"I Love Dirt"
Mud, shovels and worms. It’s all part of an afternoon with Riverview East Academy’s Garden Club.
A Breath of Fresh Air
For 64 years, The Fresh Air and Convalescent Aid Society operated a Fresh Air Farm which brought mothers and their children out of the crowded tenement areas during the hottest months of the summer for two weeks of good food, comfortable living, and planned recreation in the country.
A Bright Spot at the Holidays
When GCF staff member Jim Huizenga ran into his friend Kim Mauer last December, she was distressed. She was concerned that 170 children might not have Christmas.
A Family of Givers
Rich Boehne described it as “voluntary redistribution.” He and his wife, Lisa, find it natural to share what they have with their community.” Both of us are from blue-collar families, we’re first-generation college-educated,” he said.
A Gem in the Hills
On paper, Jim Pan and Wes Bittlinger are quite different. Wes, a realtor, has roots in Northern Kentucky dating back to his great-great-grandfather. Jim, a P&G scientist, hails from China.
A Grant for a Spa?
When you hear that The Women’s Fund granted money to send the Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House to Lake Austin Spa, you may be perplexed. But this small grant had a profound impact on Greater Cincinnati and a lasting effect on the organization.
A Legacy of Land
Russ Simmonds sat back with a sigh. It had been a rough year. He and his sisters had lost both parents in a period of seven months.
A Nice Combination
Bill and Sue Friedlander get things done. A peek at their resumés reveals an impressive list of professional and volunteer accomplishments and awards.
A Passion for Nature
Richard and Lucile Durrell were educators and geologists devoted to nature conservation and education. They had a clear vision of what they wanted their charitable legacy to accomplish and set up their estate plan with very specific instructions.
A Perfect Blend
Jack and Marilyn Osborn have a passion for volunteering for local arts organizations. The Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, the Cincinnati Ballet and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) are among their favorites.
A Prescription for Self-Sufficiency
“Mary” first came for help while living in a battered women’s shelter. She was so debilitated by her many ailments that she could barely leave the shelter’s safety. Her conditions included asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis and depression.
A Recipe for Progress
Kevin Ghassomian must be hungry. When he talks about Agenda 360, he uses a lot of cooking metaphors.
A Symbol of Friendship
“Never throw out the beet juice.” This homespun wisdom offered by Lawrence Dollman to his neighbors symbolizes his simple lifestyle and the friendships he forged late in life.
Acting in the Best Interest of the City
D. Lynn Meyers believes that Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati has been a good investment for GCF over the years.
Addicted to Love
Standing in the spotlight on her high school’s stage, a teenager talks about being at a party and having a “roofie” (known as the date rape drug) put in her drink. She wakes up on a lawn realizing she has been raped.
All in the Family
An assignment from her grandparents left teenager Susan Weiss shocked.
Almost 100 – With Youth on Her Mind
Maggie Moore’s attorney still gets requests from charities asking to renew his client’s gifts. This isn’t surprising. His memory of his client of 50-some years is, “she was a good soul.”
An Extraordinary Heart
Doris Leonard claims she’s ordinary. A native of Bethel, Ohio, she was an only child raised by Depression-era parents who courted by mail.
An Eye for Reinvention
Neil Comber jokes that switching the Scope bottle from glass to plastic "took longer than putting man on the moon."
Believing in Philanthropy
“I learned about philanthropy from my oldest and dearest clients,” Suzanne Land says of her years as an estate planner. “I’ve watched them give money away and feel excited about it.”
Big in Children's Lives
Serving a role in his family’s foundation was a natural progression for Andrew MacAoidh Jergens. In contrast, Andrew’s wife, Linda Busken Jergens married into the foundation.
Caretakers of our Cultural Heritage
Baby rhinos and Rembrandt as economic engines? You bet.
Changing Lives with Art
During his first week at Cincinnati Arts and Technology Center (CATC), Brandon Briggs stood up at a college fair and asked a tough question.
Changing the Face of GCF
Dr. Myrtis Powell is a presence. She’s not shy about sharing her opinions and is quick
to laugh and flash her fantastic smile.
Children Shine at New School
An article several years ago in the Cincinnati Enquirer painted a bleak image of the Millvale/South Cumminsville neighborhood. “There’s not much reason to come here,” a reporter wrote. The article describes a neighborhood without essentials – no bank, pharmacy, or grocery store.
Closing the Gap
At 35, single mother Danielle Nelson and her three teenage children have needed public assistance to get by and have twice stayed in a homeless shelter.
Closing their ranks for kids
Avondale/Every Child Succeeds teaches fathers how to be better dads with the program, A Soldier (Avondale’s Strong Organized Leaders Delivering in Every Responsibility).
Doing the Right Thing
Strong is only one of the words friends and colleagues used to describe Gerri Johnson. Dignity, compassion and courage were a few others.
Dorothy...We Hardly Knew You
Dorothy G. Klasen was one of those welcome surprises that come to GCF every few years. When she passed away, Dorothy left a bequest of almost $3.3 million to The Greater Cincinnati Foundation.
Feeling Blessed
“God has been good to me my whole life,” Bill Remke said. “I have three wonderful children. I’m so busy with my business, I never had time to volunteer but I could help out financially.”
Fifth Graders and Philanthropy
What do Jackie Robinson, Queen Elizabeth II and Vincent Van Gogh have in common?
