[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING KATHY MERCHANT

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Kathy Merchant, 
a friend and an accomplished community leader in Greater Cincinnati 
over the past nearly two decades, on the occasion of her receiving the 
2015 Northern Kentucky University Lincoln Award.
  Kathy Merchant's professional accomplishments are noteworthy, having 
served as the president/CEO of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, GCF, 
from 1997 until her retirement in May 2015. Prior to joining GCF, Ms. 
Merchant was director of the Pew Charitable Trusts' Neighborhood 
Preservation Initiative and a partner in the consulting firm Holt, 
Wexler & Merchant.
  Recognized as a national leader in her field, Ms. Merchant serves on 
the board of the Boston-based Center for Effective Philanthropy and in 
2012 joined the national board of the New York-based Local Initiatives 
Support Corporation.
  Ms. Merchant has served on a number of nonprofit boards, including 
the National Center for Arts and Technology, Cincinnati USA Chamber, 
Council on Foundations, Community Foundations of America/GivingNet, 
Ohio Grantmakers Forum, and the SC Ministry Foundation.
  An advocate for the underserved, Ms. Merchant chaired the Strive 
Partnership's cradle-to-career initiative in Cincinnati--2009 to 2013--
where she continues to serve as a member of the executive committee and 
as an advisor to the national Strive Network.
  Ms. Merchant has earned many professional awards, including the YWCA 
Career Woman of Achievement, 2005; Ohio Philanthropy, 2006; Girl Scouts 
Woman of Distinction, 2009; Council on Foundations' Distinguished 
Grantmaker, 2011; Kentucky Commonwealth, 2012; WE Celebrate Woman of 
the Year--Nonprofit, 2012; and the Cincinnati Public Relations Society 
of America's Blacksmiths CEO Communicator of the Year, 2013. She was 
also named a ``Top 50 Power and Influence'' leader by The NonProfit 
Times, 2008.
  I would like to congratulate Kathy Merchant on the many contributions 
she has made to the Greater Cincinnati community and beyond.

                          ____________________