Hope you and your family are having a safe and happy holiday season. No doubt 2020 will be a year we all will remember as being one filled with challenges, setbacks, and many life adjustments. This has certainly been true for our organization and Cincinnati in general. Like many, the support of family, friends, and community has been crucial to getting us through these unpredictable times.

Few knew how the many restrictions would impact our community but together we are stronger. The dedication and commitment to the community have never been greater than seen this last year. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful is dependent upon the shared experiences of volunteer groups, classrooms, and neighbors. This required significant re-thinking of how we approached community needs. Our programs were adapted to keep safe and socially distant, we leveraged digital engagement often, we sponsored drive-thru events, and we created self-guided volunteer activities. These new approaches to continue the “boots on the ground” work of mobilizing, revitalizing, and educating our community illustrates how difficult challenges can be overcome with passion, collaboration, and hard work.

As the year comes to a close (a large sigh of relief), we are looking to the future and to sustaining next year’s programs. The issues and inequities of vacancy, blight, lack of greenspace, and education resources have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Communities are over-extended and in need of our services and support now more than ever. The benefits that come with giving back to your community are not easily quantifiable, yet so essential to nourishing the spirit and well-being of our neighbors. Together we can do so much!

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to being able to fully enjoy this wonderful city of ours together again very soon.