Commitment to community: Nationwide earns Columbus Business First Corporate Citizenship Award
Yesterday, Columbus Business First recognized Nationwide and other central Ohio companies and their employees for their giving and volunteerism at the Columbus Business First Corporate Citizenship Awards. The night was a salute to the impact that the central Ohio business community makes in the lives of those who need help and a reminder that we are all stewards of our communities.
After launching the award program in 2018, Columbus Business First has recognized Nationwide every year.
Recently, Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker highlighted a specific area where the collaboration between the company and non-profits has made a substantial impact on the community.
This piece originally ran in Columbus Business First on June 13, 2025.
Working together in support of the community
By: Kirt Walker, CEO, Nationwide
Corporate citizenship can take many forms, and being an active corporate citizen can lead to innovative solutions to solve community problems. It’s about neighbors helping neighbors.
For example, we recently had some available real estate and knew there were community organizations that needed space. We wondered how we could use that space to support the community, so we reached out to the United Way of Central Ohio.
Working together, we were able to create a shared space for nonprofit organizations in a nine-story, 150,000 square foot building that was formerly Nationwide office space at 215 N. Front Street.
At the same time, the United Way announced they would move into this space, now called the Community Impact Center, and also sell its former headquarters, which are now being transformed into apartments that include both workforce and market rate housing.
The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority is investing $29 million into the former United Way space to build a five-story building with 82 apartments, which will serve middle and low-income families and people with disabilities. The building will have studio units along with one- to three-bedroom units and parking.
In addition to being the new home for the United Way of Central Ohio, the Community Impact Center is also home to more than a dozen local nonprofits who can now collaborate more efficiently while addressing critical community needs.
I had the opportunity to meet with leaders of the organizations based at the Community Impact Center recently and was inspired by all the great work happening that has benefits extending far beyond the building walls.
These kinds of partnerships are great examples of Corporate Citizenship in action – and there are so many more included in this year’s awards. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and thank you for making central Ohio a better place to live and work.