College named recipient of $500,000 donation in memory of Rev. Shuttlesworth

October 13, 2011

Cincinnati State President O’dell M. Owens announced today a $500,000 donation to the college from Dick Weiland in memory of the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. The funds will be earmarked for the “Dick Weiland Endowed Scholars Program in Honor of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.”

Weiland is the founder and president of Richard Consulting Corporation, which provides lobbying and mediation skills to more than 60 companies and numerous nonprofit organizations. He has also pledged to lead a fund drive with the goal of raising another $1 million or more to be used toward the Shuttlesworth Endowed Scholars Program.

“We are deeply touched by Dick’s generous gift in memory of Rev. Shuttlesworth,’’ said Dr. Owens. “What a perfect way to honor the legacy of a man who spent his life fighting to open doors for people to receive these kinds of opportunities.”

Dr. Owens said the funds would be used to pay for scholarships for deserving students from targeted communities. He said the college plans to structure the scholarship program in a way that involves community leaders as well as Cincinnati State administrators and applicants. Dr. Owens and Weiland also said they anticipate exploring other initiatives involving health care and hunger if fund-raising for the program is successful.

“It will be a unique and we hope a national model,’’ Dr. Owens said.

During a meeting and press conference Thursday with Dr. Owens and three of Rev. Shuttlesworth’s children – Patricia Massengill, Ruby S. Bester and Fred Shuttlesworth Jr.– Weiland expressed his joy at the opportunity to honor his friend’s memory by giving back to a community that had always been a friend of his and the Reverends. (A fourth child, Dr. Carolyn Shuttlesworth, was unable to attend.)

“I’ve been very fortunate in life,” Weiland said. “Education has always been important to me, and to Rev. Shuttlesworth. This is something important that I can do to honor his legacy, to honor the work O’dell is doing at Cincinnati State, and I am confident others will want to join me.’’

Weiland said he discussed his plans with his children, Jeanne, David and Fred Weiland, before making the decision to give Cincinnati State $500,000. “The vote was 3-0” in favor, he said.

Weiland is well-known in arts, civic, political and philanthropic circles in Greater Cincinnati. In June of this year he was honored with a “Peace of the City” award in recognition of his decades of marshaling support for the social service sector. The award ceremony doubled as a fund-raiser that benefited 39 Cincinnati nonprofit organizations representing human services, healthcare, education, and the arts.

Weiland currently serves on more than 30 boards and commissions.

Credit card donations to the Endowed Scholars Program in honor of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth may be made online here, or as follows:

Go to the Cincinnati State web site: www.cincinnatistate.edu
Click on the Give button
Select “Donate On-line” on left panel

Donations by check should be made payable to the Cincinnati State Foundation with a note on the memo line: Fred Shuttlesworth Scholars. Please mail contributions in care of Cincinnati State Development Office, 3520 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223-2690.