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72nd Annual Humanitarian Award Celebration

Since 1949, The Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio’s Humanitarian Award Celebration has recognized individuals whose leadership, service, and commitment to strengthening our communities have created a lasting impact throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Founded in 1927 as the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ), The Diversity Center has spent nearly a century bringing people together across differences through education, dialogue, and collaboration. Today, we continue that mission by empowering people and organizations to embrace all forms of diversity and create communities where everyone belongs.

We are proud to announce our 2026 Humanitarian Award Honorees: Connie Hill-Johnson and Kevin K. Johnson, whose collective commitment to philanthropy, civic engagement, business leadership, and community service has helped shape Northeast Ohio for generations. Together, they have dedicated their careers to advancing opportunities for others, strengthening organizations, and investing in the success of our region. We are also honored to recognize Cipriano S. Beredo, III, Partner and Americas Chair of the Global Corporate Practice, whose leadership, professional excellence, and dedication to community impact exemplify the spirit of this award.

Join us as we celebrate these extraordinary leaders and their contributions to building stronger, more inclusive communities. Additional event details, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket information will be available soon.

Event Details

When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Where: Hotel Cleveland, 24 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Time: 5:30pm Cocktail Reception, 6:30pm Dinner and Program

This event serves as an important fundraiser for The Diversity Center’s School & Youth programming, which reaches thousands of students annually. Your support enables us to empower the next generation of leaders to continue advocating for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
 
We look forward to gathering with you to honor these exceptional individuals and continue our collective work toward a more inclusive and respectful world.

2026 Humanitarian Award Celebration Honorees

Cipriano S. Beredo III

Partner and Americas Chair of the Global Corporate Practice
Squire Patton Biggs (US) LLP

Connie Hill-Johnson and Kevin K. Johnson

Business Owner, Community Engagement Leader, Philanthropist & Healthcare Executive

Kevin K. Johnson

Managing Partner, NexGen Interactive; Business Consultant, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist, The KDJ Group

Inclusion Champion

KeyBank

Unity Partners

Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Past Humanitarian Award Celebrations

71st Annual Humanitarian Award Celebration

Honoring Kirsten M. Ellenbogen and Vanessa L. Whiting

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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