In the spirit of celebration, our awards honor the incredible legacies of generosity and innovation in our community. These inspiring people and organizations will never be forgotten.

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Read the inspiring stories of our community, made possible by the generosity of donors.

David and Mo Meuse are a tremendous example of a couple that lead with their hearts. Together, they have built a life centered around faith, family, love, and helping others. Married 48 years, with three children and seven grandchildren, David and Mo have called Columbus home since 1974. Throughout David’s successful business career, philanthropy has always been an important piece of the puzzle.

Physical changes abound in Weinland Park, a neighborhood of 4,800 residents just southeast of The Ohio State University. Old, boarded-up houses have given way to new and renovated homes, tulips bloom where empty parking lots once sat, and corner carry-outs that were a hub for crime and drug activities have been shuttered for good. In 2016, a survey funded by The Columbus Foundation, in conjunction with the WPC, was conducted by The Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Intended to act as a tool to evaluate investment efforts, it offers a snapshot of where things stand today, and where future investments could be made.

Jim and Francie Henry both grew up in modest, middle class families where helping others was not the exception, but the norm. With strong, diverse cultures (Jim is Scottish/Irish and Francie is Greek) they gravitate toward supporting nonprofit organizations that appreciate gender, cultural, and ethnic differences.

Columbus Humane is passionate about its mission to “fight animal cruelty, help animals in need, and advocate for their well-being.” In addition to serving as a shelter and providing veterinary care at its state-of-the-art onsite hospital, the organization, founded in 1883, handles thousands of animal cruelty investigations each year. Recent renovations to Columbus Humane’s site in Hilliard puts animals in the spotlight.

On May 17, 2017, approximately 5,000 people gathered around more than 450 tables across the central Ohio region to participate in The Columbus Foundation’s second Big Table. The Big Table launched in 2016 as a way to bring people together to broaden perspectives and strengthen our community.