A beloved figure of Columbus jazz, Bobby Floyd received The Spirit of Columbus® Award in recognition of a lifetime of artistry, determination, and inspiration that has enriched the cultural life of central Ohio.
Learning to appreciate the natural world can begin anytime, at any age. Explore how Ribbit!, a free Columbus children’s magazine, is helping curious minds discover science and nature in their own backyards.
On the blog, meet the 2026 honorees recognized for strengthening our community through visionary leadership, collaboration, and care.
Discover how generosity comes to life across our community through donor stories, nonprofit partnerships, and transformative initiatives.
Search by name or browse by category to find more than 1,200 area nonprofit organizations to support.
The Big Table® will take place on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Registration opens Thursday, August 13. Launched in 2016, The Big Table is an annual day of community-wide conversation designed to inspire authentic human connection and civic engagement.
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The 2025 Big Table Report
Your participation was crucial to making The Big Table on October 21, 2025, an inspiring day of kindness and conversation. Thank you for playing a role in creating a strong, connected community where everyone is valued. Read highlights of participant survey responses, the topics we talked about, and what we are learning together in The Big Table Report.
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The Harrison M. Sayre Award – 2025 Honorees
The Edwards Family
Given in honor of Harrison M. Sayre, The Columbus Foundation’s founder and 25-year volunteer director, The Harrison M. Sayre Award recognizes leadership in philanthropy in central Ohio.
In recognition of their many contributions to the Columbus region and their exceptional leadership, the Edwards Family has been selected as the 2025 honorees of The Harrison M. Sayre Award. As a family of builders, dreamers, and doers, the Edwardses have brought new development, character, and opportunity to central Ohio.
Long before Amazon, Facebook, and Google became household names, Jeff Wilkins entered an unassuming building at 1387 W 5th Avenue in Upper Arlington to launch CompuServe, a computer time-sharing service.
Equipped with little more than a folding chair and a phone book, Wilkins would go on to successfully help build a company that would fundamentally transform the way people connect and share information online.
Created in 2019, Columbus’ True Originals celebrates those in our community who expand the horizons of Columbus through groundbreaking, original work.
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A legendary jazz musician, Rahsaan Roland Kirk delighted audiences with his legendary ability to play several horns at once, often harmonizing with himself.
He knew his purpose in life was to be creative and to make music,” explained Marchbanks. “His philosophy was that music brings people together. Music is a healing force in the universe.”
Created in 2019, Columbus’ True Originals celebrates those in our community who expand the horizons of Columbus through groundbreaking, original work.
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Recently named a Columbus True Original, Bill Willis was the first Black starter in professional football and, alongside teammate Marion Motley, is widely credited for helping to break the sport’s color barrier. In 1977, because of his impressive skill and enduring impact on the game, Willis was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Today, Willis is celebrated for his accomplishments both on and off the field. After retiring from the NFL, Willis served as the Director of the Ohio Youth Commission, a state agency dedicated to combatting criminality among young people.
His legacy—as a husband, father, professional athlete, and community leader—remains an inspiration, demonstrating the power of perseverance, hard work, and service to others.
“People would ask us, ‘Did we want to play football, to be like him?’” Willis’ oldest son, Bill Willis, Jr., told The New York Times in 2020. “Well, we wanted to be like the man he was.”
Created in 2019, Columbus’ True Originals celebrates those in our community who expand the horizons of Columbus through groundbreaking, original work.
A world-renowned visual artist and 2025 Columbus True Original, Ann Hamilton’s art may best be described as a multi-sensory experience that is tactile, immersive, and ephemeral.
Hamilton’s influence on the visual arts cannot be overstated, nor can her creativity or originality. As she poignantly stated, “One doesn’t arrive—in words or in art—by necessarily knowing where one is going. In every work of art something appears that does not previously exist, and so, by default, you work from what you know to what you don’t know. You may set out for New York, but you may find yourself as I did in Ohio.”
Created in 2019, Columbus’ True Originals celebrates those in our community who expand the horizons of Columbus through groundbreaking, original work.
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Created in 1986, The Columbus Foundation Award recognizes organizations that have made a difference in the quality of life in our community.
In recognition of the important role the organization plays in anchoring central Ohio’s arts sector and its innovative work to inspire the community through music, ProMusica has been selected as the 2025 honoree of The Columbus Foundation Award. As part of the award, ProMusica will receive a $100,000 unrestricted grant from The Columbus Foundation.
The Annual Report captures community initiatives, donor stories, the year by the numbers, and more—all made possible by generous donors!
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