George and Kim Vincent knew few people in Cincinnati when they moved here after his 1982 graduation from the University of Michigan law school.
“We found it easy to get involved,” George said. “Our attitude was, if you’re going to get involved, get really involved. Don’t just show up — do extra things.”
Get really involved? Check. Do extra things? Check.
“The more I get involved, the more I get out of it,” Kim said. “Just seeing the changes in people’s lives and in the organizations we work with. It’s wonderful to see.”
Their strong support of United Way of Greater Cincinnati spans decades, but they also are champions for many other community organizations. In addition to making generous financial donations, they serve as board members, they lead committees and they find multiple ways to make Cincinnati a better place.
Those “extras” are in addition to raising three children and enjoying successful careers. George’s stint at Dinsmore, where he is the former Managing Partner, spans more than 40 years. Kim, a former occupational therapist, is a Realtor and Senior Sales Vice President at Sibcy Cline.
In recognition of their gifts of time and treasure, United Way on May 29 will honor the Vincents with the Tocqueville Award.
George is United Way Board Chair-elect. His ties to the organization began in 1983 during his second year at Dinsmore, when he served on a committee that allocated funding for neighborhood services organizations. “I found that to be really interesting work. I was young, and it was a great way to see a different side of the community than you typically see as an attorney,” he said.
Now, he’s the seasoned attorney encouraging young colleagues to give back to the community.
“I tell people: Because we’re lawyers, we get to do lots of things. We have access to unique resources, and we have a duty to take those resources and the gifts we’ve been given and return some of those to the community. To have a chance to be engaged in your community and hopefully make it a little better, that’s a rare honor.”
Over the years, George has worked on multiple United Way campaigns. He said his involvement with United Way has increased since Moira Weir became president and CEO. He helped draft the plan to focus United Way on three pillars: educational success, financial empowerment and housing security.
“The business sense that Moira has brought to United Way has been a huge positive. You’re seeing a lot of nonprofit groups with significant funding come together to tackle the three pillars and issues around those pillars in a way that we’ve not seen before.”
Kim, too, has been involved in United Way campaigns, both through her Sibcy Cline office as well as hosting events at home.
Kim, whose mother had multiple sclerosis, grew up knowing she wanted to help people, which led her to become an occupational therapist. When their children were young, she devoted countless volunteer hours to their schools and to church. More recently, her volunteer work has focused on people with disabilities, the arts and education.
When United Way of Greater Cincinnati marked its 100-year anniversary, Kim chaired the Day of Action celebration. Her longstanding support of the organization is tied not only to the difference it’s made, but also to the difference she believes it will continue to make. “This is where we raised our kids, and three of our grandchildren are being raised here as well. So for us, it’s really important to have a healthy community.”
And for the Vincents, it’s always been important to give back. It’s who they are, and Cincinnati is all the better for it.
