Main Library
96 S. Grant Ave.
7 p.m. Program
8:30 p.m. Dinner
10 p.m. Event Concludes
Colson Whitehead is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Underground Railroad, The Noble Hustle, Zone One, Sag Harbor, The Intuitionist, John Henry Days, Apex Hides the Hurt and The Colossus of New York, a collection of essays. His bestseller The Nickel Boys won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His latest novels are Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto.
He has taught at the University of Houston, Columbia University, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, New York University, Princeton University, Wesleyan University, and been a Writer-in-Residence at Vassar College, the University of Richmond and the University of Wyoming. He lives in New York City.
Whitehead’s talent stretches across genres proving that the power of story and the value of reading expands our world and our understanding. We look forward to celebrating with you this year.
Announcing the 2022 Awardees and Honorary Chairs
2022 Awardees and Chairs
JSS Celebration of Learning Award
Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld
Ann and Ron Pizzuti are long-time Columbusites known for growing their local real estate development company, transforming public spaces and working to make art inviting and accessible to all. Over the last four decades, they have collected and shared more than 2,000 pieces of contemporary art. In 2015, they transformed a 100-year-old building in the Short North Arts District into the Pizzuti Collection: a public gallery with a sculpture garden and resource library. Through the Pizzuti Collection, Ron and Ann aim to “foster cultural understanding and education exchange by championing a diversity of voices from around the globe.” The space has been part of the Columbus Museum of Art since 2018. Ron and Ann are also lifelong learners who devote time and resources to educational institutions at every level, serving in leadership positions at several schools and universities. Both avid readers, Ann has belonged to the same book club for 37 years and read more than 370 books.
Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation Award
Roger Sugarman
Roger Sugarman joined the Columbus Metropolitan Library Board of Trustees in 2007 and was instrumental to ensuring a world-class library over the course of his two seven-year terms. Roger helped shape the Library’s Finance, Audit, and Nominating Committees as well as the Governance Task Force, chairing each during his tenure. He also held the roles of Board Secretary, Vice President and President – for an unprecedented four years. In addition, Roger was a member of the Library’s Foundation Board from 2011 until 2017 and served as Co-Chair of the “Great Libraries CREATE” campaign. Under his leadership, the Library renovated and rebuilt 13 branch locations and Main Library. Reflecting on more than a decade of service, Roger shared: “CML is a community treasure that positively impacts countless lives in central Ohio each and every day. Whether inspiring reading, sharing resources, or helping build a foundation for a successful future, the Library is at the center of helping us all reach our potential. Now, perhaps more than ever before, the Library needs and deserves our support so that its books and the diversity of thought it engenders can truly be ‘Open To All.’”
JSS Celebration of Learning Award
Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld
With unbridled enthusiasm Mimi Brodsky Chenfeld has been advocating and celebrating learning for 67 years. She began her career in Albany, New York, in 1956, teaching fourth grade and moved to Columbus in 1970. From early childhood programs to senior communities, from prisons and hospitals to preschool classrooms and universities, Mimi has inspired and ignited a celebration of the arts in people of all ages and backgrounds. She has presented programs in creative education in 46 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Great Britain.
Mimi earned her M.A. in Elementary Education from the State University of New York Oneonta and has teaching licenses in both New York and Ohio. She has brought her love for the arts to thousands of students at various institutions including the Columbus Jewish Community Center, Ohio Arts Council, Greater Columbus Arts Council, Otterbein University, and Columbus State Community College. She received OhioDance’s “Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Dance Education for the state of Ohio.” She believes the arts have a central role in every educational setting.
Mimi started writing at just 9 years old and has written numerous poems, stories, articles, and books. Her children’s novel, The House At 12 Rose Street, one of the first controversial children’s stories of its time, was adapted for a TV special and nominated for an Emmy. Her education books include such titles as Teaching in the Key of Life, Teaching By Heart, Celebrating Young Children and Their Teachers, Creative Experiences For Young Children, Teaching Language Arts Creatively, and Still Teaching In The Key of Life. She wrote a regular column for Columbus Parent Magazine.
