƒ Dec. 19, 6:30 p.m. (Community of the Good Shepherd, Montgomery)

ƒ Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m. (The Carnegie, Covington)

Northern Kentucky Community

Chorus | Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Lakeside Park. nkychorus.org

ƒ Dec. 14, 3 p.m. “December Gatherings”

Northern Kentucky University | Greaves Concert Hall, Highland Heights. 859-572-5464. music.nku.edu

ƒ Dec. 2, 7 p.m. Steel Drum Band

ƒ Dec. 4, 7 p.m. Philharmonic Orchestra

ƒ Dec. 5, 7 p.m. Jazz Ensemble

ƒ Dec. 8, 5 p.m. Holiday Choral Concert (St. Thomas Church, Covington)

Queen City Cabaret | queencitycabaretcincy.com

ƒ Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. “A Cozy Christmas” (The Carnegie, Covington)

ƒ Dec. 16, 7 p.m. “The Doris Day Christmas Album” (Memorial Hall, Over-The-Rhine)

The Redmoor | Mt. Lookout Square. theredmoor.com

ƒ Most Fridays & Saturdays, 6 p.m. Rock and jazz

Andrew May portrays Ebenezer Scrooge in this year’s “A Christmas Carol,” directed by Bridget Leak. Through Dec. 29 at Playhouse in the Park

River’s Edge Brass Band |

ƒ Dec. 1, 2 p.m. Holiday and other favorites. Kevin Holzman, conductor (Norman Chapel, Spring Grove Cemetery)

ƒ Dec. 8, 7 p.m. Saint-Saëns: Organ Symphony (arr. for brass). Stacy Haney, organist (Armstrong Chapel, Indian Hill)

ƒ Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Saint-Saëns: Organ Symphony. Blake Callahan, organist (St. Columban Catholic Church, Loveland)

St. Rose Church | East End. 513-871-1162. strosecincinnati.org

ƒ Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. Advent/Christmas Concert

ƒ Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Advent/Christmas Concert

Schwartz’s Point | Five Points, Over-the-Rhine. thepointclub.weebly.com

ƒ Thursdays-Saturdays. Live jazz

ƒ Sundays. Blues, boogie-woogie, jazz

Southern Gateway Chorus | southerngateway.org

ƒ Dec. 7, 7 p.m. Christmas Show (St. Francis Seraph)

ƒ Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. Holiday Show (Landmark Church)

ƒ Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Holiday Show (Landmark Church)

Southgate House | Newport. 859-431-2201. southgatehouse.com

ƒ Nightly rock, alternative blues and more

Taft Theatre | Downtown. tafttheatre.org

ƒ Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. Straight No Chaser

TempleLive at Riverfront Live | East End. riverfrontlivecincy.com

ƒ Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. The Four Horsemen: A Celebration of Metallica

Turfway Park Events Center | Florence. turfway.com

ƒ Fridays & Saturdays, 9 p.m.-midnight. Bourbon and Brew Bands

Vocal Arts Ensemble | Summit Country Day Chapel, Hyde Park. 513-381-3300. vaecinci.com

ƒ Dec. 21-22, 7:30 p.m. “Candlelit Christmas.” Matthew Swanson, conductor

Woodward Theater | Over-the-Rhine. 513-345-7981. woodwardtheater.com

ƒ Dec. 20, 7 p.m. Bingo Loco

ƒ Jan. 30, 8 p.m. Donny Benet

ƒ Jan. 31, 7 p.m. CG5

Xavier Music Series | Gallagher Center Theater, Xavier University. 513-745-3161. xavier.edu/musicseries

ƒ Jan. 18, 8 p.m. Katherine Chi, piano

Young Professionals Choral

Collective | St. Francis de Sales, Walnut Hills. 513-601-8699. ypccsing.org

ƒ Dec. 14, 3 p.m. “Patterns of Joy”

Theater

Broadway Across America | Procter & Gamble Hall, Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-721-3344. cincinnati.broadway.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 1. “Funny Girl”

ƒ Dec. 10-15. “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”

ƒ Jan. 7-19. “Les Misérables”

The Carnegie | Covington. 859-491-2030. thecarnegie.com

ƒ Jan. 31-Feb. 16. “Seussical”

CenterStage Players | Arts Center at Dunham, Price Hill. centerstageplayersinc.com

ƒ Jan. 10-19. “Shock! The Spine-Tingling Tale of Miss Spidra”

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati | Taft Theatre, downtown. 513-569-8080 x10. thechildrenstheatre.com

ƒ Dec. 7-16. “Santa Claus: The Musical”

Cincinnati Arts Association | Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., downtown. 513-621-2787. cincinnatiarts.org

ƒ Dec. 6-7. “Cirque Dreams Holidaze”

Cincinnati Landmark Productions |

Cincinnati Music Theatre | Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-621-2787. cincinnatimusictheatre.org

ƒ Jan. 31-Feb. 8. “Music at the Movies 2: From Broadway to Hollywood…and Back Again!”

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company | Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-2273. cincyshakes.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 7. “Twelfth Night”

ƒ Dec. 13-29. “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)”

ƒ Jan. 24-Feb. 9. “A Room in the Castle”

College-Conservatory of Music | University of Cincinnati. 513-556-4183. ccm.uc.edu

ƒ Jan. 31-Feb. 16. “Seussical” (The Carnegie)

ComedySportz Cincinnati | Madcap

Education Center and Clifton Comedy Theatre. cszcincinnati.com

◆ Short-form comedy improv:

ƒ Fridays, 8 p.m.

ƒ Sundays, 2 p.m.

Commonwealth Sanctuary | Dayton, Ky. commonwealthsanctuary.com

ƒ Weekly comedy shows

The Dinner Detective | Embassy Suites Rivercenter, Covington. thedinnerdetective.com/cincinnati

ƒ Saturdays, 6 p.m. Murder Mystery Dinner Show

Drama Workshop | Cheviot. 45211. 513-598-8303. thedramaworkshop.org

ƒ Dec. 6-22. “My Three Angels”

ƒ Jan. 10-12. “Home Brew Theatre 8”

Ensemble Theatre | Over-the-Rhine. 513-421-3555. ensemblecincinnati.org

ƒ Dec. 4-30. “Alice in Wonderland”

Falcon Theatre | Newport. 513-479-6783. falcontheater.net

ƒ Jan. 24-Feb. 8. “Hangmen”

Fitton Center | Hamilton. 513-863-8873. fittoncenter.org

ƒ Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m. “Freddy Fossil’s Dino Show”

Footlighters | Stained Glass Theatre, Newport. 859-291-7464. footlighters.org

ƒ Dec. 5-21. “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”

The Funny Bone | Liberty Township. liberty.funnybone.com

ƒ Weekly comedy shows

Go Bananas Comedy Club | Montgomery. gobananascomedy.com

ƒ Weekly comedy shows

Greater Hamilton Civic Theatre | Parrish Auditorium, Hamilton. 513-737-PLAY. ghctplay.org

ƒ Dec. 5-8. “Winter Wonderettes”

Heritage Bank Center | Downtown. heritagebankcenter.com

ƒ Jan. 9-12. Cirque du Soleil: “Crystal”

Improv Cincinnati | Clifton Performance Theatre, Clifton. improvcincinnati.com

ƒ Thursday-Saturday evenings. Comedy shows

ARTS & CULTURE | The List

Inspiring Arts | Parrish Auditorium, Hamilton. inspiringartsproductions.com

ƒ Dec. 19-21. “Legacy: An American Christmas”

Kincaid Regional Theatre | Falmouth. 859-654-2636. krtshows.com

ƒ Dec. 5-15. “Away in the Basement: A Church Basement Ladies Christmas”

Know Theatre | Over-the-Rhine. 513-300-5669. knowtheatre.com

ƒ Dec. 6-22. “‘Die Hard’ is a Christmas Movie” by A.J. Baldwin & Alexx Rouse, world premiere

ƒ Jan. 27. “Serials”

La Comedia Dinner Theatre | Springboro. 800-677-9505. lacomedia.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 29. “Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn”

Ludlow Garage | Clifton. ludlowgaragecincinnati.com

ƒ Dec. 13-14, 7:30 p.m. “A John Waters Christmas”

Mariemont Players | Mariemont. 513-684-1236. mariemontplayers.com

ƒ Jan. 9-26. “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”

Oxford Community Arts Center | Oxford. 513-524-8506. oxarts.org

ƒ Dec. 20, 7 p.m. Madcap Puppets: “The Nutcracker”

ƒ Jan. 31, 7 p.m. Madcap Puppets: “Pinocchio”

Playhouse in the Park | Mt. Adams. 513-421-3888. cincyplay.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 22. “The Second City” (Rosenthal Shelterhouse Theatre)

ƒ Thru Dec. 29. “A Christmas Carol” (Rouse Theatre)

Queen City Vaudevillians | Artsville, Madisonville. queencityvaudevillians.com

ƒ Dec. 21, 7 p.m.

ƒ Dec. 22, 2 p.m.

Sharonville Cultural Arts Center | Sharonville. 513-554-1014. sharonvilleculturalarts.org

ƒ Dec. 13-15. “Young Frankenstein”

The Story Collective | thestorycollective.org

ƒ Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. “Harmony Creek Christmas” (Fitton Center, Hamilton)

ƒ Jan. 31-Feb. 8. “12 Angry Jurors” (Warren County Common Pleas Courthouse)

Sunset Players | Arts Center at Dunham, Price Hill. 513-588-4988. sunsetplayers.org

ƒ Dec. 6-15. “A Blast from the Past - Literally”

Taft Theatre | Downtown. tafttheatre.org

ƒ Jan. 24, 8 p.m. Marlon Wayans, comedian

ƒ Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m. “Insidious: The Further You Fear”

Tri-County Players | Bell Tower Arts Pavilion, Evendale. 513-471-2030. facebook.com

ƒ Dec. 6-15. “Hercule Poirot & The Case of the Christmas Ruby”

True Theatre | Memorial Hall, Over-the-Rhine. memorialhallotr.com

ƒ Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. “trueCOMIC”

Village Players | Ft. Thomas. 859-392-0500. villageplayers.org

ƒ Dec. 6-15. “Holidazed II”

Visual Art

21c Museum Hotel | Downtown. 513-578-6600. 21cmuseumhotels.com/cincinnati

ƒ Thru Aug. 31, 2025. (FotoFocus)

“Revival: Digging into Yesterday, Planting Tomorrow” • Spotlight: Felipe Rivas San Martín

The Annex Gallery | Pendleton Art Center, Pendleton. annexgallery.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 21. (FotoFocus) “Through A Stranger’s Eyes” • Willy Castellanos: “Exodus. Alternate Documents (1994-2024)”

Art Academy of Cincinnati | Over-theRhine. 513-562-6262. artacademy.edu

ƒ Thru Dec. 6. Kyle Angel: “Acrylics on “CAMP” • Harry Shokler: Selected Prints and Process

ƒ Jan. 31-Feb. 28. Minumental 34

Art Enclave | Mason. artenclave.com

ƒ Dec. 6, 5-9 p.m. Chuck Marshall: showcase and live demo. Grand opening of new art space in Mason. Curated by Gallery 42.

Art on Vine | artonvinecincy.com

ƒ Dec. 8 & 15, noon-6 p.m. Holiday Gifts Sale (Rhinegeist Brewery)

ƒ Jan. 19, noon-6 p.m. Happy New Year ‘25’ (Rhinegeist Brewery)

ARTclectic Gallery | Silverton. 513-822-5200. artclecticgallery.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 31. “Small Artworks for Big Holiday Cheer”

ArtWorks | V² Gallery, Walnut Hills. 513-333-0388. artworkscincinnati.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 13. “Renewal: The Art of Change”

Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center | Covington. 859-431-0020. bakerhunt.org

ƒ Fridays thru Feb. 7. Community Art Show

The Barn | Mariemont. 513-272-3700. artatthebarn.org

ƒ Dec. 7-8. The Showcase of Arts

Cincinnati Art Galleries | Downtown. 513-381-2128. cincyart.com

ƒ Dec. 7-31. “Panorama of Cincinnati Art 39” Reception: Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m.

Cincinnati Art Museum | Eden Park. 513-721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum.org

ƒ Thru Jan. 19. (FotoFocus) “Discovering Ansel Adams”

ƒ Thru Feb. 9. George Bellows: “American Life in Print”

ƒ Thru Jan. 5. “CAMaraderie: Artists of the Cincinnati Art Museum”

ƒ Jan. 31, 5-10 p.m. Art After Dark

Clay Alliance | Pendleton Art Center, Pendleton. clayalliance.org

ƒ Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Holiday Pottery Fair (Clifton Recreation Center)

Clifton Cultural Arts Center | Clifton. 513-497-2860. cliftonculturalarts.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 6. “The Golden Ticket”

ƒ Dec. 13-Jan. 3. Paul Loehle: “Oil and Dust” Reception: Dec. 13, 6-8 p.m.

ƒ Jan. 17-Feb. 17. “FIB3R IS ART” Juried Exhibition. Reception: Jan. 17, 6-8 p.m.

Art Enclave in Mason holds its grand opening Dec. 6 featuring works by Chuck Marshall and a live demonstration. Shown is Marshall’s “Working Kitchen.”

Contemporary Arts Center | Downtown. 513-345-8400. contemporaryartscenter.org

ƒ Thru Jan 5. (FotoFocus) Chip Thomas: “The Painted Desert Project”

ƒ Thru Feb. 9. (FotoFocus) Barbara Probst: “Subjective Evidence”

ƒ Jan. 31-May 25. Vivian Browne: “My Kind of Protest”

Essex Studios | Walnut Hills. 513-4762170. essexstudioscincinnati.com

ƒ Dec. 6-7, 6-10 p.m. Art Walk

Eva G. Farris Gallery | Thomas More University, Crestview Hills. 859-344-3300. thomasmore.edu

ƒ Thru Dec. 6. “Prologue to Kinfolklore”

Evendale Cultural Arts Center | Evendale. 513-563-1350. evendaleohio.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 31. (FotoFocus) Eric Hatch: “Hard Times for These Times”

Fitton Center | Hamilton. 513-863-8873. fittoncenter.org

ƒ Thru Jan. 3. (FotoFocus) “We > Me: 17 Artists Explore Hamilton Neighborhoods”

Gallery 42 | Mason. 513-492-7474. artenclave.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 16. “Artist Uncorked,” Nate Flanagan

ƒ Dec. 19-Jan. 18. Deepa Agarwal Art Show

Iris BookCafe and Gallery | Over-theRhine. 513-260-8434. irisbookcafeotr.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 30. (FotoFocus) “Afterwords: 50 Years in Words and Images by Arno Rafael Minkkinen”

Kennedy Heights Arts Center | Kennedy Heights. 513-631-4278. kennedyarts.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 14. Local Talent 2024

ƒ Thru Dec. 21. “Visions: New Works by Kennedy Collective Members”

Manifest Gallery | East Walnut Hills. 513-861-3638. manifestgallery.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 6. “Container” • Weiting Wei (sculpture) • “Altarpieces” • “Third Places”

ƒ Dec. 13-Jan. 10. “Tapped 15” • “Imprint” • “Roots” • “Annual Manifest Prize” Reception: Dec. 13, 6-9 p.m.

ƒ Jan. 24-Feb. 21. “Botanical” • Ronna Harris and Anthony TungNing Huang (painting & printmaking) • “Prometheus” • “Mythography” Reception: Jan. 24, 6-9 p.m.

Miami University/Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum | Oxford. 513-5292232. miamioh.edu/cca/art-museum

ƒ Thru Dec. 16. “ARTificial Intelligence: A Student Response Exhibition”

• Collections Highlights: Recent Acquisitions • (FotoFocus) “Through Their Lens: Photographing Freedom Summer”

Middletown Arts Center | Middletown. 513-424-2417. middletownartscenter.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 12. Phillip Erbaugh

ƒ Thru Dec. 12. Area Art Exhibition

Northern Kentucky University | Highland Heights. 859-572-5148. nku.edu/gallery

ƒ Thru Dec. 5. BFA Senior Exhibitions.

