Each year, PNC and the Reds present a series of Community Advocate Awards to members of our community who make a positive impact in promoting diversity and inclusion.
Community Advocate Awards
Presented by PNC
2025 COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AWARD WINNERS
African American Community – Kathy Wade
Kathy Wade is a beloved entertainer, producer, arts and education entrepreneur, CEO, and community bridge-builder. The winner of multiple regional Emmy awards, she co-founded the nonprofit Learning Through Art, Inc. more than three decades ago. Kathy became one of the first Black women to earn a master's degree in arts administration from CCM and embarked on a prestigious singing career. Kathy has also been a recipient of the Ohio Arts Council's Governor's Award for the Arts in Ohio. It is the most prestigious recognition for the arts in Ohio, and the only award conferred by the governor.
Jewish Community – TBA
Winner will be recognized on Tuesday, May 13.
Pride Community – TBA
Winner will be recognized on Friday, June 6.
Hispanic Community – TBA
Winner will be recognized on Friday, September 19.
2024 WINNERS
Pride Community – Michael Cotrell
Michael Cotrell is the current Empress 16 & 26 of the Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court of the Buckeye Empire All of Ohio INC. Since moving to Cincinnati in 2002 to be involved with ISQCCBE, Michael has helped raise over $180,000 for their charities. Heavily involved in our LGBTQ+ community, Michael also served on several boards, including ISQCCBE as President, Vice President and Current Secretary; PFLAG as Vice President and President, Cincinnati Pride as President, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as the Out of the Darkness Walk Chair.
Jewish Community – Bobby Fisher
Bobby Fisher is the Chairman of Quest Star Capital, an investment company dedicated to helping innovative growth companies and start-ups. In the community, Bobby is a board member of PORT Authority and was a founder and past co-chairman of the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, is Co-Chairman of the Build Our Bridge Now Coalition and serves as a member of the Executive Committee and Champaign Chair at the Jewish Federation as well as on the Board of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
Irish Community – Chris Schulte
Chris Schulte comes from a family with a long history of involvement within the Irish American community, particularly Irish American Club, AOH, LAOH, and the St. Patrick’s Parade. Chris has been on the parade committee since 2005 and served as parade chairman for the 10th year in 2024. In June 2023, Chris was elected as a Director for the Ohio State Board of the AOH, responsible for managing & supporting local AOH division in Southern Ohio. Over the years, he has also worked tirelessly to volunteer and fundraise for the Special Olympics.
African American Community – Christie Kuhns
Christie Kuhns is committed to strengthening the civic fabric of our community and disrupting generational poverty by helping people get employed and stay employed. She is actively involved with Hamilton County, the YWCA Board of Directors, and Bethesda Inc. She has been a volunteer with the Avondale Community Council and Avondale Development Corporation for the past 17 years. Christie has been honored as a YWCA Career Woman of Achievement and was recently awarded the Jeffrey Hurwitz Young Alumni Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Cincinnati. She also received the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President’s Award and was named one of the Region’s Most Powerful Business Leaders by Cincinnati Magazine.
Hispanic Community – Nicholas Castro
Nicholas Castro is the Assistant Dean of Inclusive Excellence in the Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati, and throughout his professional career has consistently shown a passion for diversity and inclusion by advocating on behalf of immigrants. Nick was instrumental in bringing a chapter of Latinx en Accion to University of Cincinnati Blue Ash, a group that strives to make positive impacts by serving Latinx students, along with championing a high school mentoring and tutoring program. As the father of five children, the son of a Mexican immigrant, and with over 15 years of being a higher education professional, Nick understands the struggles students must overcome during their college journey and has worked to support Hispanic and other underrepresented communities daily.