Friendship and Legacy
Ralph Haile was notorious for bow ties and convertibles. Carol Ann Haile was known for her fun and outgoing personality. In photos of the dynamic couple they wear big smiles, bright colors and look like the life of the party.
Full Circle
Bill Powell remembers his mother talking about visits to the Fresh Air Farm. Little did he know that the Farm’s endowment was used to open GCF’s first fund and that he himself would one day open a fund at GCF.
Gathering Steam
St. Antoninus needed a new boiler, so Business Manager Steffany Reid contacted the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance. GCEA is a nonprofit that helps owners of homes and buildings invest in energy efficiency.
Giving Others a Voice
In her short life, Dr. Erin Talbot McNeill accomplished much for women. As a doctor in reproductive endocrinology, she developed programming, policy and research for women’s health rights around the world.
Giving Thanks
The day before Thanksgiving Al and Pat Harmann embarked on a family tradition.
Good Eggs
Anne Nethercott has lived her life following her mother’s advice — give an egg, knit a
sweater.
Her Bills Exceeded Her Pay
As a nurse, Mary Ann worked 40 hours a week and overtime whenever she could. She always paid her bills on time and helped to take care of her extended family. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
High Gas Prices and Hunger
High gas prices over the past few years have a higher impact on families who are already at risk. A first-hand account from one executive director makes the point better than any statistics can.
Hip Hop and Positive Change
When a group of young men in their 20s, new to the nonprofit scene, proposed starting a program for youth in Cincinnati’s inner-city neighborhoods, former GCF staff member Kristy Moster was both impressed and concerned.
History, Hard Work and Harmony
Gibbs MacVeigh recalls the first time he stepped into the barbershop in Williamsburg, Ohio.
Inspired by the Obvious
What inspires Steve Gibbs to work so hard? “Feeding people is not that abstract. I’m drawn by the obvious – feed people who are hungry.”
Investing in Good Stock
The third time was a charm for Peg Fightmaster. The first time she enrolled in college, she was 19 years old.
Leading the Charge for Equity
When Pete Nadherny was diagnosed in 2005 with a brain tumor, he and his wife, Kathy Beechem, left their careers to focus on his health.
Lifted by Our Community
The seeds of Iva Brown and Bertha Lacey Jones’ friendship were planted in 1960. Jones was a young newlywed, new to Cincinnati; Brown a college student at the University of Cincinnati. They met through the Sigma Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority.
Lives Can Be Changed By Words
Ken Spurlock believes lives can be changed by words. This is why the retired educator and his peers started The Northern Kentucky Region of The Scholastic Writing Awards.
Make a Bed, Save a Life
“My life was in jeopardy until I got here and I don’t know if I would have made it another day. 'Thank you' sounds so insignificant compared to what you have done for me."
Making Choices
DeMountez, a sophomore at Elder High School, shares that he lives on the “worst street” in Price Hill.
More Than Bedtime Stories
Librarian Garrette Smith stood in front of a group of homeless women, many illiterate, to discuss reading with their children. Worried that they would see her as a talking “at” them not “with” them, she found common ground – motherhood.
Most Likely to Succeed
Sam Hutson considers himself a person from the streets. He became a single parent when his son Dominque was 17 months old. Sam decided he wanted something different for him and looked to the Catholic school system.
Opening Doors
They joke that the front doors of their house were the only sticking point in their marriage. Joking aside, it's obvious Dan and Susan Pfau, enjoy each other's company and the work they do through their family foundation.
Operating with Hope
Dr. Victor Garcia is a man obsessed. You might say he is a man obsessed with putting himself out of business.
Proud of His Hometown
“Rather than have a big tombstone and all, I thought it would be better to have a scholarship fund” said Colonel Cecil Himes of Rocky Ridge, Alabama.
Saving the Invisible Population: Foster Kids
Children in foster care are often known as “throw-away kids” and the “invisible population.” Once these kids turn 18, they often become “couch-surfers” because they live house to house, friend to friend.
Summer Is No Picnic in a Women’s Shelter
Imagine you are eight years old and it’s summer time. This usually means no school and months of fun. But what if your family is in crisis? You have to leave your home and your friends. Summer doesn’t look so promising.
Sunshine on a cloudy day
In 2000, Judy Schmitz's husband Jerry was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Read how they spent his last months as advocates for others suffering from the same illness.
Taking Away the Hurt
After experiencing a job layoff, Tony Fairhead made big changes in his life. His desire to help others made him research local poverty and he discovered that children in the 45225 zip code, an area of high poverty and crime, were going hungry.
The Gift of Time
It was the police car outside a school that shook him up. Dick Fencl was visiting an inner-city elementary school as a volunteer with Executive Service Corps.
Time to Start Over
It was the phone call no one wants. The day after her son graduated from high school,
LaGracia Guice-Williams was told not to come in to her job as funeral director the next day.
Values in Common
They’ve known each other a long time. “Let’s just say his mother visited my mother in the hospital,” Glenda Schorr said of her husband Roger.
Vandalism brings out the best in people
Celine Quinn was devastated. The elementary school librarian had used a Learning Links grant to build a bird sanctuary at the school. Over spring break, vandals had destroyed the Lincoln Elementary sanctuary.
Walking in their Shoes
Walking “miles to school uphill” in the elements is one of those old adages kids get tired of hearing. But Charlotte and Bob Otto found that in China it’s still a truth.
What If You Had to Choose: Heat ... or Eat?
Imagine that one year ago, when you thought about helping your neighbors, you were able to write a check or deliver goods to your local food pantry.