Reception: Nov. 21, 5-7 p.m.

ƒ Jan. 23-Feb. 20. ARTDES Sabbatical Shows: Current Faculty/Staff & Alumni.

Reception: Jan. 23, 5-7 p.m.

Over-the-Rhine Museum | Five Points, Over-the-Rhine. 513-813-7309. otrmuseum.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 31. (FotoFocus) “Snapshots of Over-the-Rhine”

Pendleton Art Center | Pendleton. 513-421-4339. pendletonartcenter.com

ƒ Final Fridays, 5-9 p.m., open studios

Pendleton Art Center - Middletown | Middletown. 513-465-5038. pendletonartcenter.com

ƒ First Fridays, 5-9 p.m.

Queen City Clay | Norwood. queencityclay.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 3. Annual Resident Art Show

Sharonville Cultural Arts Center | Sharonville. 513-554-1014. sharonvilleculturalarts.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 7. Art North 2024

Skirball Museum | Hebrew Union College, Clifton. csm.huc.edu

ƒ Thru Feb. 23. “Sacred Land.” Photos by Ralph Gibson. Produced by Martin Cohen

ƒ Dec. 5, 12:30 p.m. Lunch and Learn: Haim Rechnitzer, professor of Jewish thought

Solway Gallery | West End. 513-621-0069. solwaygallery.com

ƒ Thru Dec. 13. (FotoFocus) John E. Dowell: “Pathways to Freedom”

Studio San Giuseppe Art Gallery | Mount St. Joseph University, Delhi Twp. msj.edu

ƒ Thru Dec. 9. “Journey to the Finish”

ƒ Jan. 17-Feb. 12. “Juried Assemblage Exhibition” Reception: Jan. 26, 4-6 p.m.

Summit Hotel | Madisonville. 513-527-9900. thesummithotel.com

ƒ Thru Feb. 28. Jimmy Baker and Anita Douthat: “Lilac Chaser”

Taft Museum of Art | Lytle Park, downtown. 513-241-0343. taftmuseum.org

ƒ Sundays, thru Dec. 30, 1-3 p.m. Sensory Explorations

ƒ Thru Jan. 12. (FotoFocus) “Posing Beauty in African American Culture”

ƒ Thru Feb. 16. “Resilience: New Ceramic Works by Terri Kern”

ƒ Thru Jan. 5. “Holiday Traditions Old & New”

University of Cincinnati Clermont College | Snyder Building Rm. 140, Batavia. 513-558-2787. ucclermont.edu

ƒ Thru Dec. 13. (FotoFocus) Judi Bommarito: “Reclaiming Your Outside Voice”

Get listed

Visionaries & Voices | Northside. 513-861-4333. visionariesandvoices.com

ƒ Dec. 6, 5-8 p.m. “Holly Dazed”

Warren County Historical Museum | Lebanon. wchsmuseum.org

ƒ Thru Dec. 31. “In Celebration of Senator Thomas Corwin’s 200th Birthday”

Weston Art Gallery | Aronoff Center, downtown. 513-977-4165. cincinnatiarts.org

ƒ Thru Jan. 19. Richard W. James: “No True Scotsman” • Julie Byrne: “My Boat” • Pamela L. Hignite: “Memory Keepers”

ƒ Jan. 24-March 23. Robert Fronk: “Riding The Wind Horse - The Works 1985-2025” • Daniel Kunkel: “Unseen”

Xavier University Art Gallery | A. B. Cohen Center. xavier.edu/art-department

ƒ Dec 6-20. Solo Thesis Exhibitions: Sarah Hissong, Graphic Design and Coniah Zoogah, Graphic Design. Reception: Dec. 6, 5-7 p.m. 

Arts & Culture listings are free. Send event info to: editor@moversmakers.org.

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GCF CEO Matthew Randazzo: Living proof that philanthropy works

Matthew Randazzo is the president and CEO of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

With its donors, this organization awarded $149 million last year, and $1.69 billion since its founding in 1963. That’s billion, with a “B.”

Randazzo, 46, has spent his entire career trying to make the world a better place. But not because he was born with a silver spoon and thought it was his responsibility to help. No, it’s not like that at all. Randazzo grew up hard, and it was philanthropy that came to him as a child. He has been paying it back ever since.

Randazzo was the only child of his parents, who married far too young. He describes it as “a very challenging household.” There was drug abuse and violence at home, and never enough money. When he was in kindergarten, he went to live with his grandparents. He stayed with them for three years. That did not feel like philanthropy. It just felt like family. Eventually, his parents got their feet on the ground enough for him to move back with them in an apartment outside of Detroit. But things were always lean. “My parents could afford the basic necessities, but that was it. And not always.”

Randazzo worked four days a week in high school to help, but there was never enough. Then another family stepped in to help and changed the fortunes of his life.

The family’s landlords, Wayne and Theresa Raymond, were a Jewish couple who owned some apartment buildings. When times were tough, the

Raymonds let his parents pay the rent late or in installments. Randazzo knows now that it was the Raymonds who went Christmas shopping for him, and gave the presents to his parents so they could put them under the tree as their own.

And the giving continued. When his father left the marriage, Randazzo’s mom was cleaning houses and trying to make ends meet. The Raymonds got her involved with Jewish Vocational Services – now the Gesher Human Services – in a program for “abandoned housewives.” The program gave her clothes for job interviews and taught her the skills necessary to find employment.

That training landed her a job at McKesson Corporation, a pharmaceutical and medical supplies company. It was her first real career opportunity and she thrived. Later, it was a McKesson scholarship program for the children of employees that allowed Randazzo to go to college – the first in his family to ever go.

Breaking the poverty cycle

So a family completely unrelated to Randazzo helped his parents find ways to pay the rent and then got his mother involved in a vocational program. The vocational program helped his mother find a job at what has become a major medical supplies company. The medical supplies company gave him a scholarship that made college possible.

“That one program broke generations of poverty

By John O. Faherty

Randazzo’s experience taught him how easy it is for people to fall into financial trouble, and how a few acts of strategic help can make a radical difference.

Photo

for my family,” Randazzo said. “I learned from that family that there are so many ways you can help.”

Randazzo’s experience taught him how easy it is for people to fall into financial trouble and how a few acts of strategic help can make a radical difference. It also gave him a better understanding of people who give help and people who need help. “You don’t have to live in poverty to get it,” Randazzo said. “But it is my superpower.”

Randazzo was not hired just because he is an empath. Before coming to Cincinnati with his wife and son, he was CEO of The Dallas Foundation, CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative, and CEO and founder of Choose to Succeed, among other stops.

While at The Dallas Foundation, Randazzo achieved record growth in assets at the foundation as well as annual contributions. He doubled annual grantmaking. All of this mattered when the Greater Cincinnati Foundation was looking for a new leader in 2023. The search was led by George Vincent, who was chair of the GCF Governing Board and who led the search committee.

Learning what people need

“Matthew stood out for his involvement in educational issues, his experience at a Dallas community foundation, his inclusive approach to donors and his empathetic personality,” Vincent said.

Vincent has been impressed by Randazzo’s first year. “He has been all over our community, meeting with leaders, volunteers and community people at all levels. He is an active listener and has built strong connections with longtime friends of GCF, as well as forging relationships with folks new to GCF. A force of nature, Matthew has become an integral part of Cincinnati in his first year.”

And he has been busy. Over the years, Randazzo has learned that people need certain necessities to be able to reach their potential: stable housing, health care, good food, reliable transportation and education.

“There is no magic bullet when it comes to poverty eradication. But the two biggest predictors for graduating from high school and earning a living wage are kindergarten readiness and third-grade reading levels. Education is the most consistent lever for lifting somebody out of poverty.”

In the Cincinnati Public Schools, 47% of third graders are reading at a third-grade level, he said. That is not enough. The numbers are low across the country, but Cincinnati is really underperforming. There is, however, hope.

Randazzo points to Cincinnati Preschool Promise which was created in 2016 with the goal of better kindergarten readiness and improved third-grade reading levels.

“That was hugely important,” Randazzo said. “And it is working. We are already seeing kindergarteners more prepared than ever before.”

Randazzo looks to other Cincinnati institutions to prove that this city can do anything it sets its mind to. Our parks and our cultural institutions are “worldclass,” he said, because people committed themselves to making them great. He knows we can do the same for education and is certain we will.

“This is a community that wants all of our children to have a fair share.”

Randazzo thinks this region is perfectly situated to make real strides in housing, education and job creation. “Cincinnati’s business leaders know this is a place where you can do well and do good. We have a collection of civic leaders who understand that their success is tied to our entire communities’ success.”

The relationships Randazzo began developing the moment he hit the ground here in 2023 will make a difference. People are noticing.

“Matthew comes to Cincinnati with a unique understanding of the power of generosity, especially at an organization with the history and reputation of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. He’s done everything right so far: building relationships, creating catalyzing

partnerships, and offering big ideas about how community philanthropy can shape our future and grow our region,” said Brendon Cull, president and CEO of Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

“When I met Matthew, I knew right away that he was going to be the best kind of partner in work to grow this region equitably. I also knew he’d be a lot of fun to work with, and that has proven 100% true. He and his family have embraced this city wholly, and it’s awesome to see how his passion for this place translates into his enthusiasm for the work GCF does every day.”

Risk-taking and innovation

Randazzo thinks his organization can work to take some of the risk out of innovation by funding pilot projects. But with a caveat. “Some ideas involve risk. A new way to do things might turn out great. Or it might not. But finding out costs money, and nobody can afford to lose money,” he said.

If CPS wants to try a new program, they should be able to come to philanthropy to put in seed money to pay for the pilot, Randazzo said as an example.

“This is how we can encourage innovation and risk-taking. We fund it. But if it works, you have to keep it going,” Randazzo said. “We can fund it. We can put ourselves in the first-loss position. This is the bridge that philanthropy should build.”

Randazzo will build that bridge because he knows in his heart that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. An act of kindness can mean Christmas gifts under the tree. Or the ability to stay in your home. Or your mom getting a decent job, which means a kid from a hard childhood can spend the rest of his life trying to help others.

“My ‘why’ is my lived experience. Countless times in my life I had adults step in to put me on this path,” Randazzo said. “I know that philanthropy matters.” 

Nonprofit Couples on the Rise

As a married couple working within the nonprofit sector for more than 16 years, we Mariners thought it time to recognize others with similar shared passions. We asked for nominations and selected couples whose influence is on the rise and across the nonprofit spectrum. We salute their paired efforts on behalf of Greater Cincinnati nonprofits.

T1D

Rachel Stallings, Activities Beyond the Classroom; Tyran Stallings, DAD Initiative

After starting their careers as journalists, Adam and Jackie both transitioned to the nonprofit sector to make an even greater impact. Jackie was recently named CEO of the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center, where she is ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. Adam has served in communications and fundraising leadership roles at Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s. He recently joined the national team for Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) as the national director of strategic philanthropic communications. They’ve always been drawn to purpose-driven work and believe it’s the best way to make the world a better place for everyone, including their two young girls. Outside of work, Jackie enjoys singing and has participated in the May Festival Chorus. Adam enjoys gardening, creative writing and is a proud finisher of the Flying Pig Half Marathon. 

LeAnne Anklan, Great Parks of Hamilton County; Matthew Anklan, Wright State University

Rachel and Tyran Stallings have made Cincinnati a better place for local children, especially those from marginalized and historically underserved populations. Tyran, aside from being a partner at Buildwell Development Group, is the founder and executive director of the DAD (Directing Adolescent Development) Initiative, dedicated to providing mentoring, cultural and career exposure, and 21st-century skills training for Black youth. Rachel has devoted her career to serving low-income students in grades K-12; as deputy director of Activities Beyond the Classroom, she oversees the programmatic footprint affecting more than 27,000 students annually. In their free time, they each devote additional time to the community by volunteering on boards (Tyran is on the board of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati; Rachel just completed a four-year tenure on UpSpring’s board), and they spend their downtime together flipping houses, enjoying Cincinnati’s nightlife and traveling. 

Mary Welsh and Dr. Frank Schlueter, Partnership for Innovation in Education

Music has shaped the lives of LeAnne and Matt Anklan since they met in the University of Cincinnati pep band in 2003. She played flute and he was beginning his career as a trumpeter and educator. In 2010, LeAnne returned to CCM for a nonprofit management degree in arts administration, leading to roles at the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, the inaugural season of the Constella Festival, and eventually the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra (now Summermusik). Together, they co-founded the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, now in its 12th season. Currently, LeAnne works in fundraising as director of donor engagement for Great Parks, while Matt is a trumpet professor at Wright State University and performs with various orchestras and ensembles around the region. In their (limited) free time, they enjoy exploring Cincinnati’s arts events, dining at new restaurants, rooting on the Bearcats and traveling. So far, they’ve visited 24 states and four countries together. 

Mary Welsh is founder and CEO of Partnership for Innovation in Education (PIE), a nonprofit focused on career readiness initiatives for Ohio’s youth in fields like healthcare, IT, drone engineering and advanced manufacturing. Since 2009, she and her husband, Dr. Frank Schlueter – a radiologist and PIE board secretary – have led the organization in building connections between industry experts, educators and state agencies. Under their leadership, PIE serves more than 1.6 million students and 20,000 educators across Ohio, offering experiential learning and professional development. PIE’s programs enable students to explore in-demand careers through hands-on experiences, including a recent initiative with Honda, introducing underserved Cincinnati students to fields like advanced manufacturing and electric vehicle engineering. Mary enjoys biking, hiking and tennis, while Frank favors biking, golf and skiing. Fun fact: They met through Cincinnati Magazine personals. 

LeAnne and Matt Anklan

Rachel and Tyran Stallings

Mary Welsh and Frank Schlueter

Jackie Congedo, Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust Humanity Center; Adam Baker, Breakthrough

Jackie Congedo and Adam Baker

Photo Credits Courtesy: Kayla Rae Photography

Brooke Desserich and Keith Desserich, The Cure Starts Now

Brooke and Keith Desserich founded The Cure Starts Now Foundation in 2007 after the loss of their first child, Elena, to diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a form of pediatric brain cancer. Their book “Notes Left Behind,” which describes their journey, became a New York Times bestseller and was published in 22 languages. They received recognition in 2015 from the Jefferson Awards Foundation and won the Jacqueline Onassis Award, considered the Nobel Prize for public and community service. The Desserichs goal to fuel research and support for families has turned into a global network connecting more than 1,000 families and has funded more than $34 million in research and support, including 125 medical grants to 100 hospitals. Brooke is the organization’s CEO, and Keith serves as board chair. What started as one family in Cincinnati is now a global movement with 50 chapters across three countries. The Desserich’s impact is a beacon of hope for all who have been touched by cancer. When they have any free time, they enjoy visiting the lake with their two daughters. 

Jim Murphy and Donna Murphy, Heaven’s Gain Ministries

Inspired by difficult statistics and devastating losses of their own three babies to miscarriage, Jim and Donna Murphy established their nonprofit, Heaven’s Gain Ministries, in their basement. Today, operating from an office in Cincinnati, they employ six people and utilize 50 volunteers. According to Donna, executive director of Heaven’s Gain, she considers herself and Jim, the organization’s executive director, to be an “empowered couple,” stating, “Our ministry was inspired when Jim and I were desperate for help with our own loss. Today, the ministry we started receives families, shocked and fearful, into our office who have just received a devastating perinatal diagnosis. After effectively sharing our resources, HGM sends these parents forward, ready to meet their baby and to treasure the time they will have with their child.” The Murphys enjoy the company of their eight children and grandchildren. They regularly manage to carve out time to travel to a Florida beach. 

