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Each year in Cleveland, Akron and Columbus, a Dinner of Champions is held to honor a member of the community with the Norman Cohn Hope Award.

The Norman Cohn Hope Award is the most prestigious National MS Society volunteer award at the chapter level. It is given for an exceptional level of leadership over an extensive period of time. The honoree exhibits vision, civic volunteerism and dedicated commitment to philanthropic and community service.

The Award is named for Norman Cohn who was active in the fight against multiple sclerosis for 33 years, during which time he contributed his time, wisdom and personal resources unstintingly to help those with MS. Believing that volunteers are the lifeblood of the Society, Mr. Cohn established a strong network of active volunteers at local, regional and national levels.

Proceeds from Dinners of Champions have totaled more than $5.9 million and are used to provide programs and services to the 11,000 people with MS and their families in the Ohio Buckeye Chapter. Proceeds also support research efforts to find the cause of and cure for multiple sclerosis.

Past Columbus Dinner of Champions honorees
2012 - Mark Swepston, President, Atlas Butler Heating & Cooling
2011 - Dr. E. Gordon Gee, President, The Ohio State University
2010 - “Jungle Jack” Hanna, Director Emeritus; Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
2009 - Jim Tressel, Head Football Coach; The Ohio State University
2007 - Cheryl Krueger, President, CEO & Founder; Cheryl&Co.
2006 - Carl Kohrt, President & CEO; Battelle
2005 - Fred Sanfilippo MD, CEO; The Ohio State University Medical Center
1998 - Florence Greasamar, Retired; Mount Carmel Health System Foundation

Past Akron Dinner of Champions honorees
2012 - Dr. Luis M. Proenza, President; The University of Akron and Theresa Butler Proenza
2011 - Phil H. Maynard, Chairman, ASW Properties, Ltd.
2010 - Ann Amer Brennan, Chair; Brennan Family Foundation
2009 - Thomas J. Strauss, President & CEO; Summa Health System
2008 - Anthony J. Alexander, President & CEO; FirstEnergy Corp.
2007 - William H. Considine, President & CEO; Akron Children’s Hospital

Past Cleveland Dinner of Champions honorees
2011 - Don Misheff, Northeast Ohio Managing Partner, Ernst & Young
2010 - Medical Mutual of Ohio
2009 - Christopher M. Connor, Chairman & CEO; The Sherwin-Williams Company
2008 - Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO; University Hospitals
2007 - Maria Miller; Samuel H. & Maria Miller Foundation
2006 - Henry L. Meyer III, Chairman, President & CEO; KeyCorp
2005 - Delos “Toby” M. Cosgrove III MD, President & CEO; Cleveland Clinic Health System
2004 - Robert J. King, Jr., President & CEO; Fifth Third Bank
2003 - Bishop Anthony M. Pilla; Cleveland Catholic Diocese
2002 - Kent W. Clapp, CEO, Chair & President; Medical Mutual of Ohio
2001 - David A. Daberko, Chairman & CEO; National City
2000 - Umberto P. Fedeli, President & CEO; The Fedeli Group
1998 - Alex Machaskee, Publisher, President & CEO; The Plain Dealer
1997 - A. Malachi Mixon III, Chairman & CEO; Invacare Corp.
1996 - Robert W. Gillespie, Chairman & CEO; KeyCorp
1995 - Floyd D. Loop, Chairman, Board of Directors & Executive Vice President
The Cleveland Clinic Foundation