Mimi and her late husband, Howie had three children named Cliff, Cara, and Dan. Her hobbies include dance, music, reading, writing, walking, and moving. She is active in the poetry community and is a member of the National Council of Jewish Women, OSU Hillel, International Reading Association, National Association of the Education of Young Children, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Her personal greatest honor comes from a child who wrote and said, “Mimi, you’re the queen of fun.”
What advice does Mimi have for us? Be kind to people. Be happy every day to be alive. Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative. Take nothing for granted. Appreciate everything.
Celebration of Learning Honorary Chairs
Montra and Jonathan Moody
Montra and Jonathan Moody have a deep passion for their community. The combination of Montra’s LA style and Jonathan’s Columbus roots make for an incredible power couple that we are honored to have as library advocates.
Born and raised in Inglewood, California, Montra transplanted to Columbus in 2012. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of California, Riverside, and an MBA in finance from the University of Redlands. She spent six years with NiSource before joining the Columbus Metropolitan Club where she now serves as Vice President of Operations. Montra was a 2018 graduate of the United Way’s Project Diversity/Pride Leadership, a graduate of Leadership Columbus Class of 2022, honored as a 2023 Business First 40 Under 40 Award winner and serves on the board of See Kids Dream, a nonprofit that helps empower youth and is involved with Huckleberry House.
Jonathan Moody is President and CEO of Moody Nolan, the country’s largest African American owned and managed architecture firm. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cornell University and a master’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Jonathan began working at the firm in 2011 assuming the role of president in 2019. He led the creation of Columbus Metropolitan Library’s new Karl Road, Martin Luther King, Parsons, and Shepard branches. He is currently working on redesigning the Linden branch, which was originally designed by his father, Curtis. The firm won the AIA Architecture Firm award in 2021. Jonathan was named the Columbus CEO of the Year in the small business category in 2021 and received the Young Architects Award from AIA for exceptional leadership in 2021. He is a ranked chess player, a graduate of Leadership Columbus Class of 2013, honored as a 2017 Business First 40 Under 40 winner, and serves on the board of the Columbus State Community College Foundation Board, Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT), and the Godman Guild Association.
The Moody’s live in Westerville with their two children, Nathaniel and Elise. Both Nathaniel and Elise have made their parents proud as budding authors themselves creating two books with their classmates called Space Journeys and Super Elise.
Celebration of Learning Honorary Chairs
Veronica Meinhard and Kristina Johnson
Each year the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation selects an individual or couple who have shown great appreciation and support for the important role of libraries in our community.
Co-Chairs
Jennifer Massanova and
Lou Von Thaer
Elaina Biffle
Barbara Brandt
Tanisha Lyon Brown
Laney Burgdoerfer
Mary Jo Conte
Sue Cooper
Melanie DeAscentis
Barb Derrow
Marjorie Duffy
Charlie Fraas
Scott Gaines
Diane Garland
DeeDee Glimcher
Ali Haque
Tracy Harrison
Meg Kelley
Charlotte Kessler
Megan Kilgore
Patrick King
Wayne Lawson
Vicki Linville
Jennifer McNally
Lauren Hilsheimer Meier
Amy Milbourne
Katharine Moore
Shannon Morgan
Corde Westwater Robinson
Robin Shockney
Renée Shumate
Barb Siemer
Catherine Strauss
Hope Wolman
ABC 6/Fox 28/CW Columbus
BeecherHill
Bricker Graydon
Cameron Mitchell Premier Events
COTA
Crane Group
Encova Insurance
Greif
Heidelberg Distributing Co.
OCLC
PNC
The Robert Weiler Company
Thompson Hine LLP
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
White Castle System, Inc.
Worthington Industries
BakerHostetler
Bostwick Design Partnership
Buckeye Innovation
The Christopher Foundation
Columbus Partnership
Columbus State Community College
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Deloitte
The Discover Brighter Futures Fund
Donatos
EMH&T
GBQ Partners
G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers, Inc.
GUND Partnership
Ice Miller LLP
IGS Energy
Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
Jones Day
King Business Interiors, Inc.
Matrix Integrated Psychological Services, Inc.