Joel Bokelman and Marnie Bokelman, ChangingGears

Marnie and Joel Bokelman are co-founders of ChangingGears, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that tackles poverty through affordable car ownership. Joel, the executive director, has used his vision and dedication to provide reliable transportation to over 300 clients annually, helping families overcome employment barriers. Marnie, as event coordinator, organizez community events, provides client support and shares success stories that inspire others. Together, they have grown ChangingGears into a staff of 11 and host the annual Grand Prix, a pedal kart relay fundraiser that attracts 350 attendees and raises $150,000 annually. From the organization’s early days, when Joel’s young daughter humorously questioned his “stealing” of donated cars, to today’s flourishing nonprofit, the Bokelmans’ commitment has been unwavering. When not working, they enjoy family time outdoors and church volunteer work. Their passion and dedication to serving the community have earned them widespread respect and recognition.

Morgan Whaley and Andre Whaley, Love in Action

Andre and Morgan Whaley, founders of Love in Action, have transformed their passion for service into a community hub in Mount Healthy. Since 2020 their organization has provided essential resources, including a food pantry, diaper bank, job training, laundry services and mental health support, assisting 150 families weekly. Their mission attempts to reflect Christ’s love through action, fulfilling basic needs and building community resilience. Besides running the nonprofit – Morgan as CEO and Andre as COO – the Whaleys also pastor their church and raise a family. Their food pantry supplies nutritious groceries to those facing food insecurity, while mental health services include counseling and workshops to break the stigma around mental wellness. Additionally, they offer free laundry days and a diaper giveaway program, supporting families’ hygiene and childcare needs. Through their dedication, the Whaleys have created a caring, inclusive environment that strengthens the community. 

Chris Seelbach, Ohio Alleycat Resource & Spay/Neuter Clinic; Craig Schultz, College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation

While Craig Schultz and Chris Seelbach lead in different nonprofit sectors, their efforts have a common theme of helping communities in Cincinnati. Craig is dedicated to building sustainable and inclusive communities, and his leadership as senior director of real estate development at CHCURC reflects his strong commitment to equitable urban development. After serving more than 10 years on Cincinnati City Council, Chris became executive director of OAR in 2022. He leads a team of 30 employees and more than 650 volunteers. All work together to improve the lives of cats, and the people who love them, through low-cost, highquality spay/neuter services as well as adopting out homeless cats. Seelbach and Schultz have been together for nearly 20 years and were married in Puerto Vallarta in 2018 – right in the middle of Hurricane Willa, at an outdoor venue! In their free time, they enjoy exploring restaurants in Cincinnati’s urban core. 

Craig Schultz and Chris Seelbach

Morgan and Andre Whaley

Jim and Donna Murphy

Joel and Marnie Bokelman

Keith and Brooke Desserich

Stephen Mosby, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative;

Jazmine Mosby, Main Street Ventures

Jazmine and Stephen Mosby are highly regarded in Greater Cincinnati nonprofit circles for their commitment to creating meaningful change in their community. Jazmine, a skilled communicator and organizer, is manager of special events and operations for Main Street Ventures, leading successful campaigns and events that bring together participants and connect them to resources to help them thrive both personally and as entrepreneurs. Stephen’s work in community engagement as corporate program manager for CYC has fostered innovative partnerships benefiting diverse populations of students in Cincinnati Public Schools and beyond. Together, they bring strategic insights to their work and local community projects. When not working, Jazmine and Stephen, along with their young daughter and two dogs, enjoy staying active and exploring the region, often spending time in service to others. A little-known fact is that they met in a very Cincinnati way, at a Reds game. The Mosbys’ dedication to each other and their community reflects a unique partnership that enriches all aspects of their lives. 

Tyler Roe, nonprofit consultant; Helene Herbert, Great Parks of Hamilton County

Helene Herbert and Tyler Roe have dedicated their careers to the nonprofit sector in Cincinnati since entering the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music arts administration program in 2010. Tyler spent the past decade working for the UC Foundation, while also working with local arts organizations, including Linton Chamber Music, Chamber Music Cincinnati and Cincinnati Boychoir. Helene, grants manager for Great Parks, has worked in fundraising for May Festival and Playhouse in the Park and as a grant writing consultant with a variety of area nonprofits. She previously served as president of Collegium Cincinnati and today is on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Tyler and Helene also volunteer for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra/Summermusik. They enjoy traveling, as well as cooking and hiking with their dogs. As a nod to the couple’s love for Cincinnati’s arts scene, they were married at Wash Park Art Gallery and the artists’ wall still bears their signatures. 

Krista Pille, The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati; Rodger Pille, Cincinnati Landmark Productions

Rodger and Krista Pille have a combined 51 years working in the local arts and entertainment sector, with both of them now serving as senior leaders with their respective organizations. Interestingly, they each began their careers at local media outlets, often using those platforms to promote the vibrant arts scene in Cincinnati. While both work for performing arts organizations, they differ in their specific focus. Krista uses her infectious, cheerful energy to introduce young audiences to the world of theater as sales and marketing director for The Children’s Theatre, often serving as the gateway to a lifetime of arts appreciation. Rodger’s passion for his beloved West Side comes through in his work as executive director of Landmark Productions, revitalizing East Price Hill, West Price Hill and Westwood through its three arts venues. When not working, the Pilles often watch their 16-year-old son Charlie perform in shows or with his rock band Monkey’s Uncle. 

Leon Barton, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; Jeni Barton, ArtsWave

Leon and Jeni Barton have become staples of Cincinnati’s nonprofit arts community. They go above and beyond to infuse their love for the arts and this city with their professional skills. As director of digital products with ArtsWave, Jeni recently oversaw the creation of the ArtsWave app, launching the organization – and the broader arts sector – into the digital era. As website manager at the CSO, Leon has led projects to enhance user experience, cybersecurity and a cross-departmental, year-long upgrade to the customer relationship management database. Beyond work, Leon performs as DJ Mech for community events, and Jeni, as a Miami University visiting faculty member, empowers future generations through design. They enjoy record digging, art museums, road trips and video games. Though they feel like Cincinnati natives, the Bartons moved here from Delaware 10 years ago, where they met while working at a credit card company in Wilmington. 

Tyler Roe and Helene Herbert

Leon and Jeni Barton

Jazmine and Stephen Mosby

Krista and Rodger Pille

Impact at the Intersection of Arts and Wellness

Ushindi and Lawrence, two journeyers during the Illuminated Project, at BLINK.

Dear Friends:

What makes you feel well? Full of wonder? Resilient? At Ease? Hopeful?

The Well has been creating restorative programs centering art, music, writing, movement and mindfulness as gateways to wellness, wonder and belonging since 2005. We’re delighted to share our layered and nuanced programming with you. Broadly, our work falls into these categories:

ARTS AND CULTURE

Mindful Music Moments brings the musical equivalent of 8-10 symphonies a year directly into schools and classrooms in Greater Cincinnati and beyond, reaching 100,000 youth each year. Its new music commissions bring together musicians, composers and students to create new music especially for youth.

Mindful Poetry Moments published its fifth volume of poems written in April as part of its school and adult programs in National Poetry Month. The 2024 book features 60 youth poets.

This year’s True Body Project youth apprenticeship program with ArtWorks was focused on lens-based work. 12 youth apprentices made a body of work on the theme of Sona and Soma, featured in the 2024 FotoFocus biennial along with a catalog of the work.

CIVIC AND COMMUNITY

This year, Artist in Residence Julia O. Bianco created a Wellness Garden in Camp Washington adjacent to our Planet Love pocket park with new pathways and a labyrinth oasis amidst existing found-object sculptural elements.

EDUCATION

The Well’s programs are a mainstay in 300+ schools nationally (50+ locally) to support educators in helping students to become ready to learn while engaging in creative, art-fueled rituals. The Well’s My True SELF program provides curriculum, facilitation, training and resources to help mitigate a youth mental health crisis and allow for creativity and learning to emerge.

HUMAN SERVICES

The Well is considered a leading trainer and collaborator to support resilience in complex work systems. This year, The Well is providing training and ongoing support to Hamilton County’s Job Readiness Training for youth, Art Academy students, Cincinnati Public Library branches among others.

It is clear to us that our depth of experience in centering art and connection toward human and community cohesion is ready to meet this moment’s deep need. We need your support to do this work. Please read on. If you see something that brings you joy and hope, consider a donation to A Mindful Moment, the non-profit that nourishes the work of The Well.

Mindfully,

Stacy Sims

Founder and Executive Director

MISSION

The Well works at the intersection of arts and wellness. Its mission, nourished by the nonprofit A Mindful Moment, is to improve the mental and emotional well-being, connectedness, and effectiveness of all persons through arts integration, mindfulness, music, movement, and healingcentered practices.

Morgan Mazone Board

President

The Well’s Board and Staff in February, 2024 at the kick-off for The Wonder Commission. From left to right Former Board President Alisa Smith, Emeritus Trustee Susan Tew, Current Board President Morgan Mazone, Patrick Raneses, Bryce Kessler, Board Member Brian Raphael Nabors, Stacy Sims, Emeritus Trustee Dr. John Tew, former board/staff member Kami Lerma, Board Secretary Jill Smith, Board Treasurer Jane Fisher, Board Member Mike Nauman, Board Member Rana Dotson. Photo by Deogracias Lerma.

MORE THAN MUSIC:

How 4 Minutes A Day Transforms

School Culture

By Bryce Kessler

It’sthe beginning of another music class at Incline Elementary which sits on the edge of Lake Tahoe, close to Reno, Nevada. With spring break in the rearview mirror and summer break quickly approaching, the students shuffling into the music classroom are feeling a little stressed and burnt out. Many students are unable to sit still and focus their fragmented attention… until Ms. Righellis turns on a video to start the class.

A smiling animated music note named Mel O. Dee jumps into frame. Mel takes a deep inhale and exhale before settling into stillness, and the students hear a familiar voice. “Hello. It’s time for Mindful Music Moments, so let’s get ready to listen.” The students and teacher follow along as the voice guides them, “Place your feet on the floor. Hands on your lap or on your desk. Sit up nice and tall. Close or focus your eyes, and find your breath moving in your body… As you listen today, just notice. How does this music make you feel?”

Mel O. Dee fades away and the screen is illuminated with a captivating kaleidoscope of color that responds visually to calm-

ing orchestral music that begins to play. Some students close their eyes; some lay on the floor, grounding their entire body; and others gaze softly at the meditative visuals on the screen while thinking about the prompt. Ms. Righellis keeps an eye on her students, but is also taking these few minutes to center herself before teaching today’s music lesson. The music plays for a brief three minutes and the voice returns to say, “Fantastic job! We’ll be back soon with more Mindful Music Moments.”

Mel O. Dee waves goodbye as Ms. Righellis turns off the video and asks her class how today’s Mindful Music Moment (MMM) made them feel. After practicing with the program over the past year (often 2-3 times a week with rotating music classes), the students are already improving their skills in self-awareness and self-management. “MMM calms me down,” says 4th grader Aisha. “It helps me stay focused during class after we have been really crazy,” says 3rd grader Silas.”

At the end of the year, Ms. Righellis and over 100 of her students wrote heartfelt letters to The Well about the positive impact

MMM (and our brand new animated videos) had during their first year.

“The results have been invaluable. Many of my students look forward to it, and they really enjoy the different types of music as well as the physical effect it has on them. Students who are constantly disruptive, hyperactive, or on edge instantly calm their bodies down when I put on the MMM. For many, it’s the only time in class that they are successful because they can focus on their breath.

Not only has MMM had a great impact on student behaviors, musical learning, and bodily awareness, but it has also helped me to regulate my emotions and maintain better classroom management as a teacher. I love it because I get to do it with the students rather than just monitoring them.”

- MS. RIGHELLIS

Students and staff at Parker Woods Montessori (Cincinnati Public Schools) listening to MMM. In one year of MMM, students listen to 8-10 symphonies worth of music at school, with more than half the year representing music by living composers. Photo by Kyle Wolff.

Mel O. Dee

Mindful Music Moments was piloted in 2016 at The Academy of World Languages (Cincinnati Public Schools) where it remains a beloved tradition. The Well created the program to address an increasing number of students struggling with chronic stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation at younger and younger ages. After hearing the morning announcements every day while working with a group of students, Founder Stacy Sims proposed a daily, school-wide experience of listening, breathing, and nervous system regulation in order for students and staff to settle into curiosity and learning. Since then, the program has blossomed into an award winning, national program.

In 2023/24, more than 118,000 youth in more than 300 schools across 20 US states participated in MMM.

Thanks to support from community arts partners and local donors, 91% of schools received MMM for free during 2023/24. That trend has continued this 2024/25 school year. In Ohio, our amazing partners include Summermusik, Columbus Symphony, Canton Symphony Orchestra, and The Cleveland Orchestra. To see all of our national music partners and generous funders, visit TheWell.World.

Here are some of the evolutions of Mindful Music Moments within the past two years, inspired directly by feedback from teachers, administrators, and students.

• NEW daily animated video content created in collaboration with Pixel Fiction, Kattspaw Audio, and Lightborne Communications, Inc.

• NEW weekly worksheets by Stacey Moyer, a local Cincinnati music teacher.

• NEW daily Spanish translations by Adriana Prieto Quintero.

• NEW music selections requested by students including Disney soundtracks, video game soundtracks, naturescapes, and music by over 20 living composers.

NEW MUSIC COMMISSIONS

Sound Intersections by Nate May, in collaboration with Omope Carter Daboiku and Talon Silverhorn. Documentary film by Clay Kessler.

The Hope Commission by Sonia Morales-Matos, in collaboration with Summermusik, inspired by the journey of Little Amal (The Walk Productions) and local Cincinnati refugee families.

The Wonder Commission by Brian Raphael Nabors, inspired by astrophysicist Alan Lightman, performed by Antigone Music Collective and youth voices from UpSpring Cincinnati. Documentary film by Asa Featherstone IV.

Beginning Spring 2025– The From Scratch Project: A 30-minute piece composed by local high school students participating in the Cincinnati From Scratch program, inspired by 300 composition ideas from local elementary students.

Rosland Elementary (Bend-La Pine Schools) students listening to Mindful Music Moments together in the gym to start their day. Photo by Central Oregon Daily News.

Students at Parker Woods Montessori (Cincinnati Public Schools) watch the new daily animated video versions of MMM. Photo by Kyle Wolff.

A TRUE BLESSING

5 Years Of Mindful Poetry Reaches All Ages

By Bryce Kessler

It’s April 2024–National Poetry Month–and 90 5th-grade students at Wilson Elementary eagerly find their seats in the cafeteria. Their ears immediately perk up when they hear a familiar voice. “Hello, it’s time for Mindful Poetry Moments,” says Stacy Sims, The Well’s Founder & Executive Director and the famous voice of Mindful Music Moments that Wilson Elementary hears each morning.

But instead of music, today they are listening to the poem “Small Kindnesses” by Danusha Laméris. After the mindful moment, the sound of scribbling pencils fills the cafeteria as they write their own poems listing small kindnesses. Soon, sounds of writing are replaced by scissors, construction paper, and fluttering magazines as they cut and glue collages of kindness–led by Artist In Residence Julia O. Bianco.

Over the course of April, The Well engaged 140 students throughout Cincinnati with this practice of poetry and collage as part of its Mindful Poetry Moments (MPM) program. From these special visits, 13 original poems written or co-written by 37 students in grades K-5 were published in this year’s annual MPM anthology.

Incubated in 2020 with The On Being Project and now having completed its 5th anniversary season, MPM holds a grounded space for mindfulness and poetry in four major ways: daily mindfulness content for schools and individuals, special engagements with students in schools, regular virtual gatherings for over 100 adults around the world, and an annual publication of new poetry works by all ages.

