CINCINNATI — A respected businessman in Ohio is gearing up for an 80th birthday bash that brings together people who share his widely diverse passions – from sports to philanthropy.
Roger Grein has worked as a successful accountant for more than 55 years. He still shows up at his office in Reading and puts in 12-14 hours a day between his job and Magnified Giving, the nonprofit he started to teach kids about philanthropy.
What You Need To Know
- Roger Grein founded Magnified Giving, a charity teaching kids about philanthropy
- Last year, students working through Magnified Giving donated $195,000 to 131 charities
- Since 2008, Magnified Giving has helped to give away more than $1.3 million to local nonprofits
“There’s no retirement in life,” Grein said.
But Grein’s life hasn’t just been about work. He’s found plenty of time for sports – enjoying them from the sidelines throughout his life because of his Cerebral Palsy.
For 35 years, he coached girls’ softball, taking teams to tournaments around the world, including Russia and Mexico.
He has been a loyal fan of the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and teams for the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, holding season tickets for each team for more than 50 years in some cases.
“Sports to me is life,” Grein said. “The ups and downs.”
His own inspiring story is chronicled in an award-winning documentary, available at rogergrein.live.
While Grein can rattle off batting averages, interceptions and other statistics for his favorite teams, he’s most proud of the statistics his charity Magnified Giving has achieved.
Last school year, 4,938 kid philanthropists gave away $195,765 to 131 charities in the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky area, a total of $1.3 million since 2008.
“My daily interaction with Roger is a blessing,” said Kelly Collison, Magnified Giving’s Executive Director. “I learn from him every day.”
This month, Roger will be visiting more schools, with an eye toward expanding the work of Magnified Giving beyond Ohio and Kentucky. He’ll also be joining more than 400 friends to celebrate a legacy built on numbers.
