SPENCER AWARDS

Cincinnatus to Honor Five Organizations for
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
Nonprofits and Businesses Will Be
Recognized with the Prestigious Spencer Awards

The Cincinnatus Association presented the Eighth Annual Donald and Marian Spencer Spirit of America Awards Dinner, honoring five Cincinnati area nonprofits and businesses promoting diversity and inclusion.

The awards dinner were held on May 9, 2023, at 6PM at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, 151 Fifth St. W, Cincinnati. WLWT5 anchor/reporter Courtis Fuller will serve as emcee of the event again this year.

Named after Cincinnati’s “First Couple of Civil Rights,” the Spencer Awards celebrate the couple’s achievements and honors nonprofits and businesses who exhibit conspicuous and enduring contributions to promoting greater inclusion and diversity in the community. Mr. Spencer died in 2010, before the inception of the awards. Ms. Spencer participated in the dinner each year until her death in 2019.

Marian Spencer was known for fighting to integrate Coney Island amusement park so her children could swim in the pool. She also was the first African American president of the Woman’s City Club of Cincinnati and the first African American member of Cincinnati City Council. Donald Spencer was the first African American on the Cincinnati Park Board, the first African American broker on the Cincinnati Board of Realtors and the first African American trustee at Ohio University.

“When reading the nominations, we receive each year for the Spencer Awards, the outstanding work being done by so many organizations in our community to improve the lives of our citizens is an inspiration to us all. Cincinnatus has this unique opportunity to recognize and share with you the efforts of our honorees to help those in need achieve their ‘Cincinnati Dream’ through their services, education, and inclusion of all citizens” says Susan Noonan, Chair of Spencer Dinner Committee.

The 2023 Spencer Awards were presented to:

• Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E), with a mission to eliminate illegal housing discrimination, advocates and enforces housing regulations for all protected classes of citizens. Their programs also include education for realtors and landlords, and support to help tenants stay in their homes. H.O.M.E ‘s current initiative proposes policy changes to increase and preserve existing Black homeownership.
• Price Hill Will has been on a fast track since 2004 to improve the quality of life for residents of Price Hill. With a commitment to community and racial equity, the organization has implemented a youth orchestra program, and a partnership program that provides homeownership opportunities, “The Warsaw Avenue Creative Campus” will soon provide commercial spaces for local entrepreneurs and affordable housing.
• Talbert House, founded in 1965, works to empower children, adults, and families to lead healthy, safe, and productive lives. The organization delivers it services through Community Care, Mental Health, Housing, Community Corrections and Addictions. Partnership with other organizations is a key strength. One partnership provided a program to respond to the accidental overdose death rate in the Black community.
• Women Helping Women, founded 50 years ago, provides prevention, crisis intervention and support services for survivors of dating, sexual and domestic violence, and stalking. Over the past two years, WHW has served over 7,500 survivors of violence. Women Helping Women partners with the University of Cincinnati and Miami University to provide free and confidential advocacy services on their campuses.
• GE Aerospace For our for-profit company, diversity and inclusiveness is an integral part of everyday culture. GE Aerospace believes in the value of each person’s unique identity, background, and experiences and is committed to fostering an inclusive culture, where everyone feels empowered to do their best work because they feel accepted, respected, and that they belong.GE Aerospace believes that diversity provides a competitive advantage, unlocks greater innovation, and creates value for its customers, shareholders, and employees.

Founded in 1920 Cincinnatus Association has a long legacy of working to improve the quality of life for Greater Cincinnatians. The Association’s current focus is making the Cincinnati Dream a reality. “We envision a just and equitable city; one where the benefits of our region are not the privilege of some but accessible to all”.

More information: www.cincinnatusassoc.org

Media contacts:
Susan Noonan, Chair, Spencer Committee; 513.378.4122, snoonan@fuse.net
Connie Roesch, Cincinnatus president; 513.218.1923, conroesch@gmail.com

Anyone interested in joining the committee is should contact Susan Noonan at snoonan@fuse.net