Lisa Desatnik
Cincinnati Area Donors Honored
It has been such a privilege to be working with the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council for the 7th year in promoting some of our region’s incredibly generous philanthropists through the Voices of Giving Awards. This year the organization honored donors on behalf of 25 nonprofit organizations whose important work is supported by their decision to give a planned gift (and much more in heart and time). Those Greater Cincinnati philanthropists are strengthening local neighborhoods, families and individual lives through their actions.
“Our Voices of Giving honorees have such diverse interests, often with deep rooted passion from personal experiences. They represent the true spirit of philanthropy and their gifts will touch thousands of lives directly and indirectly in our region, for generations to come. Their donations will help these important causes that are close to their hearts to be sustainable for future generations,” said Voices of Giving Co-Chair Molly Talbot, VP of Advancement at St. Ursula Academy.
Several hundred guests attended the Awards Event that was held at CET and emceed by Local 12’s John Lomax.
2016 Honorees included: (please note that honorees from two organizations asked to be left out of publicity and are not listed) Carson Smith (honored posthumously) on behalf of the American Cancer Society; Fran Cohen on behalf of CET – Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation; Joe and Sandy Dominiak on behalf of The Children’s Home of Cincinnati; Thomas Ernst Huenefeld on behalf of Cincinnati Museum Center; Digi France Schueler on behalf of Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park; Mary Rose J. Zink on behalf of Cincinnati Public Radio; Mace Justice on behalf of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; Dr. Steve and Diane Dumbauld on behalf of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden; Patricia Armstrong on behalf of the CISE Foundation; Doug Spitler on behalf of Episcopal Retirement Services; Richard Hildbold (honored posthumously) on behalf of the Freestore Foodbank; Jerome and Suzanne Teller on behalf of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute and Isaac M. Wise Temple; Val Schube on behalf of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Rick and Julie Kantor on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati; Rev. Dr. Joseph and Blanch Graham on behalf of Life Enriching Communities Foundation – Twin Towers; Donald L. Neyer on behalf of Life Enriching Communities Foundation – Twin Lakes; Lawrence Klosterkemper on behalf of Mount St. Joseph University and Roger Bacon High School; Jerry W. Warner, Ph.D. on behalf of Northern Kentucky University; Bill and Helene Sedwick on behalf of People Working Cooperatively; Margaret ‘Tuck’ Fraser (honored posthumously) on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati; Ursulines of Cincinnati on behalf of Saint Ursula Academy; Lisa O’Brien on behalf of United Way of Greater Cincinnati; and Dan and Julie Murphy on behalf of Xavier University.
Please click the link to read the honorees’ brief bios: 2016 Voices of Giving honoree bios
The Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council is a professional association for people whose work includes developing, marketing, and administering charitable planned gifts for non-profit institutions and a variety of other legal and financial settings.
Today, Let Us Focus On The Good
The older I get, the more my eyes are open to the value and beauty in my relationships with others. They are the most simplest and yet most important pleasures in life. Being open to loving others and being loved is a gift we give to others, as well as ourselves.I have just watched the news and my heart breaks for what has happened, another massive shooting, more gun violence. This hatred and lack of value for human life is a concept I do not understand, and find so hard to accept. Innocent lives of contributors, people loved by others, taken from this world too soon, too violently. The diversity of our friends, neighbors, co-workers and loved ones make our community and our world so unique and so beautiful. It is by our being together, learning and growing from and with each other that makes us stronger, better.
Today, make an effort in your office to get to know someone you may not have interacted with before. Smile at passersby on the street or in places you visit. Look to find their strengths, to brighten their day, to encourage them.
Please, let us focus today on looking to find the goodness that is within and around us.
“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”
– a beautiful quote by Morrie Schwartz
Karen And Her Dog Spread Joy
I met Karen Spradlin when I helped with some classes at a local dog training club. Karen was a volunteer also, and occasionally brought her labradoodle, Baxter. I looked forward to those Mondays early in my dog training career. I enjoyed the challenge of working with handlers who were having difficulty teaching their pets and I also benefitted from the positive, nurturing environment of Karen and head trainer Gloria White, CPDT-KA. Both became great friends, Gloria also becoming a mentor, whose encouragement also led to my studying for and passing he CPDT-KA certification.
A retired teacher, Karen is an instructor for Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati. Baxter is her second therapy dog, her first was a Rottweiler that died in 2012. He keeps her very busy as they spend many a days together brightening the spirits of those in need. I wanted to share some of her story.
Lisa: Please share how you came to have Baxter in your life.
Karen: I was deeply grieving after my other dog died, and had gone to so many shelters looking for another Rottweiler that would be a good therapy dog. I just could not find one. Two weeks after I got down on my knees and asked God to help, a friend called me to say they were taking me to get a labradoodle. He was five months old at the time and his owner was getting rid of him because his legs were too long and so she just kept him outside. He was brown because he was covered in dirt.
Lisa: Adopting him meant adopting his issues too.
Karen: It was very difficult in the beginning. Baxter was chewing everything and when I took him to a training class, he was barking and jumping and unmanageable. I was so discouraged. I told Gloria I couldn’t come back and I remember Gloria asking me if Baxter was going to be my forever dog. She asked if those behaviors are ones you want to live with, and if not, that I did not have a choice. We went to classes for a year and socialization was constant.
