September 4, 2025, Press Release from the Lima Symphony Orchestra:
LIMA, Ohio — CreativeOhio has announced the finalists for the 2025 Champion Advocacy Awards, and Lima will be strongly represented at the statewide celebration this fall. The Champion Advocacy Awards will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the Toledo Museum of Art, highlighting leaders and advocates from Northwest Ohio. Winners in each category will be announced live at the luncheon.
Among this year’s finalists are Sally Windle, Executive Director of ArtSpace of Lima, and Reineke Family Dealerships, both of whom have long been champions of the Lima region. Windle, recognized in the Arts Educator Champion category, has spent her career expanding access to the arts and fostering creativity in classrooms and community spaces across Lima. Under her leadership, ArtSpace of Lima has grown into a hub for visual arts, education, and cultural engagement in the region. Reineke Family Dealerships, a finalist for Business Champion, has been a steadfast supporter of community initiatives such as the Lima Symphony Orchestra, demonstrating how local businesses can play a vital role in sustaining the arts and building vibrant communities.
In addition to the finalists, Lima is also represented on CreativeOhio’s statewide board of directors. Elizabeth Brown-Ellis, CEO of the Lima Symphony Orchestra (and immediate past president of CreativeOhio), and Chad Stearns, Manager at Modo Media, are both active board members guiding the organization’s statewide advocacy efforts.
Honorees Announced Live
The winners in three categories will not be revealed until the luncheon itself. Guests will be the first to hear who is named the 2025 Champion Advocacy Award recipients during the program. Join CreativeOhio and leaders from across Ohio in celebrating the 2025 Champion Advocacy Awards at the Toledo Museum of Art. Guests will enjoy a plated lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m.,followed by the awards program at 12:00 p.m.
About the Awards
The CreativeOhio Champion Advocacy Awards honor Ohioans who enrich their communities through leadership and advocacy in support of the arts, culture, and creative sector.
For tickets and more information, visit creativeoh.org.
