John Barrett presented with Tocqueville Award

CINCINNATI - John Barrett was honored with the 2012 Tocqueville Award from the United Way of Greater Cincinnati.

The Tocqueville Award recognizes outstanding service as volunteers in this community and on a national level. Barrett is being honored for his totality of work in service to the community.

John F. Barrett is chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Western & Southern Financial group.

The nomination process asks nominators to consider seven criteria: Committed, inspirational, creative, scope, outstanding, tangible, and sustained.

The award was presented by Bob Castellini, chairman and CEO of the Castellini Company, CEO of the Cincinnati Reds and the last Tocqueville Award recipient.

“The Tocqueville Society is pleased to present John Barrett with the prestigious Tocqueville Award in recognition of his legacy of service to this region," Donald Bush, chair of the Tocqueville Society in 2010 and 2011, said. "John is a committed advocate in the areas of education, income and health. He has provided sustained and outstanding leadership across the decades.”

In 2001, Barrett chaired the United Way campaign and, despite many challenges, including the terrorist attacks of September 11, job cuts at several major employers, economic uncertainty and continued rebuilding of race relations in Cincinnati, the campaign exceeded its fundraising goal. He worked personally with many companies to increase their employee campaigns, increase corporate gifts or make first-time donations. He and his wife, Eileen, launched the United Way Women’s Leadership Council to increase giving among top women contributors. The Council is now more than 230 members strong and raises $2.53 million in annual contributions. Barrett’s leadership also aided the founding of The Herbert R. Brown Society to encourage greater African American engagement with United Way. Today, the Society has 500 members who contribute nearly $1 million each year.

Besides United Way’s Tocqueville Society, many other organizations have recognized Barrett for his civic leadership. They include the American Heart Association, Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati, Beechwood Home, Boy Scouts of America, Boys Hope/Girls Hope,  Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Business Hall of Fame, Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation, Entrepreneurs’ Organization Cincinnati, Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati, Jewish National Fund, Junior
Achievement, and Volunteers of America.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati’s Tocqueville Society, which recognizes donors of $10,000 or more, is currently the largest Tocqueville Society in the U.S.