Our 2024 theme “Ways of Loving, Ways of Giving” emerged when curator Haleh Liza Gafori selected our poems for inspiration: “Song” by Adrienne Rich, “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden, “Small Kindnesses” by Danusha Laméris, and “A Blessing” by Samyak Shertok. Each spoke to “heartfelt people, navigating the ups and downs of life, celebrating, grieving, and allowing poetry to open their hearts and inspire them to tell their own stories,” as Haleh wrote in her foreword.

BY THE NUMBERS

and visiting artist Julia O Bianco at John P Parker Elementary (Cincinnati Public Schools) show off their magazine collages and collaborative poem on the board inspired by the poem “Small Kindnesses” by Danusha

Our Virtual Gatherings in April held space for 130 participants from 17 US States plus Great Britain.

Our 5th-Anniversary Anthology published 112 new poems by 114 unique poets. They represented 12 US States plus Scotland and the UK. 60 of those poems were written by 81 unique students in grades K-5.

A student at Academy of World Languages (Cincinnati Public Schools) Afterschool Cr8 Club making their poetry collage.

Students

Laméris.

A True Blessing

By Arjun Kodukula, Grade 4

In our April virtual gatherings, guest facilitators shared an opening meditation, reflection and a writing prompt inspired by one of the curated poems, 10 minutes of writing time, and group sharing. From those deeply profound hour-long gatherings emerged 52 new published poetry works (often generated in those brief 10 minutes) by 33 different poets from around the world. The Well published an additional 60 poems in total–written or co-written–by 81 different students– the most poems by students ever received or published for MPM.

One especially moving poem was written by Seattle 4th-grade student Arjun. Following some health difficulties in the family, Arjun felt inspired by “A Blessing” by Samyak Shertok to use his voice through poetry to express his gratitude for being alive.

In short, we feel truly blessed by this poetry community who continues to show up year after year in support of each other and awe-inspiring poetry.

Inspired by “A Blessing” by Samyak Shertok

A blessing you and me up and down left and right the chances that life is here that we have life never mind the fact that we live like this, these luxuries we do not care about these small blessings

This life is a blessing A blessing worth more than a million dollars

The fact we live, the way we are fortunate enough to open our eyes and see the passing days

This is a blessing, a blessing giving us these precious years of our life, this is more than one blessing It is a true blessing.

“Sometimes when a poem catches us, it changes us.”

HALEH LIZA GAFORI, MPM CURATOR 2024

Image: Former Cincinnati Poet Laureate, Mexican-born American poet and educator Manuel Iris is our 2025 curator. Photo by Hailey Bollinger.

2024 Curator Haleh Liza Gafori kicked off our August Book Launch.

Photo by Manny Inoa.

MINDFULNESS IN MOTION

Exploring Mind-Body Connection in Schools

By Charli Littleton

Afterthe final bell rings and the hustle and bustle of end of day excitement begins to settle at John P. Parker, a Cincinnati Public School, the harmonious sound of twinkling chimes faintly sweeps through the hallway. Imagine following the gentle ringing, noticing a calming sensation enter your body, allowing the soothing of your mind.

That is the journey after-school students take to Miss Ashley, a facilitator of The Well’s My True SELF program. She smiles down at a line of students standing just outside her classroom doorway. One by one she invites each student to inhale and exhale with a Koshi chime, their body and mind at peace before welcoming them into the room. Once inside, a curious scent of lavender wafts from a diffuser and fills your lungs with floral, woodsy air. The dimmed lights create a warm glow that eases you into the safety of the space.

Cr8 Club, a dynamic after school program in collaboration with Kennedy Heights Arts Center (KHAC), a Cincinnati-based non-profit, aims to provide a supportive environment for children to explore their creativity through art, music, and socialemotional learning (SEL). KHAC was enthusiastic about partnering with

The Well for the second year to continue integrating a mind-body focus into the program at two Cincinnati Public Schools, John P. Parker and Academy of World Languages.

The integration of The Well’s SEL program, My True SELF (Social Emotional Learning Fun), is an innovative approach that introduces mindfulness techniques into Cr8 Club. During circle time, facilitators guide the children through short meditation exercises that allow them to center themselves before group sharing. With practices like group movement games, mindful art-making, and Mindful Music Moments, students are able to discover new ways to express their feelings and connect with one another.

Through consistent participation in My True SELF, students begin to find balance and are able to channel their restlessness into creative expression, using their body to explore emotions rather than feeling overwhelmed by them. The once-distracted child becomes an engaged member of Cr8 Club, demonstrating curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Their journey illustrates the powerful impact of integrating social-emotional learning with creative expression, showing that with the right support, every child can thrive.

Students begin to find balance and are able to channel their restlessness into creative expression, using their body to explore emotions rather than feeling overwhelmed by them.

My True SELF facilitator, Miss Ashley leading a fun movement game with Cr8 Club students at John P. Parker School.

KENNEDY HEIGHTS ARTS CENTER

IMAGINE BELLA ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE

August 2023 marked the beginning of the third year of partnership between Imagine Bella Academy of Excellence, located in Cleveland OH, and The Well. At Imagine Bella, The Well supports a dedicated Mindfulness/My True SELF teacher who sees each student at least one time a week in “specials.” The aim for the new school year was to maintain a whole student, whole school reach while making strides to support and include the whole community in an effort to bring social emotional learning initiatives to all.

Kennedy Heights Arts Center integrated the My True SELF curriculum in their afterschool program, Cr8 Club for the 2nd year. Two local Cincinnati schools, Academy of World Languages and John P. Parker School saw a marked improvement in their pre-program and post-program assessment using the DESSA-mini – a standardized assessment for SEL. IInitially, 43% of students were identified as having a “need for instruction” in SEL, a figure which dropped to 19% by the end of the year. There was also a 10% increase in the number of students scoring in the typical range and a 20% improvement in the number of students identified as having a strength in the area of SEL.

UPSPRING

UpSpring, a Cincinnati-based non-profit that works with unhoused youth, utilized the My True SELF curriculum over this past school year. The Well held professional development training for all staff in order to integrate the program themselves into each of their classrooms. The students’ scores showed a 100% reduction in the number of students showing a need for additional support for SEL instruction.

Image: Bryce Kessler and and Charli Littleton leading UpSpring students in a guided Wonder Meditation with live cello accompaniment.

Image: Students meditating during their weekly mindfulness class special at Imagine Bella.

PROGRAMS, PRACTICES AND CONNECTION:

A Wellspring of Community Joy

Inspired by the wedInspired by the wedding chapel at Luna Luna, The Well invited Pam Kravetz to officiate marriages at the Planet Love Pocket Park during Pride month. Organized in part by members of 2023’s True Body Project summer cohort of ArtWorks youth apprentices. Photo courtesy Kyle Wolff.

To nourish the magic

To nourish the magic of the eclipse’s arrival, The Well collaborated with Pyramid Hill to present Total Eclipse of the Arts, a day-long retreat for 130+ members of our community to mindfully prepare and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here, Amy Tuttle leads participants in a morning meditation at the start of the retreat.

The Labyrinth in our The The Labyrinth in our Wellness Garden, created and nurtured by The Well, The Well’s artistin-residence Julia O. Bianco, and Campsite Art Park’s Sean Mullaney. The Wellness Garden serves Camp Washington as a new public greenspace, with its creation throughout the summer bringing in numerous volunteers, facilitator artists and educators engaging in outdoor, arts-centered community activities.

The Well’s True Body Project is dedicated to helping teens and The Well’s True Body Project is dedicated to helping teens and people of all ages grapple with the complexities of living in a human body. Sona and Soma is the culmination of a 10-week youth apprenticeship program in the summer of 2024 in partnership with ArtWorks, during which young people ages 14–20 explored mindfulness, movement, and concepts of performing identity via sonas—masks or avatars—and the internalized lived experience of having a soma, or body. The work and catalog were presented in the 2024 FotoFocus Biennial. Here, youth apprentices are featured with Romain Mayambi, a photographer and guest teacher for the program.

Regan Jordan’s Sona and Soma Apprentice Artist Regan Jordan’s work. Regan Jordan, Regan- Angelique Begonia, from Inner Nature, 2024. Diptych, 36 x 24 inches. Courtesy of the artist.

Asa Featherstone IV records unhoused youth during The

Asa

IV records unhoused youth during The

UpSpring’s Summer 360 camps in Cincinnati and Northern

The Well shared two workbooks of activities inspired by the cosmos and nature with the UpSpring youth, recording their voices reciting their ideas about space and wonder to be integrated into the Wonder Commission

ILLUMINATE Journeyers Lawrence, Ushindi, Kori (as hostess Caroline)

ILLUMINATE Journeyers Lawrence, Ushindi, Kori (as hostess Caroline) and See Drye visit Black Art Speaks’ Black Lives Matter mural at BLINK where See Drye helmed a letter.

Well’s visit

Featherstone

Well’s visit to

Kentucky.

Astronomer Dean Regas introduces writer, physicist, and MT professor Astronomer Dean Regas introduces writer, physicist, and MIT professor Alan Lightman alongside composer Dr. Brian Raphael Nabors to hold a conversation around wonder, space, nature, and the cosmos. The conversation from this evening inspired the Wonder Commission, The Well’s newest music commission composed by Nabors and performed by the Antigone Music Collective for Mindful Music Moments. Photo courtesy Deogracias Lerma.

Three individuals were nominated by Cincinnati arts organizations

Three individuals were nominated by Cincinnati arts organizations

A Pictures Worth, Black Art Speaks, and ROMAC to participate in ILLUMINATE: a customized experience over BLINK weekend created for them by immersive experience designer Kori Martodom and Artist Fellows including Kateri Sparrow, Elan Schwartz, and SLiNK love, featured here with nominated Journeyers Ushindi, Lawrence and Christian (See Drye) and Chef Kristen St. Clair. Thanks also to Welcome Project, United Church of Christ, the American Sign Museum, Julia O. Bianco, WildHOME, Cal Cullen and numerous volunteers for making this 24 hour journey so magical.

The work of The Well is supported by many community arts partners, organizations, foundations, and generous donors. For a full list of our partners, visit TheWell.World.

We’re honored to receive ongoing support from:

The Datebook

DEC. 1, SUNDAY

Children’s Law Center, Holiday Fundraiser Performance | 1 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Over-theRhine. Special preview of Ensemble Theatre’s “Alice in Wonderland.” Tickets: $25.  childrenslawky.org

DEC. 5, THURSDAY

World Affairs Council, Annual International Education Summit | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Northern Kentucky University Student Union. Lunch, workshops, career fair and speed networking for high school students. Registration: $20.  globalcincinnati.org

DEC. 6, FRIDAY

Cincinnati Art Galleries, Panorama of Cincinnati Art 39 Opening | 5-8 p.m. Cincinnati Art Galleries, downtown. Exhibition and sale featuring over 150 works by local artists. Proceeds benefit Cincinnati Art Museum. Tickets: $125.  cincyart.com

Twin Lakes, Holiday Boutique & Bake Sale | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Twin Lakes Davies Center, Montgomery. Holiday gifts, baked goods, poinsettias, crafts, silent auction and raffle. Proceeds benefit Life Enriching Communities Benevolent Care Fund. Free.

DEC. 6, FRIDAY + WEEKENDS IN DEC.

Caracole, Christmas Tree Sale | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Nov. 29 and Saturdays); and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sundays). Caracole, Northside. Trees, wreaths, garland and wrapping paper for sale until gone.  caracole.org

DEC. 7, SATURDAY

Arthritis Foundation, Jingle Bell Run | 8:30 a.m. Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Opening ceremony, 5K race, postrace celebration and awards ceremony. Virtual option. Registration: $30-$55.  events.arthritis.org

Coverd, Warehouse Warming Party | 6-8 p.m. COVERD Greater Cincinnati, Walnut Hills. Valet parking, cocktail dress, cocktails,

With a Spotlight on the Movers and Makers behind Greater Cincinnati’s Fundraisers, Friend-Raisers and Community Events

appetizers, facility tours, scavenger hunt, games and music. Tickets: $50.

 sweetcheeksdiaperbank.org

DEC. 8, SUNDAY

Cincinnati Preservation, Members Reception & Annual Meeting | 2-4 p.m. The Carnegie, Covington. Reception and meeting.

 cincinnatipreservation.org

DEC. 10, TUESDAY

Assistance League, Jingle & Mingle

Holiday Luncheon & Style Show | 11 a.m. Ivy Hills Country Club, Newtown. Boutique, purse-a-palooza and wine pull. Tickets: $40.

 assistanceleaguecincinnati.org

DEC. 14, SATURDAY

My Nose Turns Red, Circ-A-Thon | Circus skill challenges, circus demonstrations, silent auction and raffle.

 mynoseturnsred.org/circ-a-thon

Mt. Adams Business Guild, Annual Reindog Parade | 12:30 p.m. 946 Pavilion St., Mt. Adams. Food, vendors, raffles and dog costume contest. Proceeds benefit The League for Animal Welfare.  mtadamsreindog@gmail.com

JAN. 11, SATURDAY

Women’s Alliance, Cheers to the New Year | Karrikin Spirits Co., Madisonville. Featuring Gayle Harden-Renfro’s One Woman Art Show.DAY

Alois Alzheimer Foundation, Flip the Script on Alzheimer’s | 2 p.m. Alois Alzheimer Foundation. Drinks, networking and session with Maria Deneau, certified dementia practitioner and clinical care liaison. Free. RSVP to mfinn@hcmg.com.  alois.com

JAN. 19, SUNDAY

Benjamin Carlson-Berne Scholarship Foundation, Benefit Concert | 3 p.m. School for Creative & Performing Arts, Overthe-Rhine. Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins. Proceeds provide quality private music lessons for underserved youth.  bcbscholarship.org

Panorama of Cincinnati Art showcases works by a variety of local artists, including Lewis Henry Meakin, whose “Two Houses” is seen here. Dec. 6 at Cincinnati Art Galleries

On Dec. 14 it will be raining dogs for the Reindog Prade, in Mt. Adams, a costume parade boosting the League for Animal Welfare

Violinist Kelly Hall-Tomkins performs in recital to benefit the Carlson-Berne Scholarship Foundation, Jan. 19 at SCPA.

David and Susan

Eltringham (top) are chairs and Ashley and Jeff Bieber vice chairs of Stepping Stones’ Open Your Heart dinner, Feb. 4.

JAN. 20, MONDAY

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Annual King Legacy Celebration | 8 a.m. National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, downtown. Continental breakfast and program. Tickets: $50.  freedomcenter.org

JAN. 22, WEDNESDAY

Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Impact Breakfast | 8-9:30 a.m. Mayerson JCC, Amberley. Breakfast, discussion about the evolving role of the Jewish community and insights from leaders. Free.  jlive.app/events/9663

JAN. 24, FRIDAY

UC College-Conservatory of Music, Moveable Feast | 6:30 p.m. CCM Village, University of Cincinnati. Reception, performances and after-party. Tickets: $75.  foundation.uc.edu/ MoveableFeast

FEB. 1, SATURDAY

Good Samaritan Foundation, 40th Annual Gala - Ruby Jubilee | Music Hall Ballroom. Black-tie event with cocktail hour, dinner and dancing. Tickets: $300.  9116.thankyou4caring.org/gala

FEB. 4, TUESDAY

Stepping Stones, Annual Open Your Heart | Stone Creek Dining Company, Montgomery. Cocktail hour, raffle, artwork and take & bake meals. Tickets: $200.

 steppingstonesohio.org

FEB. 20, THURSDAY

Aubrey Rose Foundation, Dream It. Live It! |

6-9:30 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Hors d’oeuvres, drinks, live auction with runway show, silent auction and raffles. Cocktail attire. Tickets: $50; tables: $750.

 aubreyrose.org/dream-it-live-it

FEB. 20, THURSDAY

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Annual Meeting | 6-9 p.m. Montgomery Inn, Montgomery. Dinner, drinks, cash bar and awards.  cff.org

FEB. 27, THURSDAY

University of Cincinnati IDD Education Center, Annual Red & Black Blast | 6-9:30 p.m. Tangeman University Center, University of Cincinnati. Dinner, cocktails, silent auction and honoring Ted Karras, Cincinnati Bengals center and founder of The Cincy Hat Foundation. Tickets: $100.

 cech.uc.edu/schools/education.html

MARCH, 1 FRIDAY

American Heart Association, Heart Ball | 6 p.m.-midnight. Sharonville Convention Center. Chair: Jill Meyer.  heart.org/en/affiliates/ohio

MARCH 4-5, TUES.-WEDS.

