Photo: CCV President Aaron Baer accepts the Heritage Innovation Prize in Washington, DC, on Monday, May 20, 2024. Source: https://x.com/GScottSays/status/1792676492444590266

WASHINGTON–Yesterday, The Heritage Foundation announced Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) as one of its 2024 Innovation Prize winners, following Heritage's grand opening of their new Barb Van Andel-Gaby Center in Washington, DC.

Heritage's Innovation Prize recognizes and provides substantive financial awards to results-oriented nonprofits for projects involving research, litigation, education, outreach, or communications. CCV is one of nine recipients out of more than 80 submissions.  

CCV will receive a $100,000 award to support its Education Restoration Initiative, addressing Ohio's academically broken and morally corrupt government-run education system. The award will expand CCV's Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) model, which helps churches operate full-time, in-person Christian schools Monday through Friday. CCV plans on leveraging Ohio's EdChoice program to offer a moral and quality education to students at little to no cost, especially to those below the federal poverty line. CCV intends to launch dozens of schools across Ohio and export this model to other states to serve and save children across the country.

Heritage President Dr. Kevin Roberts released a statement upon announcement of the award:   

"Countless organizations and families are on the front lines fighting for our kids, and we need them now more than ever to reject the Left's radical indoctrination agenda. So much of our nation's societal decay stems from our education system, and institutions like CCV are spearheading the effort to save our children and restore morality and sanity in our schools. It's a privilege to support and celebrate their righteous efforts, which will undoubtedly restore quality and sound curriculum for future generations in Ohio and our great nation."  

CCV President Aaron Baer also released a statement:

"Our nation is facing an education crisis. Too many agenda-driven bureaucrats are pushing political ideologies in the classroom, while fundamentally failing the next generation academically. Center for Christian Virtue's Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) has proven that when churches, Christian schools, and community leaders come together, we can create new and better opportunities for families by fighting for school choice, parental rights, and religious freedom. Thanks to the Heritage Foundation's leadership and support, we can and will build new institutions to transform culture and change lives." 

CCV is incredibly honored and grateful to be a recipient of The Heritage Foundation's Innovation Prize.

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org.

As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. 

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