Thanks for your interest in Celebration of Learning. Our event is completely sold out. If you’d like to make a donation, please click here. If you would like more information, please feel free to call (614) 849-1051.
Friday, November 4
Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave.
Event Details
• 6 p.m. Cocktail Hour
• 7 p.m. Program
• 8 p.m. Dinner
• 9 p.m. Book Signing
• 10:30 p.m. Event Concludes
The event will reflect health ordinances and safety measures applicable at the time. An online live-streaming option will be available for those unable to attend.
Jon Meacham
We are excited to welcome Jon Meacham, renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Meacham, one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals, is sure to engage you as he shares his knowledge about politics, religion, and current affairs. He has the unique ability to bring historical context to the issues and events impacting our daily lives.
We’re thrilled to announce John Green as our 2023 featured author. More info to come this summer.
 
Save the date for November 2, 2023!
Contact Us

Keynote Speaker

COL_Meacham2022

Jon Meacham

Jon Meacham, renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, presented an engaging speech to more than 600 guests. Meacham, one of America’s most prominent public intellectuals, was able to share his knowledge about politics, religion and current affairs while bringing historical context to the issues and events impacting our daily lives.

Individual Society Benefits

Organization Sponsor Benefits

Make a donation or pay for goods and services, click below.​

Announcing the 2022 Awardees and Honorary Chairs

2022 Awardees and Chairs

We are pleased to share this year’s awardees.

JSS Celebration of Learning Award

Ann and Ron Pizzuti

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.’”

Celebration of Learning Honorary Chairs

Kristina-and-Veronica-Approved-Photo

Veronica Meinhard and
Kristina M. Johnson, PhD

Dr. Kristina M. Johnson, the 16th president of The Ohio State University, strives to establish OSU as the model land-grant university for the 21st century. Her vision includes pathways to a debt-free undergraduate education among initiatives in research, faculty development, innovation,and safety and well-being. She was chancellor at the State University of New York System before joining Ohio State and previously served as the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at John Hopkins University and the dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University. Johnson earned her BS, MS and PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University and has also received six honorary degrees.

Veronica Meinhard is the President and Founder of Juniper Philanthropy Partners, a consulting company focused on helping university leaders, philanthropists and organizations unlock their philanthropic potential. Prior to Juniper, she served as a Senior Advisor for Advancement Strategies and Policy at the State University of New York. She has also held several leadership roles in advancement at the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Florida, her alma mater. A native of Caracas, Venezuela, Meinhard earned a BS in sports management from the University of Florida, where she was a four-time All-American swimmer, and an MBA from the Universidad de Alcala de Henares in Madrid, Spain.

Celebration of Learning Chairs

Shumates

Alex and Renée Shumate

Renée Shumate is an accomplished professional with experience in External & Government Affairs, Community Relations, Project Management and IT Telecommunications. She currently serves as the External Affairs Manager for American Electric Power, managing External Affairs and Economic Development initiatives. Her husband Alex is a senior partner at Squire Patton Boggs where he provides strategic and operational guidance on pursuing new business opportunities regionally, nationally and internationally. Recently recognized as “Black philanthropists to know” by The Columbus Dispatch, the Shumates find meaning and fulfillment when they can be directly involved with organizations they support – including the Columbus Metropolitan Library, where Renée has been a dedicated member of the Celebration of Learning Host Committee and served as a Foundation Trustee since 2019. She and Alex are proudly chairing Celebration of Learning’s 30th Anniversary event this year. In addition to their steadfast involvement and support of the Library, Renée and Alex are deeply engaged with YWCA Columbus, where Renée served as Board Chair and they chaired a significant capital campaign, and Wexner Center for the Arts, where they co-founded the Shumate Council. The Council is a volunteer advisory group of African American professionals that is often involved in educational programming and initiatives to engage diverse audiences. Renée is also a founding member of the Matriots, a nonpartisan Ohio political action committee focused on electing more Ohio women to public office, a founding member and past chair of The Women’s Leadership Council for United Way of Central Ohio, and has held leadership roles with the New Albany Chamber of Commerce, Wexner Center for the Arts Donor Circles Council, and both Columbus Rotary and Gahanna Rotary. Alex has served in volunteer leadership roles with The Ohio State University, including two terms as chairman of the board and twice chairing the university’s Presidential Search Committee, The L Brands Foundation Board, Columbus Partnership, Ohio Business Roundtable, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the Columbus Urban League, and The James Foundation Board.