Council on Aging, Forum on Aging | Sharonville Convention Center. Breakfast, buffet lunch, networking, workshops and keynotes.  help4seniors.org

MARCH 6-8, THURSDAY-SATURDAY

Cincinnati International Wine Festival | Freestore Foodbank. Dinner series, grand tastings, auction and luncheon. Proceeds benefit a variety of nonprofits.  winefestival.com

MARCH 6, THURSDAY

Adopt A Class, Tomorrow’s Leaders Celebration | 6-9 p.m. UC Digital Futures. Games and interactive opportunities with community partners.  aacmentors.org

MARCH 12, WEDNESDAY

National Kidney Foundation, Dining with the Stars | 6:30 p.m. Rhinegeist Brewery, Over-the-Rhine. Awards ceremony honoring Sharad Goel and Rick and Amy Schwab.  kidney.org

MARCH 14, FRIDAY

Whole Again, Eat, Sip & Give | 6:30-9 p.m. Delta Hotel, Sharonville. Dinner by-the-bite, drinks and silent auction. Tickets: $65.  whole-again.org

MARCH 16, SUNDAY

American Heart Association, Heart Mini-Marathon & Walk | 7:30 a.m. Corner of 5th & Lawrence, downtown. Half marathon, 1K, 5K and 15K options and kids race.  www2.heart.org

APRIL 5, SATURDAY

The Cure Starts Now Foundation, Once in a Lifetime Gala | 5:30-10:30 p.m. Sharonville Convention

Moveable Feast, showcasing the performing talents of UC College-Conservatory of Music students, takes place at CCM Village, UC campus on Jan. 24.

Center. Dinner, open bar and silent auction. Tickets: $90-$150.

 thecurestartsnow.org

APRIL 10, THURSDAY

Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Dream Makers Celebration | American Sign Museum, Camp Washington. Details TBA.  cycyouth.org/dreammakers

APRIL 11, FRI DAY

World Affairs Council, One World Gala and Global Trivia Game | 6-10 p.m. Venue details shared upon registration. Top trivia contestants win prizes from area restaurants and businesses.  globalcincinnati.org

APRIL 12, SATURDAY

Oxford Community Arts Center, Annual Gala | 6-10 p.m. Roaring Twenties theme with live jazz, food, games and silent auction. Tickets on sale January. Early bird: $125; at-door: $150.  oxarts.org/waystogive/gala

APRIL 26, SATURDAY

ArtWorks, Creative Campus Dedication & Grand Opening | 1-5 p.m. 2429 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills. Art, performances and tours of Hannan ArtPark. Free.

 artworkscincinnati.org

APRIL 26, SATURDAY

Purcell Marian HS, Grand Event | Tickets on sale Feb.  purcellmarian.org

MAY 8, THURSDAY

Alzheimer’s Association, Spring Gala | 5:30-9:30 p.m. Music Hall Ballroom. Dinner, drinks, games, raffles and silent auction. Tickets: $300.  alz.org/cincinnati 

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NKU begins construction on $86M science center expansion

Northern Kentucky University has broken ground on an $86 million expansion of the Dorothy Westerman Herrmann Science Center on its Highland Heights campus.

According to the university, the project will construct an 85,400-square-foot addition to the existing center, allowing several academic programs to consolidate their spaces into one state-of-the-art, STEM-focused facility. The project also involves renovating 19,000 square feet of the existing science center.

NKU has grown in recent years to more than 15,000 students. Since the opening of the Herrmann Science Center in 2002, student demand for STEM-related programs has increased by 50%.

Funding comes from a $79.9 million capital investment approved by the Kentucky General Assembly and $6 million in asset preservation funds provided by the legislature. NKU anticipates the project will be done by spring 2027.

UC receives $5.1M grant for transit construction projects

The University of Cincinnati is set to receive around $5.1 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration to develop digital platforms that speed up and enhance transit construction projects, ultimately cutting costs.

Advanced digital construction management systems use technologies like cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data integration, modeling and simulation, and real-time data processing to streamline and coordinate workflows, according to the FTA.

The funding will enable UC to help test digital construction technologies in real-world project settings, determine their feasibility, understand the impacts and assess the usefulness of the results.

Xavier sets groundbreaking date for new med school

Xavier University has announced a groundbreaking date for its proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine. The university will hold a celebration on Dec. 6 to kick off the medical school’s construction. Cincinnatibased Messer Construction Co. will begin construction later that month.

The 130,000-square-foot facility, designed by the S/L/A/M Collaborative and MSA Design, will feature a simulation hospital with 16 exam rooms and five flexible simulation rooms, a nearly 200-seat lecture hall and a 5,600-square-foot meeting hall. XU expects to complete construction in 2026.

The college will be the first Jesuit osteopathic medical school in the world and Ohio’s first new medical school in 40 years.

OKI awards $11.1M to build EV charging stations

The Greater Cincinnati area has received $11.1 million in federal “clean air” funds to build 43 electric vehicle charging stations throughout the region. Sixteen organizations received awards ranging from $87,000 to $1.5 million. The charging stations will be in city centers, small neighborhoods, parks, universities and even a small airport.

The Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) manages the local Carbon Reduction Program, which oversees the region’s federal transportation funds. Congress established the Carbon Reduction Program in 2021 as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program distributes funds to states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations, such as OKI, based on population.

OKI developed its CRP program to build a network of Direct Current Fast Chargers for electric vehicles in the region, supporting the widespread adoption of EVs.

United Way outlines plans for remaining $22M from Scott’s gift

United Way of Greater Cincinnati has a new investment strategy for spending the remaining $22 million of MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic gift. In addition, the organization is announcing $2.3 million in grants to support educational and youth leadership capacity. UWGC President and CEO Moira Weir outlined the investment strategy during the organization’s donor event, A Brighter Tomorrow, at The Anderson Pavilion.

United Way received a total of $25 million from Scott in December 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. UWGC took a “strategic, patient” approach to investing the money, according to Board Chair Brian Hodgett, enabling the organization to grow the initial gift.

Early on, UWGC combined $5 million from the grant with public funds to rebuild its organizational capacity, support community initiatives and provide short-term financial relief. Now, the board has approved a strategic plan to use the remaining funds for longer-term recovery efforts.

The main focus will be on supporting young people, addressing challenges outside the classroom that affect student and family stability. Over the next three years, these investments will focus on education, housing and workforce readiness.

CABVI adds new van to bring resources to clients

Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired has rolled out a new Mobile Vision Resources Van to reach more people in need across the region. CABVI provides comprehensive services for people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. The nonprofit helps over 4,000 people annually adapt to vision loss.

The vehicle will allow the agency’s low-vision optometrist and therapist to serve those who are unable to make it to its Gilbert Avenue headquarters. CABVI plans to bring the van to local health fairs, informational events, and senior and community recreational facilities. 

A rendering of the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine on Xavier University’s campus

UWGC President and CEO Moira Weir discusses investment strategy during the organization’s donor event.

Northern Kentucky University officials break ground on the expanded science center.

Michele Landers, who has over 20 years of fundraising experience at Bayley Senior Care and Summit Country Day School, has been named vice president of development at Dan Beard Council, Scouting America .

Aviatra Accelerators, a nonprofit that supports area women entrepreneurs, has appointed entrepreneur Candace N. Huff, vice president and business development manager for Republic Bank, to its board of directors.

The Christ College of Nursing & Health Sciences has inaugurated Amy Wutke as its fifth president. She formerly served as president of Cox College in Springfield, Missouri.

Tricia Sunders has joined United Way of Greater Cincinnati as chief development officer. Sunders, who has over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, will lead strategies to expand philanthropic efforts, focusing on relationships with individual and institutional donors.

Caracole’s board of directors has named Jeniece Jones, former executive director of the Public Justice Center in Baltimore, as its next CEO. Jones succeeds Linda Seiter, who recently retired after over 20 years of service.

Mark Theiss is the new vice president for development, central programs, for the University of Cincinnati Foundation. Theiss has served as assistant vice president for development at Penn State, managing 14 fundraising units. An alumnus of Penn State, Theiss has more than 23 years of fundraising experience.



Six business and community leaders have joined the DePaul Cristo Rey High School board of directors: LaNae Barnes, Cincinnati local market executive at Bank of America; Catherine Fitzgerald, vice president at Alloy Development; Doug Miller, retired executive and community volunteer; Penny Monday, senior consultant at Make It Plain Consulting, LLC; Steve Morse , owner, AlphaGraphics Cincinnati; and Ed Stenger, retired executive and community volunteer.



The Cincinnati Art Museum has five new trustees joining its board for their first three-year terms: Hesham Tohamy Abd El Hak , president of Procter & Gamble’s feminine care business; Tracy Hartmann, a leader in the Cincinnati Town and Country Garden Club who has co-chaired CAM galas in 2016, 2018 and 2024; Jackie Reau , CEO of Game Day Communications, which she co-founded in 2002, and a former CAM director of marketing; Cheryl Rose , community volunteer and partner with Constellation Wealth Advisors, who previously served on the CAM board; and Christine Schiff, vice president of the Arts Alliance at Cincinnati Country Day School, novelist and art enthusiast.



The Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation named Camilla Worrell as its executive director. Worrell, is an experienced nonprofit leader, most recently she served as the executive director for Family Promise, which works to stabilize families experiencing homelessness in Cobb County, Georgia.

Scott Robertson, chairman of RCF Group, has been appointed board chair by Visit Cincy. With more than 35 years of leadership experience, Robertson has held positions with the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Museum Center, Cintrifuse and Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, among others. Also, Bobbi Dillon, senior manager of state government relations at Procter & Gamble, has been named vice chair, and Steve Mullinger, Huntington Bank regional president-Southern Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, has become board secretary/treasurer.

Talbert House has announced Denice Hertlein as chair of its board of trustees. A former shareholder at Clark Schaefer Hackett, she established Watch Hill Advisory LLC in 2016. She has served Talbert House as a board member for six years. Talbert House also welcomes Emily Peterson, vice president at Aon, and Chris Ramos, executive vice president and corporate banking market leader at PNC Bank, to the board.

Eric Johnson of Grant Thornton has become Brighton Center board chair; and Brian Crecco of Capital Construction Services will serve as Brighton Properties board chair. Both are longtime advocates for Brighton.

Dress for Success Cincinnati has appointed Meggan Thompson as president and CEO. With more than 10 years of banking experience and a recent stint as chief program officer at Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge to her new position. 

Doug Miller Catherine Fitzgerald LaNae Barnes

Mark Theiss

Jeniece Jones

Tricia Sunders

Amy Wutke

Candace N. Huff

Michele Landers

Camilla Worrell

Christine Schiff

Hesham Tohamy Abd El Hak

Cheryl Rose Ed Stenger

Jackie Reau

Steve Morse

Tracy Hartmann

Penny Monday

Brian Crecco Eric Johnson

Chris Ramos

Emily Peterson Denice Hertlein

Scott Robertson Steve Mullinger Bobbi Dillion Meggan Thompson

Harold C Schott Foundation

Vickie Buyniski Gluckman Sherie Marek

Norah and R Kerry Clark

Joan and Robert Cody, MD

Celeste and Tom Haverkos

Julie and Frederic Holzberger

Anne and Dean Kereiakes, MD

Elizabeth and Brian Mannion, MD

Williams Foundation

Christ Hospital gala raises $2.3M for oncology program

The Christ Hospital Health Network’s 2024 Gala raised more than $2.3 million for its nationally renowned Comprehensive Oncology Program. The money will go toward patient assistance, research and lifesaving cancer programs.

The event, held at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, featured a performance by DANCEFIX and music from the band Universal Crush. Fort Washington Investment Advisors was the presenting sponsor and Danis Construction was diamond sponsor.

The event honored local pioneers in cancer care, including Drs. Wilfried Leder, Douglas K. Hawley, Kathryn Ann Weichert, Martin B. Popp and Rodney P. Geier. Additionally, it paid posthumous tribute to Drs. Cornelia M. Dettmer and Ralph M. Scott.

The Christ Hospital Health Network was named to Newsweek’s Best Cancer Hospitals List for 2024. The network has partnered with the Dana Farber Brigham Cancer Center to offer groundbreaking treatment options.

 thechristhospital.com

Steering committee for the Christ Hospital Health Network gala: Steve Rosfeld, president of The Christ Hospital Foundation; Kathy Jennings; Anne Ilyinsky; Carolyn Fovel; Debbie Hayes, president and CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network; Judy Dalambakis; Marty Humes; Cindy Broderick; and John Anning

DANCEFIX performs for gala attendees.

The gala took place at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center

Universal Crush performs for gala attendees.

Dr. Cornelia McClusky, daughter of honoree Dr. Cornelia Dettmer, with honorees Dr. Martin Popp, Dr. Kathryn Ann Weichert and Dr. Rodney Geier

Norah Clark and board member Marty Humes

Julie Holzberger and Frederic Holzberger

Joe Fleissner and Kelley Fleissner

Awards Breakfast

Connect Clermont hosted its second annual Good Day Clermont Celebration and Awards Breakfast at the Grant Career Center in Bethel. The event’s purpose was to recognize people and organizations that connect people, provide resources and help improve lives in Clermont County.

Ten organizations received grants to assist with their community mission and six Connector Awards were given to honor people and groups who exemplified Connect

Connect Clermont recognizes community contributors at breakfast Council honors Kreutzjans at annual dinner

Clermont’s values of connecting resources to community needs.

Connector Award honorees:

• Steve Newman, the first documented solo World Walker

• Bill Hopple, Cincinnati Nature Center executive director emeritus and Cardinal Land Conservancy board chair

• Brittany Glover, Mercy Health imaging project manager aand past vice chair of Connect Clermont

During its annual dinner at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, the Covington Business Council honored Orleans Development founder Tony Kreutzjans with its Founder Award, a lifetime achievement award for promoting Covington’s economic development.

Since founding Orleans Development in 2005, Kreutzjans has created a niche as a developer, owner, property manager, and contractor

• Cindy Cassel, director of the Clermont County Farm Bureau

• Dawn Sorrelis, Clermont Education Services Center assistant superintendent

• Jodi and Kevin Malof, Loveland-Goshen community investors

Grant recipients: Clermont County Genealogical Society; Sleep in Heavenly Peace, No Kid Sleeps on the Floor; West Clermont Schools for the

of historic and newly constructed properties in Northern Kentucky.

Approximately 500 attendees enjoyed a cocktail hour and networking, followed by dinner and the program honoring Kreutzjans. The dinner was supported by various local businesses, with St. Elizabeth Healthcare as event host sponsor.

 cbcky.com

Community Table Project Room of Hope; The Care Center of Loveland; Clermont Public Library for Library2Go; IPM Food Pantry; Lightshine Community Center; Renaissance New Richmond; Blue Bird Bus of Hope; and Goshen Education Foundation.

