When they were growing up, years before they met and fell in love, Joel and Lisa Stone looked up to role models who instilled the importance of uplifting the community.
“My granddaddy — my mom’s dad — was always really big into giving back and seeing where he could help, throughout his whole life,” Lisa said. “It was very important to him. It really left a mark on me.”
“For me, it was my mother,” said Joel. “She worked at Procter & Gamble. She was always volunteering, serving on nonprofit boards, giving back. And when I had the opportunity to join Fifth Third right out of college, one of the first conversations we had was, ‘What are you going to do to get involved in the community?’”
Like their family role models, Joel and Lisa are dedicated to making a difference in the community. In recognition of their gifts of time and treasure, United Way on May 14 will honor the couple with the Tocqueville Award.
Joel’s connection to United Way began in 2006 when he was hired by Fifth Third’s trust department. Over the years, he has eagerly volunteered with United Way and community partners it supports.
A particularly memorable moment came early in his career when he and other young professionals convened at United Way to fill gift bags with diapers, wipes, formula and the like for expecting single mothers.
“If not for United Way, a baby was going to be born without those basic necessities,” Joel recalled. “I’ve never forgotten that.”
Today, Joel is Managing Director of Fifth Third Private Bank. He and Lisa are native Cincinnatians who will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in May. They are the parents of two children, ages 3 and 6.
There are, of course, many ways for this couple to support their hometown. That’s an ongoing discussion in the Stone household.
“We want to make sure that the time and resources we give are aligned with what we believe in and how we want to give back,” Lisa said. “We talk about it a lot. I think it helps make our relationship stronger.”
Said Joel: “When (a city) has so many great organizations, you need one to take on the leadership role. That’s the role United Way plays.
“Our family looks at our contributions to United Way almost like an investment. United Way is our investment adviser, giving us strategic advice on the challenges in our community. That way, we’re more educated on where we should be spending our (volunteer) time and investing our resources to drive change in Greater Cincinnati.”
One example: Lisa is especially passionate about early education, which is one of UWGC’s key focus areas. She has seen her own children’s confidence grow when they’ve received help with speech. The entire community benefits, she noted, when efforts are aimed at “getting kids excited about learning and giving them the resources to get a jump start.”
By partnering with United Way, the Stones are helping ensure resources are available to meet community needs now and in the future. As they look to that future, they see, in Joel’s words, “a special place that is inclusive and welcoming for everyone.”
