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Good Will Easter Seals Miami Valley Receives $10 Million Donation

Good Will Easterseals Miami Valley
Jerry Kenney
Good Will Easterseals Miami Valley

Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley (GESMV) is a local nonprofit dedicated to helping people, especially those with disabilities, achieve independence and lead rewarding lives.

The organization has just announced the receipt of a massive donation. It's one that’s going to allow them to expand their programs and services significantly. Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley says the $10 million dollar gift is the largest donation in the organization’s history.

Author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated the funds, as part of her campaign of making transformative gifts to local nonprofits. Scott has donated to more than 380 organizations nationwide.

"We are so grateful for this gift and feel very privileged that we were chosen for that because we do have many programs," says Cindy Carusone, the donations manager at Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley. "We have over 40 programs that benefit the community.”

Carusone says the amount of people they’re serving has increased under the weight of a pandemic. The $10 million donation will help them meet that increased need.

And, heading into 2021, the funds will also allow the organization to expand. They’re planning to build a new community center for people in historically underserved West Dayton, and the neighboring city of Trotwood.

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Jerry Kenney was introduced to WYSO by a friend and within a year of first tuning in became an avid listener and supporter. He began volunteering at the station in 1991 and began hosting Alpha Rhythms in February of 1992. Jerry joined the WYSO staff in 2007 as a host of All Things Considered and soon transitioned into hosting Morning Edition. In addition to now hosting All Things Considered, Jerry is the host and producer of WYSO Weekend, WYSO's weekly news and arts magazine. He has also produced several radio dramas for WYSO in collaboration with local theater companies. Jerry has won several Ohio AP awards as well as an award from PRINDI for his work with the WYSO news department. Jerry says that the best part of his job is being able to talk to people in the community and share their experiences with WYSO listeners.