 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2006Talbert House to honor three prominent community leaders
Kathryn E. Merchant, Dr. Reginald A. Wilkinson and Dr. O’dell M. Owens
will be honored at the agency’s 41st Annual LuncheonCINCINNATI — Talbert House is pleased to announce its latest slate of honorees for the agency’s most prestigious awards to be given Friday, September 15 at Talbert House’s 41st Annual Luncheon. Those who are to be honored are Kathryn E. Merchant, Dr. Reginald A. Wilkinson and Dr. O’dell M. Owens.
Ernest Talbert Award
Kathryn E. MerchantKathryn E. Merchant is President/CEO of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Prior to joining the Foundation in 1997, Merchant was the director of The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Neighborhood Preservation Initiative. She has also served as the director of planning for the United Way of Greater New Haven in Connecticut. Merchant has a bachelor’s from Indiana University and a master’s from the University of Connecticut.
The Ernest Talbert Award was established in 1992 to honor an individual who has acted as a benefactor or advocate for Talbert House in promoting its community awareness of community corrections, mental health, substance abuse and welfare-to-work issues in the community. Dr. Ernest Talbert (1879-1971) was Professor Emeritus of Sociology at the University of Cincinnati. He was an early leader in advocating the use of community alternatives to incarceration.
Agnes Seasongood Good Government Award
Dr. Reginald A. WilkinsonDr. Reginald A. Wilkinson is the executive director of the Ohio Business Alliance for Higher Education and the Economy, an independent non-profit organization advocating for an enhanced and more strategic role for Ohio’s colleges and universities as contributors to state’s economic growth. Wilkinson recently retired after serving 15 years as director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction—the longest serving director of corrections in the nation. Wilkinson received a bachelor’s and master’s from The Ohio State University and a doctorate from the University of Cincinnati.
The Agnes Seasongood Good Government Award was established in 1992 to honor an individual in public service who has worked in the spirit of Seasongood to promote the development of mental health, community corrections, substance abuse and welfare-to-work services for the community. Agnes Seasongood (1890-1982), a prominent Cincinnati citizen, was particularly interested in the treatment and rehabilitation of prisoners, which led to her involvement with Talbert House as a board member.
Community Service Award
Dr. O’dell M. OwensDr. O’dell M. Owens was elected Hamilton County Coroner in 2004, where he has used his office as a platform to stop violence in the community. Owens earned a bachelor’s from Antioch College, a medical degree and master’s in public health from Yale University. He specializes in reproductive endocrinology, establishing the division in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. During his tenure, he oversaw the in-vitro fertilization program and achieved Cincinnati’s first successful conception and delivery.
The Community Service Award was established in 1992 to honor an individual who has gone beyond the call of duty to provide valuable leadership and outstanding services to our community.
Ticket information
The event will be held Friday, September 15 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Hall of Mirrors, 35 West Fifth Street. Reservations for the event must be made in advance and are limited. Individual tickets are $40 per person and corporate tables are $500 per table of ten. To make a reservation, contact Lara Wardlow at 513-751-7747, ext. 272 or lara.wardlow@talberthouse.org.Since 1965, Talbert House’s mission is to be a progressive, multi-service, community-based nonprofit agency. Talbert House serves a broad population and develops and delivers services in mental health, community corrections, substance abuse and welfare-to-work. These services have two basic purposes: to improve social behavior and enhance personal recovery and growth.
# # #
