Last night, our daughter was recognized as one of Central Ohio’s “Forty Under 40.” It was a great honor for Heather, of course, and we are very proud of her. We are thankful for her personal character, her professional excellence as she as built Geben Communication, her ongoing commitment to freely share her knowledge and experience with students and her passion for helping those in need, particularly through the Heart of Haiti program and local women’s organizations.
Every parent of the forty who were recognized last night can have a bursting heart this morning. Today, I am also thankful for the diverse talents among the entire group of honorees.
There were doctors, lawyers, military professionals, and authors. We were introduced to local legislators, musicians, and entrepreneurs. We met a man who owns a racing team and another who writes a food blog. We heard success stories rooted in a wide variety of pursuits.
Every one of these men and women are deeply involved in their community. As impressive as their personal resumes are, it was great to see the that they also used their passion, skills and commitment to help the underserved. Many of the Forty under 40 serve on non-profits boards, mentor youth, advise start-ups, or have founded their own community service organization. They fight hunger, cancer, and child abuse. They preserve neighborhoods, cultures, and history.
I come away from these types of events hopeful for our future. We are lucky to have the honorees’ enthusiasm, energy and smarts to lead us there.
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