The Columbus Foundation

Meet the people and stories at The Center for Healthy Families, the 2024 Columbus Foundation Award honoree! In our latest At the Table blog, President & CEO Toshia Safford, along with participants Bethany and Binta, share inspiring stories of hope, resilience, and community. Watch now to see how The Center for Healthy Families is transforming lives every day. Learn more about this year's philanthropy award honorees at https://lnkd.in/gzsVQ5Gb.

As part of this year's Celebration of Philanthropy, we were thrilled to announce the 2024 Columbus Foundation Award honoree: The Center for Healthy Families! Since 1986, The Columbus Foundation Award has celebrated organizations making a significant impact on our community's quality of life. This year, we're honoring The Center for Healthy Families, founded in 2007, for its dedication to elevating the agency of girls and young women—including pregnant and parenting teens and young adults—to have healthy, thriving lives by surrounding them with a network of care and support. As part of the award, The Center for Healthy Families will receive a $100,000 unrestricted grant from The Columbus Foundation. Discover more about The Center for Healthy Families' impactful work: https://lnkd.in/g39ttW_D.

"Betsy's story reminds us that generosity comes in many forms, and that what may start as a small gift can grow into an amazing legacy that will improve lives for future generations." At our annual Celebration of Philanthropy, we were deeply honored to posthumously present The Harrison M. Sayre Award to Mary E. “Betsy” Rueb in recognition of her incredible contributions to education and community support. Her remarkable $55 million gift to The Columbus Foundation represents the largest endowed gift to a multi-university scholarship fund in Ohio’s history and is the largest endowed gift to the Foundation in its 80-year history. Mrs. Rueb, a longtime Columbus resident, was passionate about youth and helping students pursue their educational dreams. This scholarship fund will forever impact our community and change lives for generations to come. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g39ttW_D.

At our annual Celebration of Philanthropy, we proudly honor those making extraordinary contributions to our community’s well-being. Their acts of compassion, leadership, and generosity inspire us all. Meet the 2024 philanthropy award honorees: The Harrison M. Sayre Award: Honoring the late Mary E. “Betsy” Rueb, whose incredible $55 million gift will create scholarship opportunities for local students forever, changing lives for generations to come. This remarkable gift is the largest known endowed gift to a multi-university scholarship fund in Ohio’s history and the largest endowed gift to The Columbus Foundation in the organization’s 80-year history. The Columbus Foundation Award: Recognizing The Center for Healthy Families for its unwavering commitment to elevating the agency of young girls and women with a network of care and support. Discover more about their impactful stories and the historic scholarship gift in our latest press release: https://lnkd.in/g39ttW_D.

As a high school student, Gigi participated in The Big Table® and was inspired to launch a project focused on domestic violence and gender equality.    Join your neighbors on Wednesday, September 25, for a day of meaningful community-wide conversations. Share your experiences, listen to others, and help build a kinder, more connected community.    Find a table at thebigtable.org. 

In this month’s Meeting the Moment, we spotlight one of our 2024 5 Nonprofits to Watch honorees, the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO). In a Q&A, AHACO Executive Director Carlie J. Boos shares her insights on the opportunities and challenges in central Ohio’s housing landscape—and how we can work together to close the gaps. If you’re interested in affordable housing and the future of central Ohio, this is a must-read! 📥 Read the full newsletter and subscribe for more:

Thank you, YMCA of Central Ohio, for hosting some of our team along with other volunteers to help build a new playground for the community at the Eldon and Elsie Ward Family YMCA! Looking for a way to make a meaningful impact in our community? Volunteering your time, skills, or expertise can make a big difference in supporting the causes you care about most. Many nonprofits rely on dedicated volunteers to continue serving and strengthening our community. Not sure how to get started? Organizations like Besa make it easy to find opportunities with local nonprofits that align with your passions.

From campfire songs to zip lining, summer camp is filled with unforgettable memories. But beyond the adventure, these camps offer so much more. They are essential spaces where youth grow, learn, and develop valuable lifelong skills. In our latest blog post, we dive into the transformative benefits of summer camp and how continued support from generous donors is making these enriching programs, like those at Camp Mary Orton, accessible to more youth in our community. Discover the power of summer camp in shaping young lives: https://lnkd.in/gDmr9Vsh.

Add your voice to The Big Table® on Wednesday, September 25! Join your central Ohio neighbors for a community-wide day of conversation. Together, we can inspire a culture of connection and kindness, one conversation at a time. Registration is now open 🔗 thebigtable.org. Have you participated before? Share your favorite memory from The Big Table®!

🏅 Meet Linda Logan, whose visionary leadership is helping transform Columbus into a premier sports destination! As the CEO & President of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the 2024 Spirit of Columbus Award honoree, Linda shares powerful insights on leadership, community, and the role of sports in inspiring future champions. Watch the video in our latest At the Table blog to hear Linda’s inspiring words and discover what The Spirit of Columbus® Award—created to honor Jerrie Mock’s historic solo flight around the world—means to her. Click to watch and learn more: https://lnkd.in/gQ4EbkyQ.