For her creation of this valuable fund, inspiring as it was in its imagination and hopefulness during one of the darkest days in United States history, and for the kind and generous spirit that Shirley brings to everyone around her, we honor the Lewisporte Area Flight 15 Scholarship Fund and its leading advisor and advocate, Shirley Brooks-Jones, as the inaugural winner of the Acorn Award.

A passionate advocate for enriching lives through education, Catherine Willis’ love for our community radiates through her enduring service to it. The Columbus Foundation is proud to honor Catherine's extraordinary service by presenting her with the 2020 Harrison M. Sayre Award.

Local meteorologist Chris Bradley was revered by his loyal viewers, who were taken by his warm spirit and joy for life. After his courageous battle with cancer, Bradley's husband Jason Bradley-Krauss was overwhelmed thinking about the generosity of the community and finding a way for those who loved his husband to honor his life. In 2019, Jason Bradley-Krauss established the Chris Bradley Memorial Fund, a Donor Advised Fund at the Foundation, to carry on his legacy of giving.

Born and raised near Boch Hollow, nature preservation was a passion for Dr. Francis Kessler and his wife, Joyce. The couple wanted to make sure it would be protected and maintained after their deaths. The Kesslers donated land to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and established the Francis W. and Joyce D. Kessler Fund in 2007, an endowment that would maintain the land and offer educational opportunities for schoolchildren.

The Harmony Project was established in 2010 as a way to bring neighbors and neighborhoods together to sing, serve, and share.

Kevin and Kathryne Reeves established the Reeves Family Foundation in 2014 as a way to provide support to organizations they care about—and as a tool to teach their children about the importance of giving—a lesson both Kevin and Kathryne learned early on.

In August 2014, with the family homeless rate in central Ohio continuing to climb, The Columbus Foundation launched a Critical Need Alert (CNA) to its donors, asking them to partner with the Foundation to fund essential school supplies and clothing to some of the most vulnerable in our community—children who are homeless.

Informed and passionate philanthropists, Dr. Jerome and Margaret Cunningham have supported beloved organizations for many years. They’ve realized, however, the charitable landscape is ever changing, and want to make sure their dollars are used wisely to make a difference in the future.

The idea for Harmony Project didn’t happen overnight. Founder David Brown had been carrying it around for a while, but didn’t know if it was even possible—to bring people together and provide them with the opportunity to sing, serve, and share.

The Ohio to Erie Trail is a 326-mile network of multi-use trails that links the Ohio River at Cincinnati to Lake Erie at Cleveland, mostly on land once used for railroads and canals. A place for bicyclists, bird watchers, hikers, runners, cross-country skiers, and nature lovers alike, the Ohio to Erie Trail offers scenic views and dedicated space for recreation.