On Friday, civic and business leaders throughout Columbus gathered for a celebratory event where Mayor Michael B. Coleman was invited to present this year’s Spirit of Columbus Award at the Columbus Foundation. Past winners of the award including Jeni Britton Bauer, David Brown and Denny Griffith were called to the stage while Coleman proudly talked up the importance of the award, unaware that he was about to present it to himself.
When Columbus Foundation CEO Doug Kridler handed Coleman the envelope containing the name of this year’s 2015 Spirit of Columbus Award, the Mayor’s face dropped in surprise upon opening it, and his friends, family and colleagues erupted in cheers.
“What better award in Columbus could there ever be,” asked Coleman once the celebration had died back down. “To receive this is more than I could have ever thought or imagined. No city can ever be successful without people working together to make things happen for the common good.”
In addition to the award, The Columbus Foundation honored the Mayor with the creation of the Michael B. Coleman Foundation fund, and launching it with a $25,000 grant. The fund will be used to award Central Ohio nonprofits with donations in the future.
“Through The Spirit of Columbus Award, we recognize those in our community whose extraordinary accomplishments build our community and inspire us to go further — and there is no greater example of this than Mayor Michael B. Coleman,” added Kridler. “He has led our city for an unprecedented 16 years with a commitment to progress, equality and opportunity that secures his legacy as one of Columbus most enduring and successful leaders.”
For more information, visit www.columbusfoundation.org.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISFtOwKIUdo
