Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor

Since 2004

Tag: nonprofit

  • Local Charity Race Wins Big at Cincy Magazine’s Best of the East

    Local Charity Race Wins Big at Cincy Magazine’s Best of the East

    by Cassie Mattia

    Loveland, Ohio – With Spring just around the corner, competitive races and obstacle courses will soon be in full swing! Although it may seem that your local 5k’s, 10k’s and tough mudders are, all the same, there is in fact, one race that will be taking place right along the Little Miami Bike Trail that is anything but ordinary! The Amazing Charity Race is not only taking Loveland by storm but has now officially been named the “Best Charitable Race” in Cincinnati, according to Cincy Magazine’s annual Best of the East competition!

    For those who are unfamiliar with The Amazing Charity Race, the race itself was created in 2006 with a goal of giving 100 percent of its proceeds to charity! The ACR, which is set for Saturday, June 20th at 8 A.M. beginning at Fifty West Brewing Company, is a day full of fun challenges that venture along the Little Miami Bike Trail! This race is made to challenge contestant’s agility, balance, coordination, strength, intelligence, problem-solving skills, fine motor skills, and most importantly their sense of humor! This year teams of 2 can run, walk and ride through 20 strange, fun, and crazy challenges. But don’t worry you don’t have to be an extreme athlete to participate! All you have to have is the drive to challenge yourself and of course, be willing to push yourself for charity! Teens 13 to 16 can team up with a parent or teens 16 and up can team up with other teens over 16.

    Jenny Lytle, Tom Grome and Kevin McMillian standing by ACR’s well thought out slide show and flyers at Cincy Magazine’s Best of the East event!

    This year representatives from The Amazing Charity Race Board attended the Best of the East event on January 23rd hosted by Cincy Magazine at the Holiday Inn Suites on Eastgate Blvd. ACR’s committee put on quite a spread for the community at the Best of the East event, which included an excellent slide show and well thought out flyers. Kevin McMillian, Tom Grome, and Jenny Lytle pictured to the left represented ACR with pride at the prestigious event!

    Shortly after Cincy Magazine’s annual event, ACR ‘s Board was informed that the ACR was selected by the Cincinnati community to be this year’s Best in the East “Best Charitable Race!” One of the ACR’s loyal board members, Tom Grome, was beyond the moon when he received the news!

    “The Best of the East award is so important to the Amazing Charity Race,” Grome explained, “Receiving this award recognizes our effort to provide donations to other local charities and validates our approach to helping other local charities! We strive to make our event a positive experience for the racers and volunteers. Charitable giving has never been so much fun!,” Grome added. 

    Check out the crowd at Cincy Magazine’s Best of the East event at the Holiday Inn Eastgate!

    Thus far The Amazing Charity Race is now in its 15th year and has already given over $700,000 to local charities including more than 50 nonprofit organizations in the following areas: Teen and Youth Programs (e.g., scouting, music, sports), Church Groups, Community Groups (e.g., food pantries, land conservation, theatre, arts) and Health-related Groups (e.g., cancer awareness and research, programs for the disabled).

    Doug Portmann, co-founder and race director of the ACR, said the award meant so much to him “because of all the volunteer groups that put time and effort into making it such a great event! The community really appreciates it. If it was not for the almost 500 volunteers each year the event would not run like clockwork year in and year out,” Portmann added. 

    Kevin McMillian, the ACR’s marketing guru who represented the race at the Best of the East competition couldn’t agree more with Portmann!

    “Being at the Best of the East was an amazing experience. Getting to experience other nonprofits and businesses at this event, was a great way to network and make new relationships to further impact the community,” McMillian explained, “As for winning one of the Best of the East awards, it was rewarding to see the impact Amazing Charity Race has on this community and makes us more motivated to put on a fun event and to continue helping charities that need it,” McMillian said.

    Marjorie Blair, who is also on the ACR board, could barely contain her excitement when she found out ACR had one a Best of the East award!

    “It’s an honor to work with so many different people with the common goal of giving back and seeing the positive impact on our local community. Through the years, putting on the race has become a well-oiled machine,” Blair said, “We are constantly learning and always trying to improve to keep racers, volunteers, & sponsors coming back. The combined effort for the greater good is truly appreciated.”

    The Amazing Charity Race Board also includes Dustan Bray, Jenny Lytle, Terrie Puckett, Brian Garry, Scott Thompson, Michelle Ripperger, and ME, Cassie Mattia!

    With this big win, ACR will be featured in Cincy Magazine’s Best of the East 2020 issue.

    If you would like to join the best charity race in Cincinnati visit the race’s website at https://www.amazingcharityrace.com/ or follow the ACR’s Facebook page @LovelandsAmazingRace.

