14th annual Remarkable Evening benefit featured authors and commentators David Brooks, Thomas Friedman and Ana Navarro
The Berends have been steadfast supporters of the community with a focus on both athletic excellence and educational opportunities for students and adults alike since they moved to New Albany with their two daughters, Molly and Taylor, nearly 20 years ago.
Earlier this year, the Berends made it possible for 1,000+(I thought it was over 3000?) members of the community to have access to first edition books and manuscripts from seminal thinkers such as Cicero, Thomas Jefferson, Aristotle, Frederick Douglas and John Adams.
The books and materials were part of The Remnant Trust collection which was established so that citizens could examine, read and discussgreat works onindividual freedom and liberty. Bringing the exhibition to New Albany for a month and having it on display at the New Albany Branch Library for the benefit of students and the community was conceived of and made possible by the Berends and planned specifically to coincide with author and historian Jon Meacham’s visit to New Albany as part of the Foundation’s Jefferson Series lecture program.
The McCoy Award was established by the Foundation to recognize citizens who have made a significant impact on the community through their volunteerism, leadership and contributions, and community service in keeping with the mission of the Foundation.
Through their remarkable philanthropy in New Albany and central Ohio, Jeanne and John G. McCoy exemplified community service and were the first to be honored with the distinction in 2004.
Previous McCoy honorees have included:
2015 Jennie and Mark Wilson
2014 Jackie and Ken Krebs
2013 John W. Kessler
2012 Robert H. Schottenstein
2011 Tiney McComb
2010 The Ryan Family: Ellen, David, Sarah & Mark
2009 Dr. Phil Heit
2008 Donald Cameron
2007 Bill Resch
2006 Dr. Ralph Johnson
2005 Janet Atwater
2004 Jeanne and John G. McCoy
“Through their good work and generosity, the Berends have served as models to other young families with respect to having an impact and shaping the community for the better,” said New Albany Community Foundation Board Chair Dennis Welch. “I know other families were motivated to get involved because of the joy the Berends demonstrated through their philanthropy.”
In honor of the Berends, the Foundation contributed a collection of books from previous Remarkable Evening and Jefferson Series speakers to both the New Albany High School Library and the New Albany Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
When asked about the family’s support of the community, Keith Berend explained, “Cindy and I have worked hard to build a life and have been very fortunate. We wanted to share our skills and success along the way and teach our daughters how being involved can not only have an impact on the community, but also enrich our own lives.”
After the Berend’s accepted the award Mr. Gergen moderated a conversation with renowned journalists, authors and political commentators David Brooks, Thomas Friedman and Ana Navarro. They are the latest distinguished speakers who have appeared at the Foundation benefit over the past 13 years, including United States Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Great Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Secretaries of Defense and Heads of the CIA, Robert Gates and Leon Panetta.
The Wexners underwrite the Remarkable Evening speakers so that proceeds may be reinvested in Foundation initiatives that enrich the community in the areas of lifelong learning, health and wellness, the arts and the environment. This past year, The New Albany Community Foundation awarded grants to Healthy New Albany and the Philip Heit Center, the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, New Albany Schools, the New Albany Arts Council, New Albany Symphony Orchestra and many more local organizations.
These grants and programs are made possible through the support of generous donors and sponsors who contribute annually through Remarkable Evening or have established endowments at the Foundation. Lead sponsors for this year’s Remarkable Evening include Abercrombie & Fitch, American Electric Power, The Berend Family & White Fence Surgical Suites, Huntington, Justice, The New Albany Company and The Wexner Family.
The Foundation also presents The Jefferson Series, which features a rich diversity of speakers including entrepreneurs, best-selling authors, journalists, historians and more. Previous Jefferson Series speakers have included two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian David McCullough, renowned authors Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jon Meacham and Peggy Noonan, as well as Harvard professor and author Michael Sandel.
The current season of The Jefferson Series will feature Patrick Kennedy on February 1, 2017 and General David Petraeus on April 26, 2017. Both lectures begin at 7pm and ticket prices are $25 and $35 for adults, and student/senior/military tickets are available for $10 through Ticketmaster.