The Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber and Greater Cincinnati Foundation Announce GCF’s Philanthropic Civic Leaders Grant

As part of their curriculum, Leadership Cincinnati Class 48 will determine how to distribute the first annual Philanthropic Civic Leaders Grant as they engage with the region’s assets, challenges, and opportunities.

CINCINNATI – September 12, 2024 – At its annual Leadership Center Celebration dinner, the Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber and Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) announced a new grant to bolster the immersive experience that this year’s class will partake in. The Philanthropic Civic Leaders Grant will be given to the cohort who, as a collective, will determine a process for selecting and distributing the funds to one or more local organizations.

“Leadership Cincinnati continues to produce game-changing leaders who have been making a huge difference in the region through their civic and philanthropic leadership work for almost half century,” said Matthew Randazzo, President and CEO of GCF. “To add some philanthropic fuel to the class experience, GCF’s Philanthropic Civic Leaders Grant will provide an immersive learning opportunity to elevate the impact of the alumni and transform our communities for generations to come. We know from experience when we come together, we can accomplish anything.”

Leadership Cincinnati’s curriculum evolves each year, touching on topics of community importance such as transportation, development, housing, poverty, justice, health, education, arts, culture, and more. The experience this year will include a focus on philanthropy, helping our community’s leaders better understand and actualize strategies to drive large-scale impact across our region on key issues.

“GCF has been a long-time investor in and supporter of Leadership Cincinnati and our entire Leadership Center. Their commitment to create the Philanthropic Civic Leaders Grant adds an element that will elevate the experience in Leadership Cincinnati as it approaches its 50th anniversary, while immediately impacting the community. Our leadership cohorts have helped launch initiatives like Crayons to Computers, Red Bike, and the Charitable Pharmacy at St Vincent DePaul, so we are looking forward to all that this partnership with GCF spurs.”

The announcement coincided with the honoring of three incredible community leaders. Receiving the 2024 Nelson Schwab Distinguished Alumni Award were Wym Portman and Barbara Turner. Kiana Trabue received the first-ever Civic Quotient Award.

The Annual Leadership Center Celebration is a tradition to welcome the newest class of Leadership Cincinnati into the program. This year, the event was expanded to include community leaders and graduates of the Center’s other programs: C-Change, Cincy Next, Hello Cincy Executive, WE Lead, and WE Excel. More than 4,000 participants have graduated from the Leadership Center since its founding in 1977. More information about how to participate can be found at www.cincinnatichamber.com.