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.

2022 Host Committee

Chairs
Alex and Renée Shumate 

Honorary Chairs
Veronica Meinhard and Kristina M. Johnson, PhD

Committee Members:

John Behal

Barbara Brandt

Tanisha Lyon Brown

Laney Burgdoerfer

Mary Jo Conte

Sue Cooper

Melanie DeAscentis

Barbara Derrow

Marjorie Duffy

Scott Gaines

Diane Garland

DeeDee Glimcher

Tracy Harrison

Meg Kelley

Charlotte Kessler

Patrick King

Wayne Lawson

Justin Linscott

Victoria Losinski

Amy Milbourne

Achea Redd

Corde Westwater Robinson

Robin Shockney

Barbara Siemer

Catherine Strauss

Hope Wolman 

Thank You for Your Support

PRESENTING SPONSORS

AEP Foundation Logo_ with tag
battelle
Siemer Family Founadtion 2022

PLATINUM SPONSORS

The_BBW_Foundation_Lockup
HuntingtonLogo
IBP
Nationwide
Safelite
TurnerTag

GOLD SPONSORS

BigLots Foundation
encova-logo
LIVELogo
TheOhioStateUniversity
VitalCompanies

SILVER SPONSORS

ABC 6/Fox 28/CW Columbus 

BeecherHill 

Bricker & Eckler LLP 

Cameron Mitchell Premier Events 

Crane Group 

COTA 

Event Source 

Friends of the Library

Heidelberg Distributing Co. 

J.P. Morgan Chase 

Lamar Advertising 

M/I Homes Foundation 

OCLC 

Park National Bank 

PNC 

The Robert Weiler Company 

Thompson Hine LLP 

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP 

White Castle System, Inc. 

Worthington Industries 

BRONZE SPONSORS

BakerHostetler 

Behal Law Group LLC 

Bostwick Design Partnership

Buckeye Innovation 

Columbus Blue Jackets 

Columbus Partnership 

Columbus State Community College 

GHH Advisors  

Crabbe, Brown & James LLP 

Donatos Pizza 

Easton Community Foundation 

e-Cycle 

EMH&T 

Fifth Third Bank 

Fullen Financial Group 

G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers, Inc. 

Honda 

Ice Miller 

IGS Energy 

Insurance Office of Central Ohio 

Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design 

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams 

Jones Day 

King Business Interiors, Inc. 

Littleton’s Market 

Matrix Psychological Services, Inc. 

MKSK 

Moody Nolan 

NAI Ohio Equities 

NBBJ 

New Albany Community Foundation 

Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage 

PwC 

Schooley Caldwell 

State Auto Insurance Companies 

Stifel Public Finance 

The Ganzhorn Suites 

The New Albany Company 

Janney

The Barbara W. and Philip R. Derrow Family Foundation

Linda and Frank Kass

Roberts

Melanie and Mike DeAscentis

Marilu and Tim Faber

Jennifer Massanova and Lou Von Thaer

Deshler

Sandra Doyle-Ahern and Michael Ahern 

Rhonda and Charlie Fraas 

Maria and Tim Frommeyer 

Lynne and Martyn Redgrave 

Meara and Matt Scantland 

Renée and Alex Shumate 

Lynne and Stephen Smith 

Colleen Nissl and Roger Sugarman 

Noble

George Barrett 

Marjorie Duffy and Mike Gladman 

Cindy and Larry Hilsheimer 

Mary Lazarus 

Nancy and Tom Lurie 

Cathy and Jeff Lyttle 

Carly Miller 

Jordan Miller 

Deborah Neimeth 

Ann and Ron Pizzuti 

Anne and Bill Remias 

Paul Smith, Jr. 

