Barbara O'Hara
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
2009 National Philanthropy Day

An almost native Daytonian, Barbara O’Hara has devoted her talent and an immeasurable number of hours to positively impact our region. Her touch extends from supporting budding athletes, to improving the lives of animals, to empowering job seekers, to preserving our history, to bolstering the arts.

Barbara believes it is important to be a spokesperson for her community, to learn about what is happening and to be involved. She funds an annual athletic scholarship for an outstanding female athlete at her alma mater, Oakwood High School, and is an active and passionate advocate for numerous Dayton nonprofit organizations.

As a volunteer fundraiser at Clothes That Work, Dayton History, the Humane Society of Greater Dayton and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Barbara is adept at building relationships, matching people’s passions with nonprofit missions and leading by example. She has been instrumental in founding major giving societies and re-energizing fundraising events and is able to multiply the impact of the energy she devotes to these causes by inspiring others to become involved.

One of Barbara’s proudest accomplishments is helping to found the Greater Dayton Rowing Association. This organization has been successful at achieving its mission: to introduce a unique sport to inner city high school students who may excel sufficiently in the sport to garner a college rowing scholarship.

Through the years, Barbara has been an active member of boards and committees for several nonprofit organizations including Wegerzyn Gardens, Four Seasons Garden Club, Junior League of Dayton, Dayton Art Institute, WDPR and YMCA.

Barbara cherishes her very supportive husband, Bob, son James, daughter-in-law Stephanie and four grandchildren: Michael, Patrick, Halle, & Maggie. Her very independent furry friends, Blarney and Monsieur Moutarde love her lap when it’s available!

For fun, Barbara enjoys tennis, paddle tennis and rowing and she plays a consistently inconsistent game of golf in Dayton as well as summers in Harbor Springs, MI. If you are hoping to catch up with Barbara, try Tanks, where she does a lot of business while savoring a good meal!