A Cincinnati nonprofit leader focused on using music to improve community health has been recognized with one of the region’s top service honors.
Arlene de Silva, CEO of the Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition, has been named the 2026 Jefferson Award winner by the Rotary Club of Cincinnati for her service to the Greater Cincinnati community.
The Jefferson Awards for Public Service, established in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Sen. Robert Taft Jr., honor community leaders and volunteers nationwide. Often described as a “Nobel Prize” for public service, the awards highlight efforts to address unmet needs and improve communities.
The Cincinnati Music & Wellness Coalition promotes wellness through recreational music-making programs.
The award was presented March 19 at The View, where the club recognized individuals and organizations for their impact across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
During her speech, de Silva credited her team for the recognition. Several members of her team attended the ceremony.
“I could not have gotten this award without my team at the Cincinnati Music and Wellness Coalition,” de Silva said. “Together we have been able to make so much positive impact on our community.”
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