Greater Cincinnati Foundation announces $100,000 challenge grant for Freedom Center

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Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2022

Greater Cincinnati Foundation announces $100,000 challenge grant for Freedom Center

Dollar for dollar match will support new social justice exhibit

CINCINNATI – The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center announced today the receipt of a $100,000 challenge grant from Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) that will support the development of an upcoming social justice exhibit. The grant will match all 2022-2023 donations dollar for dollar up to $100,000 from supporters who have not previously contributed to the Freedom Center’s comprehensive campaign.

The grant will support the addition of a new signature exhibit that will more directly connect history with contemporary social justice issues, telling a more complete story of the Black experience in America and the ongoing fight for inclusive freedom for all people. Through the matching grant, donors have the unique opportunity to double their impact as they contribute to the first permanent exhibit that brings education and awareness to social justice and racial equity – not only to our region, but nationwide.

“GCF is committed to conversations about racial equity that build connections and move us forward with enhanced insights and shared purpose,” says Rasheda Cromwell, vice president of community strategies at GCF. “The exhibit offers the community a learning experience that constructively addresses social inequities and a call to action for guests to play a vital role in ensuring social justice for all.”

The new exhibit will be a critical addition to the Freedom Center’s museum experience as it leads the way for a new generation of civil rights and social justice advocates.

“The generosity of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation has inspired and amplified the impact of our donors as we seek to lead the way toward equity,” said Woodrow Keown, Jr., president and COO of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. “We have a new generation ready to continue the fight for social justice and this exhibit will provide valuable education and inspiration in our collective journey.”

The Freedom Center uses stories of the past to inform the present and inspire a more equitable future. Through powerful exhibits and insightful programming, the Freedom Center educates, inspires and advocates in pursuit of inclusive freedom and social justice for all. The Be the Conductor comprehensive campaign will transform the museum experience with new and upgraded galleries, digital learning, augmented reality and modernized content.

To make a gift to the Freedom Center’s campaign, visit freedomcenter.org/betheconductor.

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About the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center 
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in August 2004 on the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, more than 1.3 million people have visited its permanent and changing exhibits and public programs, inspiring everyone to take courageous steps for freedom. Two million people have utilized educational resources online at freedomcenter.org, working to connect the lessons of the Underground Railroad to inform and inspire today’s global and local fight for freedom. Partnerships include Historians Against Slavery, Polaris Project, Free the Slaves, US Department of State and International Justice Mission. In 2014, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center launched a new online resource in the fight against modern slavery, endslaverynow.org.

 

About Greater Cincinnati Foundation
As the region’s leading community foundation, Greater Cincinnati Foundation connects people with purpose in an eight-county region in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. GCF is leading the charge toward a more vibrant and equitable Greater Cincinnati for everyone – now, and for generations to come.

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