Bright Young Philanthropist Selected as 2022 Bill Keating Jr. Next Gen Award Recipient

October 9, 2022 | Written by Branden Waggoner & Lindsey Barta

Francesca Dishueme smiles warmly as Liz Keating presents her the 2022 Bill Keating Jr. Next Gen Award at the Magnified Giving Future of Philanthropy Dinner on September 27, 2022.

With young philanthropists like Francesca Dishueme out in the world, we have hope for a future full of light. 

Those in attendance at Magnified Giving’s Future of Philanthropy Dinner on September 27th were inspired by the Magnified Giving alumna’s remarks as she accepted the Bill Keating Jr. Next Gen Award. Magnified Giving established the Bill Keating Jr. Next Gen Award in 2019 to honor the memory and legacy of Bill Keating, Jr., a wonderful philanthropist, friend, and former board member of Magnified Giving. Each year, the award is presented to a young philanthropist who represents the new generation of rising leaders with a deep commitment to serving their community with their time, talent and treasure, just as Bill Keating did. 

Francesca delivers flowers to SAFE on Main as part of a service project that led to a long-term volunteer position with the organization.

The 2022 recipient of the award, Francesca Dishueme, has a big heart and deep desire to serve her community and help those around her feel seen and loved. Francesca is a sophomore at The Ohio State University majoring in World Politics with minors in Inequality and Society and City and Regional Planning. During her junior year of high school, she was introduced to Magnified Giving in her Service Learning class at Lebanon High School. In the course, Francesca and her group were challenged to partner with a local organization to complete a service project. She and her peers relfectied on the simple joy of receiving flowers, and so they worked to deliver bundles of locally donated single-stem flowers and handwritten cards for the women and child survivors of domestic abuse at SAFE on Main (formerly Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County). Francesca maintained her relationship with SAFE on Main, going on to serve as a long-term volunteer. She also advocated on behalf of Safe on Main at Giving Circle hosted by Magnified Giving, securing an $800 grant for the organization.

Now a student at The Ohio State University, Francesca has deepened her commitment to service and developed passions for international development, poverty alleviation, civic engagement, access to education, and legal empowerment. Francesca is a Morrill Distinction Scholar, and she serves her community as a Global Leadership Initiative fellow, UNICEF-OSU treasurer, and an African Youth League ambassador. Francesca plans to pursue law school after graduation.

At the Future of Philanthropy Dinner, Liz Keating, Cincinnati City Councilwoman and daughter of Bill Keating Jr., presented the award to Francesca and reflected on how her father's legacy is carried on through Francesca’s story. As she graciously received her award, Francesca said, "Instead of transactional solidarity, Magnified Giving teaches students to practice transformative solidarity through philanthropy. Transformative solidarity can be strenuous, but the journey is part of what builds attentive leaders who can truly advance the world...At the end of the day, service to me is light. The light required to inspire, to investigate, to envision, to connect.” Thank you, Francesca, for being a light.

Liz Keating presents the Bill Keating Jr. Next Gen Award to Francesca Dishueme.

After receiving her award, Francesca smiles with her parents.