Over four weeks, we will be featuring the finalists for the 2022 Greater Ohio Sustainable Development Awards, which will be announced at the 2022 Greater Ohio Summit. Each week will feature a brief summary of each award and the finalists for the awards, including why they have been nominated for this distinction.

Finalists for the Public Sector AND Private Sector awards can be found here.

This week, we present the finalists for the Nonprofit Sector Luminary. This Award recognizes an entity or individual operating in the nonprofit sector that has employed innovative thinking in working with communities to identify and address local needs and opportunities with distinction.

Finalist Number 1: Everybody Rides Metro Foundation. Everybody Rides Metro Foundation is a Foundation created by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the Cincinnati-area transit system, which connects county residents to work, services, and home by providing fare reductions to income-qualifying residents. Since its creation in 2006, it has provided over 2 million rides to low income neighbors in Hamilton County.

Finalist Number 2: Price Hill Will. Price Hill Will is a high-capacity Community Development Corporation (CDC) in Cincinnati working in the near westside neighborhoods of East, West and Lower Price Hill. Price Hill Will has led a comprehensive neighborhood plan, spearheaded the redevelopment of a $10 million community and arts center, and is piloting innovative programs like urban homesteading, which provides affordable homeownership through an ethical “rent to own” model.

Finalist Number 3: Jennifer Roller. Jennifer Roller is the President of the Raymond J. Wean Foundation. Roller has led the organization’s tireless efforts to advance race equity through the power of philanthropy and community leadership in the Mahoning Valley and beyond. The Foundation is placing race equity and inclusion at the heart of their grantmaking, capacity building, coalition building and convenings, and operations to undo the region’s most entrenched challenges.

The winner of the Nonprofit Sector Luminary Award, along with the winners in the three other categories, will be announced at the Keynote Luncheon during the 2022 Greater Ohio Summit. There is still time to register. Visit the summit page here on our website to learn more and to register to attend.