Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

Haile Foundation celebrates milestone of $200 million in grantmaking and welcomes new members to its Advisory Committee   The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation is starting the new year in a celebratory mood.  In 2024, the foundation reached a new milestone in charitable giving and in 2025 the foundation’s governing body will be welcoming two new members to its roster. Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. established their foundation to serve as a steward of their wealth and to ensure the funds would be used, through both traditional and fresh approaches, to improve the communities they loved and cherished.  The foundation began making grants in 2006.  Since that time, the foundation has made hundreds of grants to non-profit organizations serving the community in the areas of arts and culture, civic and community, education, and human services.  In 2024 the foundation reached a new milestone by exceeding the $200 million threshold in grants, all to organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area. “Ralph and Carol loved their community, and it is our privilege to help continue their positive impact with support to so many amazing non-profit organizations,” said Jenny Powell, Advisory Committee Member. The Haile Foundation is also celebrating for other reasons.  The foundation recently added Wijdan Jreisat and Albert Smitherman to the Advisory Committee. They will join current Advisory Committee members Jenny Powell, Vickie Buyniski Gluckman and Jennie Carlson in overseeing the foundation. Wijdan Jreisat has spent decades working to improve the lives of women and to increase inclusion and equity in our community. She has served as a Leadership Council Member and Chair of the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Ms. Jreisat also has served on the governing boards of the YWCA Cincinnati, Girl Scouts Great Rivers Council and then Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, The Corporation for Findlay Market, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Volunteer Lawyers for the Poor Foundation, Downtown Cincinnati, Inc. and as a founding member and Chair of Social Venture Partners. Albert Smitherman has spent the last four decades championing community engagement and mentorship, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to achieve their goals. Mr. Smitherman’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and economic mobility is reflected in his service on the boards of Bethany House, Episcopal Retirement Services, Christ Hospital Foundation, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens. President & CEO of the Haile Foundation Bernie McKay said, “Wijdan’s and Albert’s unique talents and proven track records of service to others and leadership roles in our community make them an ideal fit for our foundation.  We all are overjoyed of having them join us in working together to carry out our mission and to create transformational change in our community.”