Connect Clermont is a community services organization connecting resources to Clermont County citizens.

 connectclermont.com

Connector Award recipients, grant awardees and the Connect Clermont board of directors at the second annual Good Day Clermont Celebration and

Jason Payne, vice president, Republic Bank; CBC Founder Award recipient Tony Kreutzjans of Orleans Development; and Covington Business Council Executive Director Pat Frew

Nuxhall Foundation honors humanitarian Tischler at Miracle Ball

The Nuxhall Foundation and Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields hosted the ninth annual Miracle Ball, presented by The Hatton Foundation, at the Oscar Event Center in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 450 guests. The event honored Larry Tischler with the 2024 Joe Nuxhall Humanitarian Award. Tischler has served as the organization’s vice chairman since its inception and has fostered recreational opportunities for the special needs population as president of the Butler County Special Olympics.

At the event, which raised about $200,000, the Nuxhall Foundation unveiled its final design plans for The Hope Center, a 31,000-square-foot indoor recreational facility for athletes with special needs. New Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona made a surprise appearance.

 nuxhallmiracleleague.org

Larry Tischler is celebrated by the sold-out crowd of more than 450 guests at the Miracle Ball.

New Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona joined the event, surprising his friend Marty Brennaman on stage.

Local 12’s Sheila Gray gives a warm welcome to Larry Tischler, winner of the Joe Nuxhall Humanitarian Award.

Rosie Red greets Miracle Ball guests for photos.

Phil Nuxhall, Joe’s son, has a laugh at the Miracle Ball.

Kim Nuxhall, president and board chairman of the Nuxhall Foundation, presents The NUXY to Larry Tischler.

Nuxhall Foundation board member Marlon Styles Sr. talks with Miracle League athlete Duane Sparks.

Larry Tischler accepts the 2024 Joe Nuxhall Humanitarian Award.

“Jungle Jim” Bonaminio squares off in a few high-stakes hands of poker at the after-party presented by The Hatton Foundation.

Nuxhall Foundation board member Chad Caddell laughs as board members are introduced.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brent Suter does impressions during the live auction, including this impression of Harry Caray.

Local 12’s Bob Herzog leads the silent auction.

 Dick and Kitty Rosenthal received the Chairperson’s Award, UC Foundation’s highest honor.

UC Foundation holds Pinecroft dinner to celebrate outstanding volunteers

The University of Cincinnati Foundation recognized its Outstanding Philanthropic Volunteer Award honorees at the George Rieveschl Recognition Dinner at Pinecroft at Crosley Estate.

This annual event celebrates individuals receiving the foundation’s highest accolades for philanthropic and volunteer commitments to the University of Cincinnati and UC Health. The 2024 honorees are: the Rosenthal family; Arun Murthy; the University of Cincinnati Band Alumni Association; Flávia Bastos; and Holly Giese, who graduated this year.

 foundation.uc.edu

Holly Giese and Marianne Lewis. Giese was honored with the Student Philanthropy Award.

Arun Murthy and Leigh Fox. Murthy received the Trustees’ Award.

Flávia Bastos was honored with the Staff Award of Merit.

Natalie Ochmann, president of the University of Cincinnati Band Alumni Association, with her husband, Timothy Ochmann. UCBAA received the Group Philanthropy Award.

P&G Alumni Foundation celebrates A Night of Gratitude

The Procter & Gamble Alumni Foundation held its Night of Gratitude celebration, recognizing its donors, grant recipients and alumni “grant champions” working in area nonprofits.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, a P&G alum, proclaimed P&G Alumni Foundation Day.

The event raised over $290,000 for the foundation, a nonprofit established to give charitably and apply P&G alumni expertise to help people in need economically thrive.

Through grantmaking to charitable organizations where P&G alums are involved, the foundation strives to empower people around the globe to build sustainable futures through jobs, vocational training and new business start-ups.

Honorary co-chairs were David Taylor and Janet Reid; Chip Bergh and Juliet Bergh matched every dollar raised so far.

 pgalumnifoundation.org

Eric Rigaud, Woody Keown, Ed Rigaud, Carol Rigaud and Edna Keown

David Taylor, Martin Riant and Mark Jeffreys

Allison Tummon, Diane Cummins, Julie Eddleman and Shelly McNamara

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and Sarah Woods, P&G Alumni Foundation executive director

Jennifer Byrne, Deb Kielty, Sue Baggott and Sarah Woods

Honorary co-chairs Janet Reid and David Taylor

PGAF Grant Champions: Margaret Szempruch, Mark Evans, Donna Zaring, John Albrin, Rev. Mary Layman, Melisse May, Greg York, Miguel Garcia, Sue Wilke, Steve Baggott, Leslie Odioso and Mike Kremzar

Deb Meyer and Dan Meyer

Mary Ellen Brophy, Kelly Vanesse and Gordon Brunner

Henry Karamanoukian, Victoria Karamanoukian, Jeff Schomburger and Mark Jeffries

ruce criPPen Photogra Phy

Lighthouse raises $100K at Crosley Estate event

Lighthouse Youth & Family Services hosted its annual Fall Event at the Pinecroft at Crosley Estate. Attendees explored the estate, savored bite-sized dishes provided by local restaurants and caterers, and enjoyed boutique shopping and a lively silent auction. WLWT’s Megan Mitchell was emcee.

Lighthouse raised over $100,000 to support services and care for young people in need.

lys.org

Katie Cousino, Edna Keown and Candie Simmons

Peter Dunn and Michelle Dunn

April Davidow and Tamara Harkavy

Lighthouse volunteer and featured speaker Megan Miladinov

Lighthouse board member Amy Susskind, Heather Harris and Libby Callan

Sold-out Root Ball celebrates Great Parks’ projects, future

Great Parks hosted its fifth annual Root Ball, an evening that raised support for the organization’s conservation efforts. The event drew over 250 guests, including 28 sponsors, who enjoyed cocktails, dinner, live music and a silent auction at The Summit Hotel. They also learned about Great Parks’ initiatives to make the region a vibrant and healthy place to live, learn, work and play. The Oliver Family Foundation presented the event, with Arcadis, Cincinnati Museum Center and Human Nature Inc. serving as supporting sponsors.

 greatparks.org

Brewster Rhoads, event sponsor and Commissioner Bill Burwinkel, and Anne Sesler and Chip Gerhardt from event sponsor Government Strategies Group

Guests from sponsor Truepoint Wealth Counsel: Great Parks Forever board member

Scott Keller, Francis Keller, Scott Barbee, Chris Carleton, Janel Carroll, Root Ball event chair Bridget Hughes, Deanna Sicking and Bryan Sicking

Great Parks chief of planning Janet Broughton Murray with Commissioner Melissa Wegman from event sponsor Wegman Company

Molly Schuster and Great Parks Commissioner Scott Schuster from event sponsor Cincinnati Museum Center; Bill Fischer and Mary Fischer

Becca Slattery and Bobby Slattery from event sponsor Fifty West Brewing; Kirby Neumann, Christina Yund and Jeff Yund with event sponsor trak group

Janet Lockwood, Great Parks Forever board member

Kay Bornemann, Great Parks CEO Todd Palmeter and Sharon Palmeter at the Great Parks Root Ball

Commissioner and event sponsor Caren Laverty (second from the right) with guests

Commissioner Marcus Thompson (center, in blue vest) and guests from event sponsors Triversity Construction enjoy the happy hour on the rooftop patio.

Guests from event sponsors Prus Construction and Arcadis

Great Parks Education Manager Luke Ogonek introduces a Great Parks snake to arriving guests

$390K for home renovations program

People Working Cooperatively cel ebrated its annual ToolBelt Ball fundraiser, presented by Macy’s, at the Manor House in Mason. For more than 25 years, the nonprofit has hosted the gala to raise mon ey for its Modifications for Mobility program, which provides home enhancements and improvements to help low-income, elderly homeown ers and people with disabilities stay in their homes.

The event, hosted by WCPO’s Craig McKee, raised more than $390,000. It included a cocktail reception, auctions, the popular Booze Pull, entertainment and a three-course gourmet dinner.

 pwchomerepairs.org

The auction room at the ToolBelt Ball

Advocates’ gala raises $366K for NKY children’s center

The Advocates’ Grand Gala “Enchanting Isles, a Mediterranean Extravaganza” raised over $366,000 for the Northern Kentucky Children’s Advocacy Center to support children and families who have experienced abuse.

The Advocates transformed the Airport Marriott with coastal décor reminiscent of Mediterranean shores and attracted donors, community leaders, supporters and influencers. Gala chairs Candyse Jeffries and Diane Kidd, along with the Advocates, including founder Kimberly Carlisle, presented an evening filled with Mediterraneaninspired cuisine, music by the Naked Karate Girls and performances evoking Mediterranean ports.

NKYCAC provides services to children who have been sexually abused, physically abused or trafficked, as well as children who have witnessed violent crimes. Money raised will provide support and resources including forensic interviews, family advocacy, therapy, medical services, educational programs and community outreach.

 nkycac.org

Advocates and gala attendees: (back row) Jennifer Vories, Cynthia Browning, Tasha Klaber-Flood, Tracy Ashworth, Belinda Nitschke, Alicia Collins, Melissa Cronenweth and Julie Bouldin; (front row) Morgan Astraus and Ellen Murray

Better Business Bureau gala honors award-winning organizations

The Better Business Bureau Cincinnati held its annual Torch Awards for Ethics and Spark Awards gala, celebrating local organizations that go above and beyond to serve their customers, employees and community.

Guests walked a red carpet, mingled with regional business trailblazers and innovators, struck a pose at the photo booth, and witnessed the reveal of this year’s Torch Awards and Spark Awards winners live onstage.

Seven business and nonprofit leaders were named Torch Awards for Ethics winners, and three new businesses were honored as Spark Awards winners.

 bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-cincinnati

Gala chairs Diane Kidd and Candyse Jeffries

Keri Nichols, Kimberly Carlise, Frank Bardonaro and Priscilla Bardonaro

The Dress for Success Cincinnati team strikes a pose at the photo booth: Tierra Adabla, Megan Finn, Kate Black, Gwen Kelly, Lisa Nolan and Maria Downes.



BBB Cincinnati board chair Aaron Stapleton of Trinity In Home Care reveals a Torch Awards for Ethics winner.

BBB board member Sedra Taylor of Total Training Services, and Jocile Ehrlich, BBB president & CEO, present the Spark Awards winners.

2024 Torch Awards and Spark Awards winners: Kari Egbers, Jennifer Loeb, Kiersten Beatty, Heather Dalton, Lindsay McLaughlin, Wonda Winkler, Kate Oleksiak, Mary Kelly, James Begley, Lisa Nolan, Kevin McGrew and Doug Siebenburgen

Beech Acres hosts

3,000 at For the Love

of Kids Festival

Beech Acres Parenting Center celebrated its 175th anniversary at the For the Love of Kids Festival in Washington Park. Over 3,000 people enjoyed a day filled with family fun, including balloon art, a petting zoo, face painting, train rides, magicians, jugglers, dancing, inflatable booths, strengthsbased crafts, free raffles, books, pizza, cupcakes and more.

Guests had the opportunity to connect with local organizations such as the Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and Kids Thrive.

and

Beech Acres staff: Tracy Nath, development specialist; Brice Mickey, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion; Janice Weiss, director of marketing and strategic partnerships; Angie Scheper, costumer, product and growth manager for Parent Connext; Kerry Brown, senior parenting specialist; and Kaitlyn Walter, supervisor, annual fund and data management

Laura Mitchell, president and CEO at Beech Acres Parenting Center; Jennifer Fritsch of Q102;

U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman

Free activities, such as Circus Mojo, were available to families to enjoy.

Jordan Huizenga, Beech Acres vice president; Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Cincinnati vice mayor; and Eric Kearney, president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce

Stepping Stones nets $112K with sporting clays event

Clay pigeons flew at the Sycamore Pheasant Club in Loveland during Stepping Stones' Sporting Clays Tournament. The eighth annual event raised $112,562 to support a range of programs aimed at empowering those with disabilities – from children to adults.

Attendees hit the course for a clay shoot featuring 75 targets and a flurry game. Supporters participated in a raffle and a live auction with premier packages.

Mike Haehnle, Graham Vollmer, Jack Burchenal and Brandon Meek, representing Foundation Risk Partners, won the team competition. Wayne McDonough was the winning individual shooter. Guests enjoyed a pig roast dinner provided by SugarCreek and Julie and John Richardson.

Stepping Stones serves more than 700 people with disabilities in day and overnight programs that increase independence and promote inclusion.

 steppingstonesohio.org

Ian Sheckels, Graeme Daley, Rachel Esposito and Jennifer Acres

Thrilling tales enliven Adventure Crew event

Adventure Crew hosted its signature fall event Summits & Horizons, with more than 250 attendees at Memorial Hall. The event raised $83,250 to support the nonprofit’s programs, which connect city teens with nature and each other through outdoor adventures.

The evening kicked off with remarks from Cincinnati City Council Member Meeka Owens and Mayor Aftab Pureval. Three Adventure Crew teens gave funny, heartfelt reflections about their experiences.

Keynote speaker Philip Henderson, executive director of Full Circle Expeditions, told tales of summiting famous peaks, including Denali, Kilimanjaro and Everest, where he led the first allBlack expedition.

Adventure Crew presented the Vanguard Award, its highest distinction, to volunteer and supporter Israel Bonnell. Its new Thru-Hiker Award went to board member Mark Wherry.

 adventurecrew.org

Rob Zesch, Chris Dalambakis, Keith Lang

Wayne McDonough, individual winner

First-place team: Brandon Meek, Jack Burchenal and Mike Haehnle; (not pictured) Graham Vollmer

Brian Folke and Peter Borchers, event co-chairs

Keynote speaker Philip Henderson and Full Circle Expedition member Tenzing Gyalzen Sherpa

Cincinnati City Council Member Meeka Owens

Pam Kravetz, Teri Heist and Polly Campbell

Courtney Ryan, Adventure Crew Executive Director Libby Hunter and Mollie O’Neil

Michelle Wherry with Adventure Crew program manager Asia Bradford

Adventure Crew outdoor specialist Beth Knox talks to guests.

Live & Let Bloom benefits Stepping Stones programming

Stepping Stones hosted its 20th annual Live & Let Bloom fundraiser at Element Eatery. The event raised more than $324,000 to benefit year-round programming for children, teens and adults with disabilities.

Event chair Jenny Arena hosted the James Bond-themed evening with classic casino games, a silent auction featuring premiere packages, a program emceed by KISS 107’s JonJon and dinner by Element Eatery’s collection of restaurants.

The event’s presenting sponsor was Roto-Rooter. Diamonds Are Forever sponsors include Jeanne and Bob Coughlin, Rendigs Foundation, and Mendy and Dr. Andrew Ringer. Casino Royale sponsors include the Pettengill Family, Towne Properties, and Susie and Neil Bortz.

 steppingstonesohio.org

John Mongelluzzo, Kerry Mongelluzzo, board member Al Koncius and Pandy Pridemore

Board president Matt Hemberger and Allison Hemberger try out the 360° photo booth.

Steve Haussler and Eleanor Haussler browse the silent auction.

$112,500+ Net Raised for Stepping Stones

Thank You, Supporters!

Platinum Sponsors

The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation PLK Communities

Gold Sponsors

Johnson Investment Counsel, Inc.

Wyler Family Foundation

Key Sponsors

The Anning Group - UBS

Brian Albach, Stephen Dauer & Gregory Wells Carpetland

Country Attic Treasures

Daley Design + Build

Matt & Dr. Allison Hemberger

HighGrain Brewing Co.

Jersey Mike's

Northpoint Development

Julie & John Richardson SugarCreek

Jenny Arena thanks guests for attending Bloom, along with JonJon from KISS 107.

Stephanie Dalle Molle and Leo Dalle Molle try their luck at the casino games.

