Written by BVU’s Amy Stoessel
All In.
That was the message delivered this month to roughly 1,100 of the region’s community and business leaders during the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s annual meeting.
The event celebrated the accomplishments of the city and GCP, highlighted the new HQ for Sherwin-Williams — and recognized the leader of one of the region’s largest nonprofits.
Kristin Warzocha, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, received the Richard Shatten Award, which is presented to a civic leader who has made a significant impact while exemplifying the spirit of Richard Shatten, the former longtime executive director of Cleveland Tomorrow, one of GCP’s predecessor organizations.
Under Warzocha’s leadership, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank has continued to expand its reach and impact, providing more than 53 million pounds of food to the community last year alone.
“We are so focused on collaboration each and every day,” Warzocha said. “We owe the success to so many people in this room.”
‘ALL IN’ FOR THE COMMUNITY
Warzocha illustrated her point by asking for a show of hands, recognizing the business leaders in the room who had either volunteered, donated or served the food bank in some way.
This type of “all-in” approach for the good of the region’s nonprofit sector is not surprising.
Business Volunteers Unlimited in 2025 alone connected nearly 50 teams from BVU member companies to volunteer opportunities at the food bank. The food bank is one of nearly 900 nonprofits with which BVU works to make meaningful and impactful connections to the business community.
The themes of working together and collaboration continued throughout the event.
Speakers ranging from CEO and president Heidi Petz of BVU business member Sherwin-Williams to Chris Gorman, chairman and CEO of KeyCorp., another longtime BVU member, all envisioned hopeful futures for the region through teamwork.
“All In is much more than just a slogan,” said GCP’s CEO and president Baiju Shah. “It is the mindset, the spirit and values required for any astonishing achievement. Achievements that are only possible because of inspired teams of people that work in unity to make it happen.”