Five area Changemakers To Be Honored By Girl Scouts in September

Story and photos courtesy of Game Day Communications

WARREN COUNTY, OH — Girl Scouts of Western Ohio has selected four individuals and an organization as its 2026 Changemaker Honorees. The honorees will be celebrated during the 2026 Celebration of Changemakers award ceremony on Friday, Sept. 25, 8 – 9:30 a.m. at Marriott Cincinnati North in West Chester, Ohio. The public is invited to this event.

Celebration of Changemakers recognizes leaders whose courage, vision and service are creating meaningful change in the communities they serve. Although their paths are distinct, this year’s honorees share a commitment to opening doors, expanding opportunity, strengthening systems, and inspiring others to help make the world a better place.

Legacy Changemakers

• Jo Alice Blondin, Ph.D., Interim President of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education and President Emerita of Clark State College, has devoted her higher education career to helping students build successful careers and create new economic possibilities for their families. Her leadership has expanded academic and workforce programs, strengthened institutions and affected tens of thousands of students, including many who were the first in their families to pursue higher education.

• Deb Silverman, Director of Philanthropy, GE Aerospace and GE Aerospace Foundation, uses philanthropy, nonprofit partnerships and employee volunteerism to multiply community impact. She leads giving strategies across more than 80 global communities, guiding support for STEM education, veteran support, disaster response and other critical needs.

• Jamila Watson, a global insights leader at FedEx and lifelong Girl Scout, has dedicated her leadership to helping women and girls discover their voices, recognize their potential and pursue new opportunities. Through her service with YWCA Greater Cincinnati, the Rising Stars Equity Leadership Program, and the Hamilton County Commission on Women and Girls.

Emerging Leader Changemaker

Tina Ohmart Mendoza, Vice President of Resource Development at United Way of Greater Toledo, creates change by connecting people, organizations and resources. She helps strengthen support for families facing poverty and growing needs for food, shelter, clothing and healthcare.

Organization Changemaker

Women Helping Women has spent more than 50 years transforming how communities respond to gender-based violence. Through prevention, crisis intervention, advocacy and a survivor-centered, non-shelter model, the organization meets survivors where they are and removes barriers to support. Women Helping Women also works across healthcare, courts, law enforcement and social services to improve systems, center survivor autonomy and create safer, more responsive communities.

“There is no single way to change the world,” said Aimée Sproles, President & CEO of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. “Some Changemakers open doors. Some transform systems. Some create opportunity or bring people together so their collective impact can reach further. These five honorees show girls—and all of us—what courage, leadership, and service look like in action.”

“At Girl Scouts, we prepare girls to lead with courage, confidence and character,” Sproles added. “By sharing the stories of these Changemakers, we help girls see the many different ways they can use their own voices, talents and experiences to create meaningful change.”

The 2026 Celebration of Changemakers event will bring together business, nonprofit, education and civic leaders, Girl Scout supporters and community members for a morning of recognition, inspiration and connection.

City of Cincinnati Vice Mayor, Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Esq., will serve as emcee for the morning. She is president of Sesh Communications, publisher of the award-winning The Cincinnati Herald, and a civic leader focused on reducing gun violence, expanding economic opportunity, increasing affordable housing and homeownership, advancing equity and strengthening community engagement across Cincinnati neighborhoods.

Tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and additional information at www.gswo.org/changemakers, or contact CarolSerrone@gswo.org.

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