The awards dinner will be held on May 10, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, 35 W. Fifth Street, Cincinnati. WLWT5 anchor/reporter Courtis Fuller will serve as emcee of the event.

Donald and Marian Spencer

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 2022 Spencer Awards will be presented to:

• Activities Beyond the Classroom, a nonprofit organization was founded in 2004 by several individuals who believed that no child should be without life-shaping extracurricular. The goal of ABC is to ensure that students participate in activities outside of classroom academics that will help them develop the skills they need to succeed in life. ABC assists with over two hundred free activities each year, impacting more than 15,000 Cincinnati Public School students.
• Avondale Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization, was founded in 2011 for the purpose of improving the quality of life of the residents of Avondale, the largest African American neighborhood of Cincinnati. ADC’s mission is to direct the revitalization of Avondale by developing housing, real estate, and economic initiatives while collaborating with residents and partners to address priorities that promote the well-being of Avondale residents.
• Clifton Cultural Arts Center is the only multi-disciplinary arts center in the racially and socioeconomically diverse Uptown neighborhoods of Corryville, Clifton, Avondale, Clifton Heights-University Heights-Fairview, and Mt. Auburn. CCAC’s mission is to build a community-created place where: people of all ages, races, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses connect with one another through art. CCAC’s average attendance is over 40,000.
• Lighthouse Youth & Family Services, a nonprofit organization formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1969, has a mission is to empower young people and families to succeed through a continuum of care that promotes healing and growth. Serving clients ages 0-24 and the families that surround them, Lighthouse is a “trauma-informed” agency and widely considered the premier youth-serving provider in our region. Lighthouse serves 4,000 diverse clients annually in its various programs.
• Santa Maria Community Services, a nonprofit organization, is a catalyst and advocate for Cincinnati’s Greater Price Hill families. Through their initiatives, Santa Maria works to ensure that Greater Price Hill is a thriving, and self-sustaining community. The services provided are focused on promoting family and individual wellbeing. Santa Maria was recently awarded the 2021 INSPIRE Healthcare Diversity and Inclusion award from The Health Collaborative.
• TriVersity Construction is a for-profit organization and is among the largest commercial construction companies in the tri-state region. TriVersity is known for its focus on the customer experience during the construction process, its investment in ongoing innovation, and its deep commitment to the communities in which they operate. They have an active commitment to various community service organizations by allowing their employees to volunteer.

Founded in 1920, Cincinnatus is a civic organization dedicated to reducing poverty and helping more people in Greater Cincinnati achieve the American Dream. The association does that not only by advocating for diversity and inclusion but also for good education and government.