CDF-Ohio’s ‘A Celebration of Joy’ will recognize three Ohioans for their contributions to advancing the well-being of young people in the Buckeye State.
Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
COLUMBUS, OH—On Thursday, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-OH), the local arm of the national child advocacy organization—will host “A Celebration of Joy,” honoring Ohio changemakers, while uplifting community and reflecting the spirit of hope, resilience, and collective action for young people.
The event, themed “A Hole in One for Hope,” will take place at the entertainment center Scene75 Columbus. At the event, CDF-OH will present its Advocate for Joy and Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service awards to three Ohio residents who have dedicated their lives to advancing the well-being of young people.
Ohio State Representative Dontavius L. Jarrells and Vanessa J. Butler, JD, Senior Director of Community Relations & Special Projects at Groundwork Ohio, will both receive CDF-OH’s Advocate for Joy award.
Jarrells has served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing House District 1, which include Bexley and multiple neighborhoods throughout Columbus. In his time at the statehouse, Jarrells has co-sponsored the bipartisan Fostering School Success Act. The act, which recently passed the Ohio House, is designed to strengthen educational stability, break down silos, and provide support for children and youth in foster care. He also helped change Ohio law to address the cost of replacing lead-contaminated water service lines to ensure children and young families do not fall victim to lead poisoning as he did during his youth.
Butler serves Groundwork Ohio in its mission to champion high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age five for children. In previous roles, including as president and CEO of The Center for Healthy Families, Butler helped guide major initiatives, including the Day of the Girl, which convenes almost 500 girls, young women, and gender-expansive youth across Central Ohio to be celebrated to engage in critical dialogue around mental health, justice, and education.
What: A Celebration of Joy – A Hole in One for Hope!
When: Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 5:45 p.m.-7 p.m.
Where: Scene75 Columbus | 5033 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Columbus, OH 43016
Who: Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio
The Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award will be presented to 22-year-old Cuyahoga Community College student Nezerae Hunt, of Cleveland. Hunt serves as the inaugural president of The Cleveland Freedom Project, a youth-led nonprofit organization focused on cultivating disruptors, dreamers, and drivers of social and economic justice. Under her leadership, the organization has centered youth voices in conversations around equity, mental health, and leadership development while helping to create empowering spaces where young people are encouraged not only to participate, but to lead.
This event will feature formal remarks from the leader of the organization, CDF-OH State Director Dr. John Stanford, and performances by young people from Central Ohio.
“Countless Ohioans dedicate themselves to advancing the well-being of all children and young people in our state,” Dr. Stanford said. “We take this time to recognize a select group of these champions to highlight the importance of their work and renew our shared commitment to ensuring every young person in Ohio thrives.”