Saturday, March 04, 2000
Lighthouse honors five
Group's founder among honorees
BY JIM HANNAH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
More than 30 years ago, H. Robert Wientzen founded a group to help troubled youths. Friday night he came back to town to be honored by the group he started, now known as Lighthouse Youth Services.
“It is thrilling to see what it has turned into,” he said. “There is nothing else like it anywhere in the world. I don't think too many people appreciate the extent to which this organization has grown into a nationally recognized organization.”
The former Cincinnati resident now splits his time between Boca Raton, Fla., and New York City as president and CEO of Direct Marketing Association, a trade group.
Friday night's banquet at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, downtown, was attended by 400 people and raised about $100,000 for the nonprofit group.
“Bob has been the single most important person to this organization,” said Larry Pauly, development director of the Lighthouse Youth Services. “He had the foresight to establish the foundation that has allowed us to grow.”
Founded in 1969, Lighthouse Youth Services provides shelter and residential treatment for abused and neglected youth, transitional living services for older homeless youth and in-home service for families in crisis.
Four others also received the fifth annual Beacon of Light Award:
• Robert Kohlhepp for success and generosity in professional and philanthropic endeavors. The Anderson Township resident is chief executive officer of Cintas Corp. He formerly was a trustee of the Cincinnati Association for the Blind, United Way and Community Chest.
• Anthony Munoz for being a role model during his many years with the Bengals. Off the field, the Deerfield Township resident has spoken to more than 150 high schools discouraging drug and alcohol use and co-chaired golf tournaments to raise money for cystic fibrosis.
• Harry Santen for devoting his professional and personal life to making legal services available to all. The Mariemont resident co-founded the Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation to make legal advice more accessible to the poor. He also helped initiate the Roundtable, formed to address diversity in Cincinnati law firms.
• Marian Spencer for her pursuit of civil rights. The Avondale resident was the first African-American woman elected to Cincinnati City Council. She served as vice mayor and was president of the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP.
Court upholds clean-air rules
And now, what teachers hate about parents
Presidential primaries are schoolyard fights
Blue Ash Republicans rarin' to vote
Mardi-ers get merry
Mayor wants police chief fired
Firstar Bank takes Van Exel to court
Four-year districting battle over
Guard accessed porn, prosecutors charge
Hotel tax bill is hot potato
Teens solve engineering riddle
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Cammy tickets on sale
GET TO IT
Perick leads CSO in dazzling program
Chamber hears museum plan
City seeks assistant manager
Driver charged with felony after chase
Fairfield Middle School's schedule change adds flexibility
Farmers watch tax battle
Fitness center for Ky. youths will close
Jazz fest goals: Inspiration, fun
Legal Aid says $11M needed for new effort
Liberty Twp. police arrest suspect in slayings
Lighthouse honors five
Ludlow limits police spending
Monroe facing sports what-ifs
Open season on fish today
Ramada Inn pool closed for study
TRISTATE DIGEST
