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It took a global pandemic and a lot of listening and learning for the United Way of Central Ohio to broaden and diversify the pool of nonprofit organizations that it funds.
The group on Tuesday announced it was awarding just over $7.6 million to 93 organizations this year. Of those 93 groups, 40 were first-time recipients of United Way funds and 38 of the 93 (40%) are led by people of color.
Normally, there are just “a handful” of new recipients in a given year, according to Lisa Courtice, president and CEO of the local United Way.
“It sounds so obvious, but intentionality made this year different,” Courtice said. “We just didn’t do business as usual.”
Well, sort of.
Cardboard cutouts of Curtisi and fellow Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center nurse Craig Dixon will be among 3,000 cutouts of “inspiring volunteers” nationwide that will be placed in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, for Super Bowl LV on Sunday.
They are being honored by the NFL and local United Way agencies.
“It’s crazy,” Curtisi said. “I don’t really believe it.”
Being there for patients amid COVID-19
It started last summer at an easel in Curtisi’s home in Worthington. She and Dixon are intensive-care nurses, and their unit at times was completely full of COVID-19 patients.
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