    Read this story from last year’s race…

    I may have volunteered at the most exciting and fun challenge station at this year’s Amazing Charity Race

    Loveland Magazine is extremely proud to be one of the many sponsors of the Amazing Charity Race!

    Learn more about the Amazing Charity Race, how your group can volunteer, how you can be a corporate sponsor so even more money is raised, or to register for the 2020 race.

  • Magnified Giving promotes Milford resident Alison Kaufman to Director of Programs

    Magnified Giving promotes Milford resident Alison Kaufman to Director of Programs

    Magnified Giving, a local nonprofit whose mission is to educate, inspire and engage students in life-long philanthropy, announced the promotion of its Program Coordinator to Director of Programs. Alison Kaufman joined the organization July 15, 2017 to support Magnified Giving’s successful history of growth. She assumed the role of Director of Programs September 24th, 2018.

    “The programs of Magnified Giving are the mission. That is where the work happens.” stated Roger Grein, Founder. “It has been a wonderful journey to watch it grow in community support and youth engagement.” Now, as we celebrate the end of our 10th year (2017-2018), it is exciting to elevate our Coordinator to the Director position.” The original Director role was held by Mr. Todd Forman for the first ten years. Forman helped create the process and program of youth philanthropy while also directing community service efforts and the Youth Philanthropy Council at Mount Notre Dame High School. Todd is currently the full time Community Service Director at MND and serving as a consultant to Magnified Giving for technology.  “Alison has wonderful qualities that will strengthen our mission moving forward, as we expand the number of schools and students we empower and grow this important mission of youth philanthropy, she enjoys working with teachers and helping them empower their students” says founder Roger Grein.

    Kaufman also assists the implementation the student philanthropy program in Milford High School where her triplets attend as freshman.

    Kaufman’s nonprofit leadership skills were most recently applied in her role as Program Manager at InReturn, whose mission is to serve clients suffering from a traumatic brain injury. While being interviewed by Magnified Giving students for a grant, she began to appreciate the mission of empowering young people to learn about the needs of others and give of their time, talent and treasure. She so enjoyed her experience of winning the grant for the nonprofit from the school students through Magnified Giving, she joined the growing Magnified Giving team in July 2017. Kaufman also assists the implementation the student philanthropy program in Milford High School where her triplets attend as freshman. In her new expanded role as Director of Programs at Magnified Giving, Kaufman leads the organizations mission by supporting the schools superintendents, principals and teachers to empower, engage and inspire their participating students to be young and active philanthropists.

    She will also manage the new summer camps of Camp Give and the new financial literacy curriculum of Earn, Save, Live, Give and produce 10 grant award ceremonies celebrating the students and winning charities in Spring 2019.

    We inspire young people to understand how our community works, serve people in need and how to be their best while using their own gifts and talents.

    Alison Kaufman, a native Cincinnatian, is excited to reengage with the local community by sharing Magnified Giving’s mission.“What inspires me is the opportunity to bring more students together with local charities that need the volunteerism, exposure and financial support. We inspire young people to understand how our community works, serve people in need and how to be their best while using their own gifts and talents. It is truly special work.” says Kaufman. Kaufman and her husband Mike live with their four children in Milford, Ohio.

    The promotion of the role of Director of Programs comes at a time when Magnified Giving is expanding and adding school programs and expanding Camp Give summer camp offerings. Donors provide generous gifts to empower teens to award as grants to vetted charities in need of financial and volunteer support. This education challenges the participating teens to realize their full potential, to use their talents to make our community stronger, understand the needs and apply their knowledge and passion toward the goal of strengthening and serving others. There are many benefits to young students learning these skills while in school in a formal class or club.

    The nonprofit organization has awarded nearly three quarters of a million dollars through student-awarded grants to local charities.

    Originally based in Lockland since the beginning in 2008, the now Evendale-based nonprofit organization has awarded nearly three quarters of a million dollars through student-awarded grants to local charities; and has grown to include 95 schools with more than 4000 students involved in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, with several schools in Dayton, Indianapolis, Akron and Cleveland communities. In the past ten years, over 350 charities have experienced the Magnified Giving program and have realized additional success as a result of the partnership.

    Founded by philanthropist Roger Grein, Magnified Giving educates, inspires and engages young students in philanthropy through their schools. The vision of Magnified Giving is for every high school student in America, beginning in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, to someday have an opportunity to learn firsthand how to be generous and wise philanthropists through hands-on experience. Participating school groups are challenged to determine how they want to invest more than $1,000 in a nonprofit.

      Accounting Plus–Bingaman Accounting and Tax Service, LLC is a tax preparation, payroll and bookkeeping company locally based in Loveland, OH.