Moody Nolan
NAI Ohio Equities
NBBJ
New Albany Community Foundation
The New Albany Company
Park National Bank
PwC
State Auto Insurance Companies
Stifel Public Finance
Taft Law
Wellogy
The Barbara W & Philip R Derrow Family Foundation
Linda and Frank Kass
Jennifer Massanova and Lou Von Thaer
Siemer Family Foundation
Melanie and Mike DeAscentis
Marilu and Tim Faber
Sandra Doyle-Ahern and Michael Ahern
Rhonda and Charlie Fraas
Donna and Larry James
Lynne and Martyn Redgrave
George Barrett
Beth Crane and Richard McKee
Marjorie Duffy and Mike Gladman
DeeDee and Herb Glimcher
Nancy and Tom Lurie
Carly Miller
Deborah Neimeth
Seanna and Matthew Walter
Paul Smith, Jr.
Colleen Nissl and Roger Sugarman
Jennifer and Ryan Swincicki
Corde Westwater Robinson
John Behal and Jim Elliott
Lauren Bonfield and Stephen Keyes
Laney Burgdoerfer
Mary Jo Conte
Kate and Scott Gaines
Carol Andreae and James Garland
Susan and Bill Gillam
Lisal and Don Gorman
Mary and Tom Katzenmeyer
Mary Lazarus
Victoria and Patrick Losinski
Tanisha and Donald Brown
Ann and Ron Pizzuti
Lane and John Rothschild
Sarah and Mark Ryan
Lynne and Stephen Smith
John L. Wirchanski
Donna and Lee Zuiderweg
Jane and Stan Ackley
Randy Arndt and Jeff Baker
Ellen and Jim Bachmann
Melissa Barth Kelly
Bill Bartolini & Juan Saenz Ferreyros
Jennifer Baumann
Mark Bernhardt
Elaina Biffle and Kendall Davis
Chief Chukwuemeka Bosah and Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu
Eleanor and Adam Brandt
Barbara and David Brandt
Derrick Coburn & Scott Varner
Sue Cooper
Debbie and Larry Corbus
Sally Crane Cox and Cary Cox
Faith Sisco and Charlie Dankworth
Schooley Caldwell
Gregg Dodd
Christine Farquhar
David and Joanne Frantz
Maria and Tim Frommeyer
Diane and Kim Garland
Joanne Goldhand and Justin D’arms
Joy and Mike Gonsiorowski
Babette T. Gorman and Jack Buckingham
Linda and Bill Habig
Nedra Patison Hadley
Chrissy Hand
Lauren Hagan and Jim Venetucci
Amanda and Charlie Hansen
Tracy and David Harrison
Ali Haque
Rachel and Jim Heine
Sheryl and Phil Heit
Lauren Hilsheimer Meier and John Meier
Ann and Tom Hoaglin
GHH Advisors
Charlotte and Jack Kessler
Megan Kilgore
Cynthia Kincaid
Kelly Ruoff and Patrick King
Clara Kridler and Slater Meehan
Monica and Doug Kridler
Midge and Tally Krumm
Karen and John Larrimer, MD
Wayne Lawson and Bill Mitchell
Lexie and Trip Lazarus
Vicki and Ron Linville
Jennifer McNally
Amy and Bob Milbourne
Katharine Moore
Jane P. Mykrantz
Debra and Brian Pack
Nadine and Keith Pierce
Janica Pierce Tucker
Sue and Mark Real
David Schooler
Teckie and Don Shackelford
Robin and Andrew Shockney
Renée and Alex Shumate
Laura and Jay Simonds
Sheila and Gene Smith
Stewart Smith
Deanna and Steve Stewart
Catherine Strauss and John Lowe
Cathy Taub
Wendy Tressler
Magaly Borrero-Vázquez and Carlos Vázquez
Arlene and Michael Weiss
Linda Larrimer and Hugh Westwater
Toya and David White
Kathy and Alec Wightman
Kyatonna and Anthony Wilson
Nan Winslow
Hope Wolman
The Edward J. Yen Family
Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
96 S. Grant Ave. | Columbus, Ohio 43215