America 250-Ohio Commission Grant Will Allow Statewide Tour Addressing Loneliness
Columbus, Ohio (June 13, 2024) – In the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary, Leadership Ohio announced today it received a $35,000 Buckeye Impact Grant from the America 250-Ohio Commission for its upcoming project titled, “Join In – Uniting Communities in Ohio.”
To counter the declared “epidemic of isolation and loneliness” declared by the Surgeon General in the U.S. in 2023 while working towards a more united Ohio, Leadership Ohio will tour five regions of the state and screen the new documentary “Join or Die” by Delevan Street Films. Based on the research of Ohioan Robert Putnam of “Bowling Alone” fame, the film highlights the importance of civic associations or clubs in creating community and strengthening democracy.
Leadership Ohio aims to reach Ohioans in 44 counties with its’ partners. Attendees will discuss the film’s themes and receive information about how to join local civic organizations. Working with expert historians, Leadership Ohio will also create the Join In: Community Toolkit which will highlight Ohio’s rich history of civic associations, share stories of past Ohioans who launched clubs that changed their community, and help current Ohioans start or join civic associations- all to highlight points of pride and unity for the state’s residents.
“This grant will allow us to make an impact. Ohio has a rich history of civic associations that have connected citizens. A new generation of civic associations can unleash aspirations Ohioans have for themselves and our state today,” said Lisa Duty, Ph.D, Executive Director of Leadership Ohio. “This kind of independence and enterprise is critical to Ohio’s civic health and the social fabric of our democracy.”
Leadership Ohio was one of 61 recipients chosen by the Commission from the more than 170 statewide applications during the grant program’s spring 2024 funding cycle.
“The America 250-Ohio Commission congratulates Leadership Ohio on this grant award. Their efforts in educating the public and honoring Ohio’s illustrious history are deeply appreciated,” said Doug Preisse, co-chair of the America 250-Ohio Commission. “As we near America’s 250th anniversary, these projects will play an essential role in elevating our state’s history and bolstering our communities' efforts to execute impactful initiatives during such a monumental celebration.”
America 250-Ohio awarded approximately $600,000 in grants to communities and organizations across Ohio as part of the commission’s second funding cycle. Combined with the nearly $400,000 in grants awarded in January 2024, the America 250-Ohio Commission grants program has worked with Ohio Humanities to distribute $1 million in grants to 84 organizations across the state. The grant program was designed to showcase the achievements, struggles, honors, innovations, and significance of all people in Ohio from before its founding to today.
Leadership Ohio’s project, Join In – Uniting Communities in Ohio, is also partially funded by the Ellis Family Fund.
For more information on Leadership Ohio, visit leadershipohio.org. To learn more about the America 250-Ohio Commission’s grants program visit America250-Ohio.org/grants/.
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About Leadership Ohio
Leadership Ohio is Ohio's most prestigious, non-partisan statewide leadership development program, founded in 1992. Success in our mission creates a unifying movement of diverse, connected leaders who make Ohio the best state to live and work. For more information, please visit our website at leadershipohio.org.
About America 250-Ohio
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is to “…to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future.” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.
About Ohio Humanities
Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas by hosting programs and awarding grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. For more information, please visit our website at OhioHumanities.org.