Bloom committee member Gwen Horter, Drew Horter and Melissa Barclay

Craig Gustafson and Blake Gustafson

Event chair Jenny Arena with her husband Kenny Arena

OneSource gala illuminates paths for nonprofits’ success

OneSource Center for Nonprofit Excellence welcomed friends and supporters at its flagship OneSource Illuminated gala at Fifth Third Center during BLINK weekend. The evening featured a testimonial by Barbara Isemann of On Our Way Home Inc. about the many supports that OneSource Center offers to nonprofits.

Bob Herzog of Local 12 was the emcee for the evening, which raised over $12,000, adding to the $125,000 in annual sustaining sponsorships vital to OneSource’s mission to provide essential services and products to area nonprofit agencies.

OneSource Illuminated was powered by Fifth Third Bank and event chair Julianne Bell.

 onesourcecenter.org

Barbara Isemann, founder of On Our Way Home, gives a testimonial.

Martha Steier, Maura Moran-Berry and Larry Morgan

Patty Leggio, Jerry Stanislaw and Carla Heldmann

Lauren Huizenga, Jordan Huizenga and event chair

Julianne Bell

Rob Reifsnyder welcoming attendees

Michelle Renee Norflee, Doris Thomas, Sharon Watkins, Kimberly Bennie and Sherry Childers

OneSource board member Bao Nguyen with Chris Bochenek

Gregg Harris, Bill McCoy and Jen Harris

Cali Herzog, Bob Herzog and Christie Brown

Angie Carl, Kevin Barker, Gwen Barker, Mark Biegger and Mary Biegger

Bethany House Services raises $282K at Welcome Home Bash

Bethany House Services, the largest provider of family homelessness services in Greater Cincinnati, raised a record $282,679 at the Welcome Home Bash. Proceeds support families in need, including the 43 families living in Bethany House’s emergency shelter.

Cincinnati Children’s and Sue and Joe Sedler received Beacon Awards for their help to families experiencing homelessness.

Over 350 people attended the event at The American Sign Museum. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails from Cincinnati’s best-known bartender, Molly Wellmann, and an autumnal spread by A Seasoned Dish Caterers. Jim Day of WGRR served as emcee.

The evening featured a video telling the story of three mothers who passed through the Bethany House emergency shelter with their children and now live stable, successful lives. Two of the women were present with their children.

 bethanyhouse.com

David Tramontana and Cindy Tramontana

Molly Wellmann serves up signature cocktails with a smile.

SATURDAY 6:30PM CET SUNDAY 8:30PM CET ARTS

Join Barbara Kellar as she showcases artists and cultural leaders from the Greater Cincinnati community.

Emmy Award Winner Regional - Interview/Discussion Program www.CETconnect.org

Melissa Hogan, Kim Cutler, Peg Dierkers, Dr. Carley Riley, Dr. Mona Mansour and Rod Hinton



Former CEO Susan Schiller (center) chats with guests.

Kristy Saarmann and Matt Saarmann

Sue Sedler, Joe Sedler and family Liz Sedler, Jodi Sedler and Ted Sedler

Bethany House CPO Rod Hinton, Beacon Award recipients Sue Sedler and Joe Sedler, and CEO Peg Dierkers

FotoFocus celebrates art of the lens

The 2024 FotoFocus Biennial: backstories was the organization’s largest event to date. With 107 projects and exhibitions at 86 venues, this year’s Biennial included more than 850 participants. Through gallery tours, talks, bus trips to Dayton and Columbus, a symposium and other events, the community came together to celebrate photography and lensbased art throughout the month of October.  fotofocus.org

Barb Gomes and Ron Hoffman on the FotoFocus Dayton bus trip

Biennial artist Daniel McInnis and FotoFocus patron Chuck Bluestone on the FotoFocus Dayton bus trip

Ribbon cutting on the Purple People Bridge for More Than Meets the Eye, a FotoFocus event

Participants at Keith Klenowski’s tintype demonstration at the Xavier University Art Galleries

Kevin Moore, Sunny Dooley, Ken Ogawa and Chip Thomas at the FotoFocus symposium

Kevin Moore, FotoFocus artistic director and curator, and photographer Barbara Probst at a reception in the Contemporary Arts Center

Katie Siegwarth, FotoFocus executive director

Britni Bicknaver and others at the Memory Fields curator talk

Sso-Rha Kang and artists from Memory Fields at the Weston Art Gallery

Chip Thomas and Kevin Moore discussing “Chip Thomas and the Painted Desert Project” at the CAC

Ignite Peace shares fellowship, honors activists

Peacebuilders from across Cincinnati gathered at the Woodward Theater to celebrate the annual meeting of Ignite Peace and share in fellowship and music. The event raised over $45,000 to continue Ignite Peace’s mission to educate and advocate for a nonviolent society.

Guests enjoyed musical duo Emma’s Revolution, Sandy O and Pat Humpries, who led the audience in song. Ignite Peace also honored local peace activists Saad Ghosn, Sharon Harris and the Student Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees.

Rev. Brian Blayer provided a welcome address on behalf of the evening’s presenting sponsor, Christ Church Cathedral. Ignite Peace, founded in 1985, advocates for systemic changes to the criminal justice and immigration justice systems.

 ignitepeace.org

Donna Hutchinson-Smyth and Julie Brock

Ignite Peace staff: Bekky Baker, Hayley Huge, Shannon Hughes and Samantha Searls

Sharon Harris, recipient of the Margaret Fuller Peace Award

Shannon Hughes, executive director of Ignite Peace Saad Ghosn, recipient of the Bob Maxwell Peace Builder Award

Rev. Brian Blayer, Christ Church Cathedral

Dyah Miller; Sister Judi Clemens, Shannon Hughes; Sister Nancy Wellmeier and Sister Kristin Matthes

Ryan Sullivan and Abby Howell

Francesca Phillis and Oscar Bonilla

Sandy O and Pat Humpries of Emma’s Revolution

Girl Scouts honor 5 Changemakers who help the community

The Girl Scouts of Western Ohio held the 2024 She Leads: A Celebration of Changemakers breakfast and awards ceremony at Kenwood Country Club.

The event celebrated five changemakers for the important work that they do to make their communities a better place to live: Ann Kim and Sydney Ramsey, Girl Scout Changemakers; María J. Ortiz, Teri Shirk and Melanee Wagener, Women Changemakers.

She Leads was presented by John LaMacchia and Betsy LaMacchia, and the event committee’s co-chairs were Monique Sewell, Pam Viscone and Carole Williams.

This event benefited the Girl Scout for Every Girl initiative, which provides changemaking experiences to girls who would otherwise not have access to Girl Scouts.

 gswo.org

Gala announces rebranding of sexual health foundation

The 2024 SHE+ Gala took place at the Cincinnati Ballet, with music by the Naked Karate Girls, food by Jeff Thomas Catering and entertainment by East to Vest and Rays Auras Photography.

At the gala, the Patty Brisben Foundation for Women's Sexual Health announced its rebranding to the SHE+ Foundation, which is now equipped with a robust resource hub of tools and resources sourced by the SHE+ Medical Advisory Board and by friends in the field of sexual health.

 sheplusfoundation.com

Dr.

GSWO Board Chair Cassie Barlow with Changemaker honorees María J. Ortiz, Ann Kim, Teri Shirk and Melanee Wagener, and Aimée Sproles

Presenting sponsors Betsy LaMacchia and John LaMacchia with Rudhi Kumar

GSWO President and CEO Aimée Sproles with board member Carole Williams, H. James Williams and board member Pam Viscione

Aimée Sproles presented Girl Scout alum Sydney Ramsey with her award.

Girl Scout Ambassador Sophia Meadows, who served as emcee for the day

Honoree Panel: Ann Kim, María J. Ortiz, Teri Shirk and Melanee Wagener

Erin Harris, Lauren Hueber, Patty Brisben, Dr. Cheryl Iglesia and Tristina DeGooyer

Entertainment by East to Vest

Cheryl Iglesia of the Medical Advisory Board and Patty Brisben

Miami member describes tribe’s history at forum

More than 300 guests gathered to hear Julie Olds, cultural resource officer and citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, at Cincinnati Preservation’s Fall Forum.

Guests in the Hall of Mirrors at Netherland Plaza Hotel learned about the tribes that once inhabited the Greater Cincinnati region and the resources the tribe provides when artifacts and human remains are dug up by home builders and businesses.

As a member of the Myaamia, commonly called Miami (meaning “the downstream people”), Olds commits her work to the perpetuation of Myaamia cultural identity through reclamation, restoration, revitalization and preservation.

Cincinnati Preservation was founded in 1964 as the Miami Purchase Association, in part to advocate for preservation of Earthworks at Miami Fort, a Hopewell Earthwork in Shawnee Lookout Park.

 cincinnatipreservation.org

MacDowell Society presents ‘Autumnal Jazz’ program

The Cincinnati MacDowell Society presented a program of “Autumnal Jazz” at the Hyde Park home of Cincinnati Pops Orchestra Music Director John Morris Russell and his wife, CMS board member Thea Tjepkema.

The Cincinnati Pops “Poptet,” featuring pianist Julie Spangler, guitarist Roger Klug and drummer Marc Wolfley, performed a lively instrumental version of “Avalon,” among other classic tunes. They also backed up guest singer Victoria Okafor. Soprano Okafor sang a set of French songs made popular by Edith Piaf, including her signature tune, “La Vie en Rose,” written by Piaf in 1945, and “Autumn Leaves,” composed in 1945 by Joseph Kosma.

Founded in 1913, The Cincinnati MacDowell Society honors American composer Edward MacDowell. It provides grants to young musical artists.



Panel discussion with Jared Nally, Logan York and Julie Olds

Greg Olson and Ashleigh Finke

The Cincinnati Pops “Poptet,” featuring pianist Julie Spangler, guitarist Roger Klug and drummer Marc Wolfley, backs up the guest singer, soprano Victoria Okafor.

Morgan Noel Smith David Smith

W. Kevin Pape and Beth Johnson

Carl Samson and Carol Samson

John Morris Russell and Thea Tjepkema, hosts of the MacDowell Society program

John Morris Russell and Stacey Woolley

John Faherty, Amy Hunter and Mike Huseman

Julie Olds, Logan York and Jared Nally

Thousands celebrate blood cancer survivors at Light the Night

About 5,000 participants came out to celebrate, support and remember those with blood cancer at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night at Yeatman’s Cove. More than $980,500 has been raised. Light the Night will continue raising funds through the spring toward a goal of $1.3 million. The event, presented by Furniture Fair, was led by blood cancer survivor Kate Schroder, who is Corporate Walk chair and president and CEO of Interact For Health. Allison Rogers, WLWT’s meteorologist, was the emcee. Maddie Havera, a 10-year-old leukemia survivor, and her mother, Ashley, shared their story.

The top fundraiser was Dr. Peter Ruehlman, raising $64,691.

 lls.org/office/cincinnati-oh

Orchestra wraps up Summermusik with 50th anniversary celebration

The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, now known as the Summermusik festival, held its 50th anniversary closing celebration at the Cincinnati Woman’s Club. The event honored Rosemary Schlachter with the title emeritus trustee and included a performance by principal horn Margaret Tung.

Among the ensemble’s accomplishments this year:

• It was the largest Summermusik festival to date with more than 4,300 attendees, nearly doubling the first festival in 2015.

• The festival budget was the largest in its history at just over $800,000, up 50% compared to 2014.

• The organization rebranded as Summermusik while maintaining Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra as the name of its resident ensemble, welcoming seven new musicians to its permanent roster of 32.

 summermusik.org

Dawn Berryman, LLS executive director, and Craig Daniels of Furniture Fair

Ashley Havera and David Havera with their children Arthur and Maddie. Maddie is the 2024 Honored Hero of the Light the Night event.

Blood cancer survivors experience the Circle Of Survivors.

Summermusik Vice President Linda Holthaus and Rosemary Schlachter

Angela Crovetti, Marilyn Duke and Sheela Mehta

Kate Schroder, Chris Carleton, Roger David, Dr. Peter Ruehlman, Bernie Calonge, Bryan McNamara, Brendon Cull, Betsy Mann and David Mann

Summermusik Music Director Eckart Preu, Rosemary Schlachter and Mark Schlachter

Nancy Wagner, Brett Stover and Patty Wagner

Marja Barrett, Sarita Naegel, Rosalyn B. Fuller and Mary Donaldson

Summermusik board President Daniel Pfahl and Executive Director Evan Gidley

Conference empowers women to excel

An empowerment conference brought together women leaders in corporate and nonprofit organizations. BT RISE and TColeman Enterprises held the full-day F.I.R.E. Conference at the Summit Hotel in Madisonville.

The F.I.R.E. Conference (Freedom, Intention, Revelation, Evolution), founded by Barbara Turner, former CEO of Ohio National Financial Services, hosted more than 250 women from diverse backgrounds, ages and life stages.

Turner founded BT RISE, which helps people access resources to achieve financial independence. But she knew women also wanted personal and professional freedom. She created the conference and launched it with her daughter, life and empowerment coach Tiffany Coleman.

The event included panel discussions with business and community leaders, networking and a reception. Speakers included Turner and Coleman, and the keynote speakers were artist, performer and teacher Shantell Martin and author Kimberla Lawson Roby.

 btrise.com

Tashawna Otabil, Mardia Shands and Sonia Jackson Myles

YMCA honors service and generosity

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s annual Keystone Awards recognized individuals, companies and organizations that strengthen the region through service and generosity. The event also honored Volunteers of the Year nominated from each local Y location for outstanding contributions.

Award winners were:

• Achievement: Cincinnati Works

• Relationships: Roger Grein

• Belonging: TRIO - Project ASPIRE at Gateway Community & Technical College

• Joy: ArtsWave

The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s vision is to build inclusive and joyful environments where all people can reach goals, make friends and connect to a cause greater than themselves.

 myy.org

Wijdan Jreisat, Barbara Turner, Debbie Hayes and Molly North

Tiffany Coleman, Christie Kuhns and Barbara Turner

Rasheda Cromwell and Whitney Gaskins

Danielle Ivory, Wijdan Jreisat and Mary Carol Wethington

Highland County YMCA does a celebratory “YMCA” in the photo booth.

Honorees: Roger Grein; Anita Adkins, Trio Project Aspire Advisor; Tianay Amat, president and CEO of Cincinnati Works; and Samantha Cribbet, chief financial officer of ArtsWave

Volunteers from the M.E. Lyons YMCA

YMCA Leaders enjoying the evening

Jeff Ruby Foundation raises $900K for youths in foster care

The Jeff Ruby Foundation raised nearly $900,000 to support vulnerable youth in communities that Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment serves during its annual fundraiser. The day kicked off at Coldstream Country Club and ended with a private dinner party.

The foundation was formed in 2018 to help young people in the foster care system. Jeff Ruby’s passion stems from his own troubled childhood, as he left home as a young teenager. Nationally, the high school graduation rate for children in foster care is 55%.

Jeff Ruby Foundation partners and beneficiaries in Cincinnati include the Coalition of Care, DCCH Center for Children & Families, Beech Acres Parenting Center and La Soupe. The foundation also supports organizations in Columbus, Nashville, Louisville and Lexington.

 jeffrubyfoundation.org

Cincinnati State golf tourney nets $45K for honors students

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College kicked off the celebration of its 55th anniversary with the 2024 Cincinnati State Honor Scholarship Golf Classic. The event, held at Western Hills Country Club, netted $45,000 for honors student scholarships.

The Honors Program at Cincinnati State welcomes academically talented students looking for demanding educational opportunities. The program, open to all degree-seeking students, supports 80 to 100 students a year. In addition to rigorous coursework, honors students also engage in a variety of cultural, social and community-building activities throughout the college community and Greater Cincinnati.

 cincinnatistate.edu

ArtWorks dedicates, celebrates three new murals

ArtWorks and partners recently dedicated new murals:

• ArtWorks, Tender Mercies and the community dedicated “Jerry’s Message,” honoring Jerry Springer. The mural, designed by Brady Corcoran, is at 27 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine.