Jennifer and Ryan Swincicki 

Pugh

John Behal and Jim Elliott 

Lauren Bonfield and Stephen Keyes 

Tanisha Lyon Brown and Donald Brown 

Laney Burgdoerfer 

Mary Jo Conte 

David and Joanne Frantz 

Carol Andreae and James Garland 

DeeDee and Herb Glimcher 

Lisal and Don Gorman 

Mary and Tom Katzenmeyer 

Charlotte and Jack Kessler 

Wayne Lawson and Bill Mitchell 

Victoria and Patrick Losinski 

Corde Westwater Robinson 

Lane and John Rothschild 

Sarah and Mark Ryan 

Linda Larrimer and Hugh Westwater 

Carnegie

Jane and Stan Ackley 

Randy Arndt and Jeff Baker 

Ellen and Jim Bachmann 

Bill Bartolini and Juan Saenz Ferreyros 

Matt and Heidi Baughman 

Jennifer Baumann 

Pam and Jack Beeler 

Chief Chukwuemeka Bosah and Dr. Ngozi Osuagwu 

Barbara and David Brandt 

Eleanor and Adam Brandt 

Dr. Jennifer Briones and Dr. John Abad 

John and Kate Brody 

Carol and Chris Clinton 

Katie and Geoff Chatas 

The Christopher Foundation 

Derrick Coburn & Scott Varner 

Sue Cooper 

Debbie and Larry Corbus 

Lisa and Tom Courtice 

Tanny Crane and John Wolff 

Sally Crane Cox and Cary Cox 

Diane and Bill Dawson 

Gregg Dodd 

Janet and Sid Druen 

Christine and Thomas Farquhar 

Kirk Fisher 

Kate and Scott Gaines 

Diane and Kim Garland 

Eydie and Donald Garlikov 

Sherri Geldin 

Susan and Bill Gillam 

Joy and Mike Gonsiorowski 

Babette T. Gorman and Jack Buckingham 

Lauren Hagan and Jim Venetucci 

Nedra Patison Hadley 

Amanda and Charlie Hansen 

Tracy and David Harrison 

Rachel and Jim Heine 

Sheryl and Phil Heit 

Ann and Tom Hoaglin 

Jim Hutchins 

Donna and Larry James 

Cynthia Kincaid 

Kelly Ruoff and Patrick King 

Catherine Chapin Kobacker and John S. Kobacker 

Monica and Doug Kridler 

Midge and Tally Krumm 

Karen and John Larrimer, MD 

Lexie and Trip Lazarus 

Alice and Justin Linscott 

Vicki and Ron Linville 

Skip Loeb

Natalie and William Matt 

Lauren Hilsheimer Meier and John Meier

Amy and Bob Milbourne 

Jane Mykrantz 

Debra and Brian Pack 

Nadine and Keith Pierce 

Sue and Mark Real 

Libby and Bob Roach 

Nikki Scarpitti 

David R. Schooler 

Teckie and Don Shackelford 

Robin and Andrew Shockney 

Laura and Jay Simonds 

Sheila and Gene Smith 

Stewart Smith 

Nancy Strause 

Catherine Strauss and John Lowe 

Deanna Stewart 

Tom and Susan Szykowny

Cathy Taub 

Wendy Tressler 

Magaly Borrero-Vázquez and Carlos Vázquez 

Kathleen and Adam Wagenbach 

Arlene and Michael Weiss 

Toya and David White

Holly Wittmann 

Kyatonna and Anthony Wilson 

Nan Winslow 

John L. Wirchanski

Hope Wolman 

Donna and Lee Zuiderweg 

As of November 1, 2021

Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

96 S. Grant Ave. | Columbus, Ohio 43215