OUR AWARDS
Harrison M. Sayre Award
The Harrison M. Sayre Award, given in honor of the Foundation’s founder and 25-year volunteer director, recognizes leadership in philanthropy in central Ohio. As Mr. Sayre so well stated, “the best way to extend your life is to give to the community.”
The Columbus Foundation Award
Created in 1986, The Columbus Foundation Award recognizes organizations that have made a difference in the quality of life in our community.
The Spirit of Columbus Award
Created to recognize individuals who have exhibited an exemplary community spirit through their accomplishments, this award, also known as The Jerries, represents the true spirit of our community. In 2013, Jerrie Mock was named the first honoree for her trailblazing spirit.
5 Nonprofits to Watch
The '5 Nonprofits to Watch' platform debuted in 2014 as a program to celebrate local nonprofit organizations that offer critical services in our community and are poised for an exceptional year of growth and progress.
HumanKindness Prize
Created in 2022, the HumanKindness Prize is an unrestricted grant to recognize and celebrate nonprofits that exemplify unwavering and intentional human kindness in action.
Columbus Performing Arts Prize
The Columbus Performing Arts Prize is designed to celebrate and support the exceptional artistic directors of our leading performing arts organizations and their aspirations for creative growth.
Leadership in Philanthropy Award
Established in 2011, the Leadership in Philanthropy Award of Community Foundations, Inc. is awarded periodically to recognize outstanding philanthropic contributions to communities beyond central Ohio.
Acorn Award
True Originals
Columbus’ True Originals celebrates those in our city who expand the horizons of Columbus through groundbreaking, original work.
PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS
| 2024 | Mary E. "Betsy" Rueb |
| 2023 | Renée and Dwight Smith |
| 2022 | Donna and Larry James |
| 2021 | Tom and Nancy Lurie |
| 2020 | Catherine Willis |
| 2019 | Joseph and Linda Chlapaty |
| 2018 | Founders of The Women's Fund of Central Ohio |
| 2017 | David and Mo Meuse |
| 2016 | American Electric Power and American Electric Power Foundation |
| 2015 | Don and Nancy Kelley and Family |
| 2014 | The Crane Family |
| 2013 | Robert Jr. and Mary Lazarus |
| 2012 | Bob and Missy Weiler |
| 2011 | Bob and Peggy Walter |
| 2010 | Limited Brands, Inc. and the L Brands Foundation |
| 2009 | Barbara and Al Siemer |
| 2008 | Ann I. Wolfe and John F. Wolfe |
| 2007 | Richard J. Solove |
| 2006 | Don and Thekla Reese Shackelford |
| 2001 | Maj. Gen. Raymond E. Mason, Jr. AUS (ret.) and Margaret E. Mason |
| 2000 | John H. McConnell |
| 1999 | Elizabeth M. Ross; Shirle N. Westwater; John G. McCoy |
| 1998 | John B. (Bernie) Gerlach |
| 1997 | Battelle |
| 1995 | Leslie H. Wexner |
| 1994 | Ingram-White Castle Family |
| 1993 | Early Donors: |
| Olga Anna Jones | |
| Preston Davis | |
| H. Russell Culp | |
| Robert W. Stevenson | |
| 1992 | Robert S. Crane, Jr.; Walter English |
| 1991 | Nationwide Insurance Companies |
| 1990 | Richard Heer Oman |
| 2024 | The Center for Healthy Families |
| 2023 | Jewish Family Services |
| 2022 | Directions for Youth and Families |
| 2021 | IMPACT Community Action |
| 2020 | Human Service Chamber of Franklin County and Michael Corey, Executive Director |
| 2019 | Alvis, Inc. |
| 2018 | Community Development for All People and Rev. John Edgar, Executive Director |
| 2017 | Lutheran Social Services |
| 2016 | Columbus Museum of Art |
| 2015 | Goodwill Columbus |
| 2014 | Wexner Center for the Arts |
| 2013 | Furniture Bank of Central Ohio |
| 2012 | Habitat for Humanity—MidOhio |
| 2011 | Jazz Arts Group of Columbus |
| 2010 | Mid-Ohio Foodbank |
| 2009 | Franklin Park Conservatory |
| 2008 | Columbus Housing Partnership |
| 2007 | LifeCare Alliance and its Volunteers |
| 2006 | Maryhaven and Paul H. Coleman |
| 2005 | Columbus Metropolitan Library |
| 2004 | Virginia O’Keefe and Amethyst, Inc. |
| 2002 | YMCA of Central Ohio, Volunteers, and Staff |
| 2001 | Jimmy Crum and Recreation Unlimited |
| 2000 | Early Leaders of the YWCA, Karen Schwarzwalder, and the YWCA of Columbus |
| 1999 | Cee Cullman and Action for Children |
| 1998 | Volunteers Who Saved the Ohio Theatre, Doug Kridler, and the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) |
| 1997 | Leslie A. Bostic, Buckeye Ranch Service Board, and The Buckeye Ranch |
| 1995 | Nancy Jeffrey, Melvin L. Schottenstein, and the Community Shelter Board |
| 1994 | Sister Mary Andrew Matesich, O.P. and Ohio Dominican College; Arthur G. James, M.D., and The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute at The Ohio State University |