• Partnering with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, ArtWorks created a mural that honors two centuries of Jewish Cincinnatians. Jessica Tamar Deutsch’s “Let There Be Light,” is at 124 W. Ninth St., downtown.

• Created by ArtWorks in partnership with the Cincinnati Open, “Spectator’s Advantage” reflects the tennis tournament’s 125-year journey and its future. The mural, designed by Alison Seiffer, is at 838 Reedy St., Pendleton.

 artworkscincinnati.org

Jeff Ruby, Marty Brennaman and Todd Frazier, former Cincinnati Reds third baseman

Britney Ruby Miller, president and CEO of Jeff Ruby Culinary Entertainment, speaking at the dinner reception alongside Jeff Ruby and Dillon Ruby

Andrea Trapp, Cincinnati State President Monica Posey, Nora Truitt, Scarlett Cornell, Makala Rosteutscher, Besis Flores, Jonah Baldwin and Geoffrey Woolf at the golf event

Richard Curtis, Amin Akbar, Cincinnati State President Monica Posey, Mark Walton and John D. McClure

The dedication of Jessica Tamar Deutsch’s “Let There Be Light” Jill Dunne, who spoke about the tribute to Jerry Springer at the event, with Jeff Cramerding’s son.

Sydney Fine spoke at the Cincinnati Open mural dedication.

Transformation Awards honor community

leaders, organizations

The Center for Respite Care honored community leaders and organizations with its annual Transformation Awards. The emcee for the virtual event was Local 12’s health expert Liz Bonis. This year’s honorees: the late John Lomax and Local 12; Over the Rhine Community Housing; and the National Institute for Medical Respite CareThe Respite Care Providers’ Network. Honored as Volunteers of the Year were Mary Sheldon and Sister Therese DelGenio. The event raised more than $53,000, with money still coming in.

The Center for Respite Care serves people experiencing homelessness. Clients are individuals who have experienced serious health challenges, are released from the hospital and have nowhere else to go.

 centerforrespitecare.org

Longworth-Anderson Series wraps up Memorial Hall season

The Longworth-Anderson Series (LAS) recently wrapped up its seventh season at Memorial Hall with four sold-out concerts: Rosanne Cash with John Leventhal; Neko Case; John Hiatt with special guest Maria Carrelli; and Pink Martini featuring China Forbes. Concert sponsors included Bartlett Wealth Management, Paul Muller and Teresa Schnorr, Dan and Fran Bailey, Kate and Bill Baumann, and Pamela and Dick Reis. Complimentary pre-show receptions honored the Friends & Founders of the LAS support group, and included performances by regional musicians, plus light bites and craft beer tastings.

 memorialhallotr.com

LADD supporters help adults with developmental disabilities

The Margaret B. Geier Society, named in honor of LADD co-founder Margaret “Peggy” Bullock Geier, held its annual gathering at the home of Betsy and Harrison Mullin. The society recognizes individuals who donate $1,000 or more annually to sustain LADD’s mission of empowering adults with developmental disabilities.

This year’s event, chaired by Rodney Geier and Vallie Geier alongside Emily Geier Vollmer and Alex Vollmer, included speeches by LADD Board President Aaron Haslam, LADD CEO Susan Brownknight and MBG Society Chair Emily Geier Vollmer, who also serves as a board member. LADD was founded as Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled.

 laddinc.org

Jim Zimmerman, LADD CEO Susan Brownknight and David Zimmerman

and Shelley Goering

Vallie Geier



Kathy Weber, Jeffrey Geier and LADD Chief Development Officer Molly Lyons

Dr. Rodney Geier, George Vincent, Florence Koetters and Kim Vincent

Honoree Mary Rivers, executive director, Over the Rhine Community Housing; emcee Liz Bonis of Local 12; and Laurel Nelson, CEO of the Center for Respite Care

Pink Martini concert sponsors: Dick Reis and Pamela Reis, Bill Baumann and Kate Baumann, Executive Director Cori Wolff, Paul Muller and Teresa Schnorr

Bengals event provides lifesaving CPR skills

The American Heart Association, the Cincinnati Bengals, Cintas and Kettering Health hosted the second annual “Save the Dey” CPR education event at Paycor Stadium.

Sponsored by Cintas, the event equipped participants with hands-only CPR skills, enabling them to respond to cardiac emergencies, no matter the time or place. With more than 350,000 sudden cardiac arrests happening outside of hospitals annually, immediate CPR can potentially double or triple a victim’s chances of survival.

More than 1,000 people registered for the event. Attendees received a free Cincy hat and had the opportunity to meet Bengals center Ted Karras.

 bengals.com/community/save-the-dey

CycleNation raises funds to fight stroke

More than 400 riders joined the American Stroke Association’s CycleNation event at Fountain Square. The ride boosts mental and physical health while raising critical funds to stop the cycle of stroke across the nation.

Chaired by Pete Bergman of Messer Construction, the ride featured teams from 70 companies. Funds raised benefit the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, which focuses on heart and brain health for all.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability among older adults. Physical activity is linked to lower risk of diseases, stronger bones and muscles, improved mental health and cognitive function and lower risk of depression.

 heart.org

OneNKY Summit focuses on future

More than 250 business and community leaders participated in the seventh annual OneNKY Summit, titled “Changing it Up in OneNKY: a Systemic Focus on Excellence.” Attendees heard about organizational initiatives designed to address the future of the OneNKY community and took part in roundtable discussions.

Alliance initiatives include OneNKY Center, OneNKY Frankfort, LINKnky, EducateNKY and Breathe Easy NKY.

During the summit, the first OneNKY Challenge was issued for people to get involved in initiatives to support systemic change throughout the region.

 onenky.com

Boots & Brews toasts Point/Arc

Ben Maile and the Derek Alan Band entertained the crowd at Boots & Brews – the fundraising event for The Point/Arc, staged at the Newport Car Barn. Maile’s big brother, Luke, is a catcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Ben Maile’s full-time work is with the family business, Maile Tekulve & Gray, doing residential and commercial building and remodeling.

The Point/Arc – now in year 52 – helps individuals diagnosed with an intellectual and developmental disability. Its mission is to help people with disabilities achieve their highest potential educationally, socially, residentially and vocationally.

Maile Tekulve & Gray, Granite World, Bilz Insurance and Auto Owners Insurance were primary sponsors.

 thepointarc.org

QCBB gifts 4K books at Giveaway Day

The Queen City Book Bank hosted a community-wide Book Giveaway Day, welcoming visitors and distributing 4,255 books to community partners, families, children and teachers.

QCBB distributes reading materials, gathered through book drives and donations throughout the year, to children and families in Cincinnati. The book bank “is truly about the community showing up to prioritize literacy,” said CEO Michelle Otten Guenther. “We are incredibly lucky to have so many friends and supporters who share in our mission.”

Local author Chuck Aardema joined in the fun by signing and donating copies of his book “In My World” to visitors, and members of the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team made a surprise appearance, working with elementary students during a storytime.

 queencitybookbank.org

Alyson Poling, Elizabeth Blackburn, Mark Carter, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Ted Karras, Todd Schneider and cardiologist Patrick Lytle

Sam Privitera, Rachel McCarthy and chair Pete Bergman at Cyclenation on Fountain Square. Four hundred riders participated.

At OneNKY Summit: Amy Spiller, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky; Philippe Garnier, Safran Landing Systems; Sylvia Buxton, North America of Perfetti Van Melle; Cheye Calvo, EducateNKY; Jim Wulfeck, Center for Great Work Performance

Ben Maile performed at The Point/Arc’s Boots & Brews event at the Newport Car Barn

Players from the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team enjoy storytime with students from Stacey Jones’ class at Queen City Book Bank’s Book Giveaway Day.

Heritage Ohio honors local firm for work on historic Price Hill home

Cincinnati-based New Republic Architecture received Heritage Ohio’s Best Residential Building Rehabilitation Award for its work restoring the Moore-Knight home in Price Hill. Constructed in the 1860s as the home of Robert Moore, it was purchased in 1926 by the Knight family, the first African American family to reside in that neighborhood. The New Republic team re-imagined the home for modern living.

Heritage Ohio recognized New Republic Architecture’s work during its annual awards ceremony at the Midland Theatre in Newark, Ohio. The event honored New Republic Architecture and 10 other winners from more than 100 nominations received. Heritage Ohio promotes economic growth through the preservation and revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods.

 heritageohio.org

Great Parks commissioners plant trees at Woodland Mound

The Great Parks Board of Park Commissioners planted a variety of native trees and shrubs at Woodland Mound, a continuation of the parks’ focus on protecting natural spaces. The tree planting activity highlights the importance of the over 18,000 acres of natural space preserved by Great Parks. Great Parks planted 2,390 trees in Hamilton County in 2023. Currently, 85% of Great Parks land is preserved as natural spaces and 59% exists as forest.

 greatparks.org

Findlay Market gives out costumes before Halloween

Findlay Market welcomed hundreds of local families to its annual free costume pickup. Thanks to generous community donations and partner drives, the market handed out more than 600 costumes and 1,000 accessories.

For the trick-or-treat event, neighborhood kids received 19,000 pieces of candy donated by the community, plus 10,000 pieces from market merchants.

Costumes were collected for more than a month, with special drives hosted by the Corporation for Findlay Market Board of Directors, The Edelweiss Foundation, Our Lady of Victory School, the Law Office of the Hamilton County Public Defender, Union Pet Hospital and Visit Cincy.

 findlaymarket.org

Great Parks hosts e-waste events with Cohen Recycling

Great Parks and Cohen Recycling collected electronic waste at three recycling events in area parks. Collecting e-waste keeps toxic materials like heavy metals out of landfills, where they might otherwise end up in watersheds and wildlife areas.

Great Parks and Cohen also collaborate on a holiday lights recycling program, through which 40 tons of material has been recycled over 11 years. They’ll accept lights from Dec. 1 to Feb. 1 at Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve, Glenwood Gardens, Miami Whitewater Forest, Sharon Woods, Winton Woods and Woodland Mound.

 greatparks.org, cohenusa.com

Barnes Dennig volunteers plant pollinator garden

Barnes Dennig volunteers helped to plant a pollinator garden at Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency’s Bond Hill offices. The garden, a collaboration with the Civic Garden Center, will serve as a hands-on learning space for CAA’s Head Start students and also help to sequester carbon and increase biodiversity.

The garden brings together CAA’s vision of an equitable, self-sufficient community and the Civic Garden Center’s mission to build community through environmental stewardship.

 cincy-caa.org

An electronic waste drop-off drew 251 cars to Woodland Mound.

Great Parks Commissioners Melissa Wegman, Caren Laverty, William Burwinkel, Scott Schuster and Marcus Thompson planted trees on Hedgeapple Trail at Woodland Mound.

Volunteers from Barnes Dennig plant a pollinator garden in Bond Hill.

Findlay Market’s costume drive provided more than 600 costumes and 1,000 accessories.

Graham Kalbli, senior architect and principal of New Republic Architecture, honoree of Heritage Ohio for restoration of a Price Hill home

The restored 1860s home

At Freestore Foodbank, you can box up help for hungry people

Volunteeringat The Freestore Foodbank goes quickly when you’re on a crew packing Senior Boxes. There’s no time to get bored because the line moves along.

Someone tapes up a box, and then it travels along a long rolling belt, with people on both sides each adding cans of tuna or vegetables or soup, boxes of pasta or potatoes before it goes to the next person. Some people are busy restocking the supplies at each station, others are packing up the boxes at the end. There’s time to chat with your neighbor, and there’s music keeping things lively, but for 2½ hours, it just keeps going.

Fighting hunger and food insecurity: the same. It just keeps going.

There are so many people pinched so tight on their budget that an extra source of food to get

through the month is vital. They don’t need help every once in a while, they need it every day. The people who get the boxes I helped pack are seniors whose limited fixed income doesn’t keep up with inflation and has to cover medicine and copays as well as the usual expenses we all have.

It wasn’t just the pace that made an impression on me. It was the size of this new Resource and Distribution Center just off River Road: 22,400 square feet, shelves of food to the ceiling, forklifts staying busy. It’s huge because it consolidated several other facilities, including two job training programs, and was built to meet future needs. It felt good to see how much food is stored here; it’s a stockpile of generosity. But how can the need be so great? And is it just going to keep growing?

Somehow, with all the wealth

and resources we have in this country, food insecurity and poverty are stubborn. There’s a wealth gap that is growing wider by the year. Wages haven’t increased to keep up with prices. Housing costs are high. Owning a car is out of reach for many. Unions have been busted. And so many people are laid low by medical catastrophes because they can’t afford health insurance.

While we think we spend a lot of money on poverty programs, there are a lot of government subsidies to keep rich people rich rather than creating conditions for the not-rich to build a stable life. We tax wages, money that you earn by working hard, at a higher rate than capital gains income, money that your money earns, if you’ve got enough to invest. There’s essentially no inheritance tax, so lucky families get luckier, we give tax breaks for mortgages but not rent, and we have an inequitable system for funding education. Unless all that gets turned around, the gap will keep growing.

These are my talking points, not the Freestore Foodbank’s. They’re focused on dealing with what exists: people who need some help, not only with immediate nutrition but with possible ways out of needing it. They reach 20 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. They supply 47 million meals annually through 611 community partners. They run training programs for restaurant work and for warehouse and logistics careers. There are nutrition and cooking classes, and they help people get resources to improve their lives at the Liberty Street Customer Connection Center.

And you can help them help. If your life is comfortable, you should certainly think about it, especially if you have time during the week. Say, you’re retired. There are also Saturday and Thursday evening volunteer shifts.

Polly Campbell

Packing boxes is pretty fun.

Tawanda Rollins, the volunteer coordinator, has seen how rewarding it is to volunteer. “People feel very gratified to know they’re helping. We let them know who they’re impacting, we set a goal and make it an enjoyable time. Be prepared to sweat a little, though,” she said.

Rollins likes to get church groups or team-building work teams signed up. I volunteered on a day for donors to volunteer. There are slots for individuals too. There is an online sign-up system, easy to find on their website: Click “Connection” and find “Volunteer.”

But first, hold up. Everyone wants to volunteer around the holidays. But, see above, hunger doesn’t stop. They really need you in January. Or April or May. So think of it now and sign up for later. Your kids can begin volunteering when they’re 13. The Power Pack line is a little slower than others, but it’s good for families.

If you’d like something more front-facing, work in one of the markets. Bea Taylor Market is at the River Road facility; there is also a food pantry at the original Liberty Street location. They do large, drive-through events that need volunteers. And the Freestore supplies many other pantries and soup kitchens around town. Look into one in your neighborhood. Really don’t have the time? Well, that’s OK. They need money, too, and they’ll take it any time of year. Happy holidays, everyone! To every single person in Greater Cincinnati. 

Polly Campbell writes monthly on a variety of topics, and she welcomes your feedback and column suggestions at editor@moversmakers.org.

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TRADITIONAL COPAY AND HIGH-DEDUCTIBLE PLANS WITH HSA

THE BENEFITS

Through ChamberHealth, small businesses and sole proprietors – a first for the ChamberHealth program – can partake in a self-funded insurance plan. Being self-funded has many benefits, including:

• The ability to keep costs low since MEWAs are not subject to some of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) mandated benefits and taxes

• The cost of benefits reflects the unique health of the company and its employees, recognizing that a healthier team should create a better benefits cost outcome

• All benefit options are tied to Medical Mutual’s large network of doctors and hospitals, including TriHealth, the Christ Hospital Health Network, and Mercy Health