Photo credit: Leigh Taylor Photography
(Left to right) Karen Zanger, Anita Schnieder, Hank Schneider, Sue Susskind
Submitted by Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati
Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati is proud to announce that Anita and Hank Schneider, lead donors to JCGC’s 2023-24 capital giving campaign, were celebrated June 12 as winners of the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council’s “Voices of Giving” Award. Now in its 27th year, the award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the community through bequests or planned gifts. The award shines a light on generosity, essential to the work of nonprofits in the community.
Hank and Anita acknowledged the applause of a large audience gathered at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, among them some of the Schneiders’ adult children and grandchildren, as well as JCGC Executive Director Sue Susskind, Board president Karen Zanger and Board Vice President Marlene Ostrow. Eighteen awardees inspired the assembly in succession, their legacy gifts certain to empower the future work of organizations as diverse as the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Bethany House, Girl Scouts of America and Cincinnati Educational Television CET.
As Hank Schneider explained, when he and Anita understood that Jewish Cemeteries’ repair and maintenance needs were so immediate across the 24 local cemeteries, they decided that their transformative million-dollar gift would also be immediate, as opposed to given after their deaths. Significant repair work has already been made possible, such as expensive remediation of hillside slippage at the Clifton Cemetery. “Other major repair projects that have been deferred for years will also benefit from the future earnings on Hank and Anita’s gift, and the donations of all those who followed their lead,” said Karen Zanger.
By the award ceremony’s end, Anita commented, “This has been so inspiring! There is so much good in the world. Sometimes it’s hard to see because of all the bad, but it’s there.”
