71st Annual Humanitarian Award Celebration
Join us for an inspiring evening at the 71st Annual Humanitarian Award Celebration, where we will honor outstanding individuals whose dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging have made a lasting impact on our community. For over seven decades, this event has celebrated those whose efforts have helped create a more compassionate and just society.
Event Details
When: Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Where: Hotel Cleveland, 24 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Time: 5:30pm Cocktail Reception, 6:30pm Dinner and Program
2025 Humanitarian Award Celebration Honorees
Kirsten M. Ellenbogen
President & CEO
Great Lakes Science Center
Vanessa L. Whiting
President
A.E.S. Management Corp.
2025 Humanitarian Award Celebration Co-Chairs
Peggy Zone Fisher
First Lady, Baldwin Wallace University
Past President & CEO, The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio
Brian E. Hall
CEO
Specialized Construction, Inc.
Carole F. Hoover
President & CEO
HooverMilstein
Darrell L. McNair
Chief Executive Officer
MVP Plastics Corporation
Albert B. Ratner
Partner
RMS
Renee Tramble Richard
President & CEO, Corporate College
Senior Advisor & Counsel to the President, Cuyahoga Community College
Robyn Minter Smyers
Partner
Thompson Hine
Carla Tricarichi
Tricarichi & Carnes
Rev. Ryan Wallace
Senior Pastor
Fairmount Presbyterian Church
Leadership Champion
A.E.S. Management Corp.
Inclusion Champion
Barbara and Alan Rosskamm
Community Builder
Milton and Tamar Maltz
Equality Advocates
John and Karen Moss
North East Ohio Place Makers
Audrey and Albert Ratner
Robyn Minter Smyers and Bert Smyers
Unity Partners
Joanie and Tom Adler
Carol Barnak
Cynthia Bassett
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP
Carole F. Hoover and Cleveland Private Trust Company
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University College of Law
First Federal Lakewood
Fisher & Phillips LLP
Frantz Ward LLP
Friends of Vanessa
Azadeh and James Hardiman
John Carroll University
Stuart and Terri Kline
Lee Fisher, President Baldwin Wallace University and Peggy Zone Fisher
Darrell L. and Ronna J. McNair
John and Karen Nestor
Olympic Steel
Parker Hannifin Corporation
Julia and Larry Pollock
PwC
Enid and Dr. David Rosenberg
RPM International Inc.
Fareed Siddiq Merrill Lynch
Dr. Paula Silverman and Rob Wolff
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
The Timken Company
United Way of Greater Cleveland
Lorna Wisham
Past Humanitarian Award Celebrations
70th Annual Humanitarian Award Celebration
Honoring Peggy Zone Fisher and Kevin Clayton
An NFJC Member
The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio is a member of the National Federation for Just Communities (NFJC), a network of like-minded organizations working across America to bring the values of diversity, inclusion, and social justice to our schools, workplaces, and communities.
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