EVENT PICS: United Way's Gathering of Heroes

United Way of Greater Cincinnati kicked off its year-long Centennial celebration on April 21, 2015 at a Gathering of Heroes reception and dinner at Duke Energy Convention Center. The event honored 100 heroes who have helped shape and improve our community. More than a 1,000 people were in attendance.

These 100 Heroes* have provided tremendous volunteer leadership and service to United Way over the past 70 of those 100 years. They represent the thousands of volunteers who make United Way and the community better today, and the millions of volunteers who have dedicated themselves to improving lives and our community over the past 100 years – coming together to help the entire community, to advance the common good – the lifeblood of United Way since that first handful of volunteers came together in 1915. 

The celebration was also a tribute to the tens of millions of donors who have shown us that community is important, as well as a tribute to the thousands of companies and organizations that donate and make it possible for their employees to give, advocate and volunteer every day. 

The event further paid tribute to the thousands of community and agency partners, from the first dozen that formed the Council of Social Agencies in 1915, to the several hundred today, and to current and past United Way staff team members.

The evening concluded with a brief video that inspired attendees to invite others to join United Way in changing lives and our community through a personal partnership with United Way – to achieve the Bold Goals for Our Region in the next few years – which will take all of us working together to continue this 100-year endeavor for another 100 years..

Dinner chair was Sara Ellerhorst, community leader. Centennial chairs were Carrie and John Hayden. Carrie Hayden has volunteered for United Way for more than 20 years, has chaired United Way’s Board of Directors, and is one of United Way’s 100 Heroes. John led the Midland Company to be one of United Way’s Top 25 supporters.

Honorary emcee was Jim Scott, recently retired from WLW Radio. Emcee was Carol Williams from United Way’s Centennial media sponsor, Scripps, WCPO, 9 On Your Side and WCPO Insider. 

Sponsors of the year’s Centennial Celebration were P&G and Western & Southern Financial Group.