Lisa: Now Baxter does therapy work with you. That is quite a journey. What do you and Baxter do together?
Karen: Weekly we go to Clermont and Anderson Mercy Hospitals once a week, Batavia Elementary School on Thursdays for reading, and on Fridays to Forest Hills Care Center – a nursing home and rehabilitation center. We also visit Beckett Springs once a month in West Chester and once a month go to the Veterans Hospital downtown as well as do private presentations. It keeps us busy.
Lisa: Has there been any people who have been particularly impactful to you in your therapy work?
Karen: Yes, absolutely. As handlers, you don’t often know what the patient is thinking when you are visiting but sometimes you are fortunate to learn of how you have touched people and that makes this so special.
I remember one time when I was asked to give a presentation to the HOPE Community Center for Mental Wellness in Amelia, Ohio. One of ladies there weighed about 400 pounds. She raised her hand, and said, ‘you don’t remember me, do you?’ She told me she was in Clermont Mercy Hospital and that day, before we got there, she had told the nurse she just wanted to die. She hadn’t eaten or drank anything for three days, but Baxter and my visit made her feel good about herself. ‘You finished up by telling me this will get better and tomorrow will get better for you. After you left, you told me I had worth. I ate that day and started my pills that day,’ she shared. She told me I saved her life. I will never forget that.
Afterwards, Baxter was meeting people and there was another woman who was staring ahead into space. I brought Baxter to her and as he nudged her arm, she started petting him and said, ‘he is my sweet baby.’ Everyone stood up. When the day was over, a supervisor told me this was a really good day. They had never heard that woman’s voice before and she was at HOPE Center for three weeks.
It is those kinds of stories that make this time so special, and inspire me to continue doing this.
Lisa: You also just started a reading program at the Amelia Library.
Karen: Through Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati, I was asked to start a Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ) program at the Amelia Library and we are just kicking it off. Yesterday we had four dogs there. Hundreds of children have read to therapy dogs through READ. It is a great way to encourage a love of learning in kids.
Lisa: Outside of your therapy dog work, what advice do you give others on life?
Karen: Advice I give to my grandkids and every student is to make a plan and work the plan. Life is going to happen no matter what; and it can be really good or be bad. When you get in a car for a road trip, what is the first thing you do? What if you don’t have directions? If you want your life to be successful, then you have to make the plan for what you want to be. It isn’t easy but you need to do it.
Rich Walburg Is Cincinnati Proud
Today, I’d like to introduce you to Rich Walburg, who I met many years ago when he was an executive producer for 700WLW. Rich actually enjoyed a 25 year career in Cincinnati radio (also for WEBN, 97X and Q102) before stepping out of media for the role of director of communications for the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National MS Society. These days Rich is promoting our entire region as communications director for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.
Lisa: In your role with the Chamber, you see a lot of greatness going on in our region. What are some reasons for you of why you are proud of Cincinnati USA?
Rich: As a lifelong resident of Greater Cincinnati, I’ve always been proud of my hometown. The modern renaissance we’re experiencing is reinforcement that our region is a great place to work, live and play. The Cincinnati area is blessed with tremendous arts and culture, great parks and museums, professional sports teams, world-class colleges, incredible dining, a low cost-of-living and most importantly, Cincinnatians – whether they be new or native. A lot of regional organizations, with great leadership, are collaborating to further grow Cincinnati’s vibrancy and prosperity.
Lisa: What is an accomplishment of which you are really proud, and why?
Rich: Since the age of five, I wanted to be on the radio. Because she thought I’d never find a job, my senior high guidance counselor insisted I choose a career other than broadcasting. A few years after high school, I graduated CCM with a bachelor of fine arts in broadcasting and enjoyed 25 years in the field at WEBN, 97X, Q102 and most notably, 700WLW. I left every one of those jobs on my terms and with good relationships intact. That’s something of which I’m very proud.
Lisa: Tell us about an act of kindness you have done, witnessed or been the recipient of and how that made you feel.
Rich: An impromptu team-building exercise happened during my time at the National MS Society. We discovered a brood of ducklings had fallen into a parking lot storm drain. Their mother, next to the grate, was quacking and pacing.
Most every member of the staff was, in business clothes, on the asphalt working to rescue those babies, and we were successful. Fairly new to the job, I felt good to be part of the team and even better to see mama duck waddle away with family behind.
Lisa: Tell us about an activity that you really enjoy.
Rich: I treasure most the time I get with my wife, Cindy. She is a realtor with Comey & Shepherd and I have a crazy commute, so our schedules don’t always jive. Cindy is kind, always finding the best in individuals. No matter what we do together, it’s a nice time.
Lisa: What is one of your life lessons?
Rich: My parents, who encouraged my dreams, gave me, what I consider to be, a strong work ethic. Go to work every day. Do whatever is asked of you – and more. Don’t quit a job until you have another one.
While I was working at Q102, musician John Mellencamp visited the radio station. He, too, shared some “life lessons”, but they can’t be repeated – ever.