Groups, individuals honored for giving

Coroner emphasizes education’s importance

Lebanon racetrack questions new plan
11:16 p.m.
Court news: See who was indicted from your neighborhood
11:09 p.m.
State group pushing to revamp top county jobs
10:41 p.m.
Liz Claiborne distribution center to close Sept. 1
10:37 p.m.
Middies honor Nardiello for career contributions
9:43 p.m.
> More headlines

By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer 12:53 AM Saturday, November 14, 2009

HAMILTON — In sharing his message of helping the disadvantaged, Hamilton County Coroner O’dell Owens told a large group of philanthropists and nonprofit executives that he would be “preaching to the choir.”

Owens, who serves on a number of civic boards and is active in working with disadvantaged youths, was the guest speaker Friday, Nov. 13, at the third biennial Butler County National Philanthropy Day lunch, at the Courtyard by Marriott.

Twenty nonprofit organizations and 75 individuals were honored at the event for their generosity of time, money and expertise in their communities.

Owens said the irony of his position as coroner is that he’s more concerned about life than death. He talked about the importance of education and teaching a child to read. He said in Cincinnati there is a correlation between a decreasing graduation rate and an increasing homicide rate.

“You either wear the cap and gown or a body bag,” he said. “The majority of homicide victims did not finish high school. I tell (youths) they have the power ... Never let your past dictate your future, but let it be a part of you.”

Owens said inner-city youths need to hear positive messages and repeated the phrase, “Right place. Right time. Right people.”

“When you give from the heart ... you put yourself in a position to receive. As you know, you will always get back more than you give,” he said.

The event was hosted by John Lomax of WKRC-TV Local 12.

The event was sponsored by Duke Energy, First Financial Bank, Miami University Hamilton and Cox Ohio Publishing, as well as Atrium Medical Center/Premier Health Partners and US Bank.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.

Share this article