Redwood recently announced the recipients of its Celebration of Abilities Awards.
The nonprofit focuses on serving children and adults with “severe and multiple disabilities,” and the awards ceremony highlights people and organizations for their ability to impact the community, according to a press release from the organization.
Redwood CEO Sharon Fusco said the awards “recognize, honor and celebrate those doing this important work” for people with disabilities.
Some awards are designed for businesses or organizations, and those recipients are distinguished by the number of employees they have. In other award categories, a child and adult winner were named.
For the Shining Bright Award, which recognizes “individuals with distinct abilities who have overcome barriers and serve as role models to our community,” Destiny Owen was named as the child-age recipient, and Roger Grein was chosen as the 18-and-older recipient.
Owen was nominated for her volunteer work and community involvement helping individuals with Autism recognize their strengths and abilities.
Grein is described as “a lifetime overcomer of cerebral palsy.” He was recognized for using the profits of his accounting business for philanthropy.
The Shattering Barriers Award was given to the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Nehemiah Manufacturing.
The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired was named for its dedication to “employ members of the Blind and Visually Impaired community through the pandemic as they performed crucial tasks for organizations such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the State of Ohio Unemployment office.”
Nehemiah Manufacturing was awarded for its efforts in helping employees from a range of backgrounds to ensure they have access to gainful employment and successful careers.
Another individual was recognized in the Growing Abilities Award. Recipient Danielle Rice is the director of special education for the Kenton County School District, and “has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to children and youth with special needs, as well as to their families, throughout her 17 years with the school district.”
Cincinnati Parks Foundation was the organization recognized for the same award. The foundation is noted to have “inclusive” programming for residents of all ages and abilities, including a partnership with Luke5Adventures that allows wheelchair-bound individuals to go hiking in a monthly excursion.
The winners will be recognized during the nonprofit’s Redwood at the Reds even on Friday, June 17, at Great American Ball Park.