| 1993 | Children’s Hospital Early Leaders: F.O. Schoedinger, Dr. Earl Hayes Baxter, Ms. Truitt (Daisy) Sellers |
| 1993 | Contemporary Leaders: Ann I. Wolfe, Dr. Grant Morrow, Stuart W. Williams |
| 1992 | United Way of Franklin County, Inc. and the People of Franklin County |
| 1991 | Thekla R. Shackelford, Arthur J. Kobacker, and I KNOW I CAN |
| 1990 | Melvin B. Dodge, Jack Hanna, and Columbus Zoological Park Association |
| 1987 | Fran Haskins, Operation Feed, and Nationwide Insurance Companies |
| 1986 | Sanford N. Hallock II, Walter English, and Center Of Science and Industry |
| 2024 | Linda Logan |
| 2023 | Dr. Frederic Bertley |
| 2022 | Joanna M. Pinkerton + COTA |
| 2021 | Roshelle Pate |
| 2020 | Dr. Amy Acton |
| 2019 | Save The Crew |
| 2018 | Suzan Bradford, Queen Brooks, Duarte Brown, William Evans, Corey Favor, Sheri Neale, Marshall Shorts, Cristyn Steward, Carnell Willoughby and Scott Woods |
| 2017 | Michelle Alexander |
| 2016 | Tanny Crane and Jane Grote Abell |
| 2015 | Mayor Michael B. Coleman |
| 2014 | Denny Griffith |
| 2013 | Jeni Britton Bauer and David Brown |
| Inaugural Honoree: Jerrie Mock |
| 2025 |
EPIC Youth
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Green Columbus
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Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio
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Our Helpers
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Partners Achieving Community Transformation
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| 2024 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2021 |
N/A |
| 2020 | |
| 2019 | A Kid Again |
| Columbus Early Learning Centers | |
| Human Service Chamber | |
| ProMusica | |
| TECH CORPS | |
| 2018 | City Year Columbus |
| Columbus Humane | |
| CompDrug | |
| Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption | |
| Per Scholas | |
| 2017 | |
| Catholic Social Services | |
| Homeport | |
| Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services | |
| Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland | |
| 2016 |
Equitas Health (formerly AIDS Resource Center Ohio Inc.)
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| Columbus Metropolitan Library | |
| Community Properties Impact Corporation | |
| HandsOn Central Ohio | |
| Maryhaven, Inc. | |
| 2015 | |
| Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio | |
| Columbus Museum of Art | |
| Reeb Avenue Center | |
| St. Vincent Family Services | |
| 2014 | Community Shelter Board |
| Lower Lights Christian Health Center | |
| Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) | |
| LifeCare Alliance | |
| Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) |
Learn more here.
| Fall 2024 |
ARISE, a Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) program; Catholic Social Services’ Foster Grandparent Program; Festa; and GrowIN. |
| Fall 2023 |
LifeCare Alliance's Meals-on-Wheels Program |
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Spring 2023 (April) |
Food Rescue Columbus |
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Spring 2023 (May) |
Furniture Bank of Central Ohio |
| Fall 2022 | Central Community House, Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, Gladden Community House, Godman Guild Association, and St. Stephen’s Community House |
| 2020 |
Hanif Abdurraqib, Jackie Calderone and Robert Post, Jack and Zoe Johnstone, and Lonnie Thompson, Ph.D. |
| 2019 | Jeni Britton Bauer, David Brown, Barbara Fant, Opera Columbus and ProMusica’s World Premiere production, The Flood, Wil Haygood, Dr. Mark Lomax II, and community members behind the Save the Crew effort |
| 2024 | ProMusica Chamber Orchestra |
| 2017 | Rossen Milanov, Music Director, Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO); Peggy Kriha Dye, Artistic Director, Opera Columbus; Byron Stripling, Artistic Director, Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO); Stev Guyer, Executive Producer and CEO, Shadowbox Live; Robert Post, International Touring Artist; and David Brown, Founder and Creator, Harmony Project |
| 2016 | BalletMet, the Columbus Symphony, and Opera Columbus |
| 2015 | David Brown, Founder and Creative Director, Harmony Project; David Danzmayr, Music Director, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra; Peggy Kriha Dye, Artistic Director, Opera Columbus; Edwaard Liang, Artistic Director, BalletMet; Byron Stripling, Artistic Director, Jazz Arts Group of Columbus |
| 2017 | Louise (Omie) Warner, M.D., and Clyde W. Gosnell, Jr. |
| 2016 | Patricia Duke Robinson |
| 2013 | John D. and Jane Kidd |
| 2012 | Founding Board of the Pickaway County Community Foundation |
| 2011 | Evan and Elizabeth Davis |