United Way honoring its volunteer ‘Legends and Leaders’

Tuesday, May 17, 11:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m., Duke Energy Convention Center

United Way of Greater Cincinnati will present honors, including its New Century Award, at the organization’s Leaders and Legends Luncheon. The awards salute 12 individuals and one organization whose work improves people’s lives and fosters the spirit of voluntarism.

The honorees are:

Geier Family Award for United Way Leadership: Valarie L. Sheppard, senior vice president, comptroller and treasurer, Procter & Gamble. 
She has served in many capacities with United Way and took the lead role in developing a new strategic plan. The resulting Impact 2020 guides UWGC actions.

Ruth W. and Robert I. Westheimer Award for Continuous Leadership: 
Victor A. Needham III, director of Kentucky government and regulatory affairs for Duke Energy. Needham has served United Way for more than a dozen years, including six years as chair of the Kentucky Public Policy Committee.  

Neil H. McElroy Award for United Way Resource Development Leadership: Carri Chandler, assistant manager for external affairs, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America.
 Chandler chaired the local United Way campaign in 2015 and served on the Campaign Cabinet for the regional United Way of Greater Cincinnati campaign. She has provided annual leadership for the company’s internal UW campaign.

Joseph A. Hall Award for Promoting Diversity: Bernie J. Calonge, retired managing director and CEO, Marsh Inc., and
 Tillie Hidalgo Lima, president and CEO, Best Upon Request. The two  co-founded United Way’s Hispanic Leadership Society in 2012 to align with Leadership Giving. Collaborating with key leaders of several area Hispanic organizations, the group held the 2015 Hispanic Community Volunteer Day. Its success resulted in a major corporate sponsorship for a 2016 event.

Impact Leadership Award: John S. Prout, retired president and CEO, TriHealth. A United Way board member, he has chaired Partners for a Competitive Workforce since its 2012 launch. He provides overall strategic leadership for this nationally recognized cross-sector partnership working to help people develop needed skills to get good jobs and help businesses access skilled workers.

Improving Our Community: 
Greg M. Schneider, delivery driver and Ohio Valley District volunteer coordinator for UPS.
 Schneider launched Operation Ramp It Up for Veterans, which builds ramps for disabled veterans and their spouses. The group has partnered with People Working Cooperatively, a United Way agency, to locate the veterans and fund the ramps. Operation Ramp It Up has now expanded into a national effort.

Improving Our Community: 
W. Matthew Schuler, tax manager, EY
. He is responsible for the EY/United Way collaboration for the Corporate Earned Income Tax Credit /Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites. He personally develops the training program, training and certifying more than 100 volunteer tax preparers per year. He runs an individual site, setting it up and reviewing tax returns every Saturday in February.

Developing Resources: Michele Hawkins, chief compliance officer/ managing director, Fort Washington Investment Advisors.
 As chair of the Herbert R. Brown Society, Hawkins made it her goal to engage the African American community. She also serves as a mentor to one of the L. Ross Love Scholarship recipients.


Strengthening Our Region: Robert Killins Jr., program director, Vibrant Places, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Killins led the Vibrant Neighborhoods Vision Council and was among a  select group of volunteers that helped influence the final Agenda for Community Impact.

Strengthening Our Region: Thomas K. Vaughan, executive vice president for membership and chief marketing officer, AAA Club Alliance. After graduating from United Way’s Board Orientation Leadership Development program, Vaughan joined the BOLD Steering Committee and became the leader of the Participant Recruitment Subcommittee. He now serves as the BOLD Steering Committee chair and is a member of the United Way Volunteer Connection Leadership Council.

Improving Our Accountability and Effectiveness: The Catalyst for Achievement Action Group of the Woman’s City Club of Greater Cincinnati. This group created and delivers the Making Sense of Language Arts programs for kindergarteners at Rothenberg and Winton Hills schools. Children enter the program with below-average language arts skills and leave with average or better skills.

Communicating Our Message: Ralph O. Lee Jr., vice president for human resources, Total Quality Logistics. Lee chaired the 2015 United Way of Greater Cincinnati-Eastern Area Campaign and participates in the L. Ross Love Memorial Scholarship for African American college students with mentors from the Herbert R. Brown Society.
Tickets for the recognition luncheon are $50.
For tickets and information visit: uwgc.org/leadersandlegends

Click on a thumbnail to view honoree gallery.