12 Youth Earn Special Recognition for Philanthropic Efforts
July 2, 2025 | Written by Francesca Dishueme
Magnified Giving is excited to announce the recipients of the Roger Grein Spirit of Philanthropy Award. 12 youth met the criteria to receive this special recognition named in honor of Magnified Giving’s founder, Mr. Roger Grein, a prominent Cincinnati businessman and lifelong philanthropist. This recognition is awarded to participants in Magnified Giving’s Youth Philanthropy Program in grades 6-12 who demonstrated active engagement in service with a community partner and growth through their experience in Magnified Giving. Recipients must also be able to articulate their plan to stay engaged with philanthropy and service.
The recipients hail from 8 of the 150+ programs that partner with Magnified Giving to provide hands-on philanthropy education. The 2024-2025 Roger Grein Spirit of Philanthropy Honorees are:
Roger Grein Spirit of Philanthropy Honorees, Marisa Poff and Katrina Prewitt, and their classmates from Seton High School, smile as they prepare to host a cheerful bingo game night for the residents at Shelter House.
Avery Beismann - Lakota East High School
Mara Bronson - Walnut Hills High School
Colin Buckley - St. Vincent Ferrer School
Keaton Connelly - Grant County High School
Madelyn Giltner - Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School
Adam Holstein - Archbishop Moeller High School
Hailey Mowell - Reading High School
Reagan Peddicord - Simon Keaton High School
Marisa Poff - Seton High School
Katrina Prewitt - Seton High School
Shubhangi Shrishti - Lakota East High School
Lizzie Williams - Seton High School
“This year’s student honorees have not only embraced the values of service and leadership—they’ve lived them,” said Francesca Dishueme, Advancement and Program Coordinator at Magnified Giving. “As an alum of the Youth Philanthropy Program, I know firsthand how transformative this learning experience can be. From launching service projects to building lasting relationships with nonprofits, these honorees have shown what it means to lead with heart, purpose, and action. These students aren’t just the future of philanthropy—they’re already shaping it.”
Special congratulations to the winner of the Roger Grein Legacy Scholarship (grades 10-12), Shubhangi Shrishti, a graduate of Lakota East High School, and the winner of the Roger Grein Rising Philanthropist Award (grades 6-9), Madelyn Giltner of Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School!
Magnified Giving is a nonprofit organization based in Evendale, Ohio, dedicated to empowering young people to become philanthropic leaders and make a positive impact in their communities. Founded in 2008 by local philanthropist Mr. Roger Grein, Magnified Giving inspires and educates students about the importance of giving back, fostering a lifelong commitment to service and social responsibility. Each year, over 5,000 youth from schools and youth development programs across Ohio and Northern Kentucky participate in Magnified Giving's programs, gaining hands-on experience in philanthropy, volunteering, and grant distribution.
Magnified Giving engages youth in the grant-making process by training facilitators who educate youth in philanthropy and lead them in the process of researching and supporting local nonprofits addressing critical needs in areas such as education, health, poverty alleviation, and more. Magnified Giving provides each of its programs with a $1,000 grant, and the youth participants choose a nonprofit recipient. The 12 Roger Grein Spirit of Philanthropy honorees took an active role in this process.
Congratulations to these amazing young philanthropists for their efforts and growth in service and leadership! And a special congratulations to the winner of the Roger Grein Legacy Scholarship (grades 10-12), Shubhangi Shrishti, a graduate of Lakota East High School, and the winner of the Roger Grein Rising Philanthropist Award (grades 6-9), Madelyn Giltner of Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School!