Dianne Dunkelman, Founder and CEO

Dianne Dunkelman
July 2017

Dianne Dunkelman, Founder and CEO of Building Healthy Lives Foundation (BHLF), was quick to act after realizing the need to educate kids about improving their health and that of their families. She became passionate about giving kids the best chance to be safe, healthy, and educated, and in 2006, she created Clever Crazes for Kids® (CCK), a BHLF project. After gaining the academic support of the University of Cincinnati’s School of Education, the local program quickly evolved into CleverCrazes.com, a FREE educational enrichment website for kids that includes not only health, but also STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) academics, ethics, literacy, and personal responsibility. Dianne’s vision has continued to grow, and now kids in schools, homes, and after-school programs across the country can learn through educational games, stay physically fit, and make healthy choices while building self-esteem. From learning to read, to learning to code, to learning about the sciences and the arts, kids in preK through 8th grade are encouraged to stay in school and build a lifelong love of learning.

CLEVER CRAZES FOR KIDS®

In addition to the CleverCrazes.com website, which is totally FREE and available to all, activity books, backpacks, and many other educational materials have been created and distributed, free of charge, across the country by Clever Crazes for Kids®. The reach has grown from 40,000 pieces of material in 2006 to more than 1,500,000 pieces created for distribution. These materials have been lauded by the educational community, which increasingly asks for more of them to benefit the students they serve. CCK has an advisory board of outstanding academics, healthcare providers, and business leaders who play an important role in its continuing development and success.

SPEAKING OF WOMEN'S HEALTH®

Prior to Clever Crazes for Kids, Dianne established the National Speaking of Women’s Health Foundation (SWH) in 1996 with a mission to educate women about health, well-being, and personal safety for themselves and their families. SWH has improved the lives of hundreds of millions of women and their families through conferences, websites, books, television, and other materials. This initiative was picked up by the Cleveland Clinic in 2008, furthering its impact. Dianne continues her involvement by serving as Chief Strategist for Speaking of Women’s Health.

LEADERSHIP ROLES

Dianne remains passionate about encouraging and supporting healthy families, including the areas in which they live. Consequently, she serves community, state, and national organizations as a member of their leadership boards of trustees and as an advisor to many more. Dianne has been recognized throughout the country for her women’s health initiatives and national projects for education. In addition to her many awards and honors, she is proud of her associations and board memberships:

Chief Strategist, Speaking of Women’s Health®, now a project of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Invited to present at the 50th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott event in 2005, in appreciation of the creation and implementation of the Universal Sisters Women’s Health Initiative
Group Leader of Physicians and Health-Care Providers who write and edit materials for national publications

She serves on the Board of Trustees for:

Building Healthy Lives Foundation - President & CEO
ArtsWave – Trustee
North American Menopause Society (NAMS) – Trustee
University of Cincinnati Foundation – Trustee
Breast Cancer.org – Trustee
Cincinnati Women’s Executive Forum – Trustee
Cleveland Clinic Foundation - Chief Strategist, Speaking of Women's Health
Cincinnati Ballet Company Foundation – Trustee
Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati – Trustee Emeritus

HONORS AND AWARDS

Dianne has been recognized throughout the country for her women’s health initiatives and elementary education work:

Honored by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at their 53rd annual Freedom Fund Dinner in recognition of her work to advance healthcare on behalf of women of color and their families
Awarded Columbia University’s “The Athena Award from the Partnership for Women’s Health”
Named 2015 Greater Cincinnati Business Hall of Fame Laureate, Junior Achievement
Recipient of the University of Cincinnati Foundation “Trustees’ Award”
21 Leaders for the 21st Century Women's eNews
Honored by The March of Dimes for her work with women and infants
Honored with The National Conference for Community and Justice Citation Award (BRIDGES)
Recipient of a Northwood University Distinguished Women Award
Recipient of a “Connecting Cultures & Communities Award,” given by the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission
Granted an honorary degree from the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Recipient of a University of Cincinnati Award for Excellence
Recipient of a Cincinnati YWCA Career Women of Achievement Award
Named as one of Cincinnati’s Leading Women for her advocacy in women’s health
Recipient of the Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation’s Charles W. Vaughan Award for her work with public television
A Dada Rafiki Honoree
Honoree of the Cincinnati Human Rights Commission
Recipient of the Top Ladies of Distinction’s Service to Youth Award
Honoree of the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts
Recipient of a National Society of Fund Raising Executives’ National Philanthropy Award
Honored with a Post Corbett Award
Honored as a Cincinnati Enquirer Woman of the Year
Recipient of a Visiting Nurse Association Caring Award
In June, 2009, she was inducted into the Association of Ohio Commodores by appointment of Governor Ted Strickland.

Dianne remains active in support of the other arts and civic endeavors in Cincinnati, including YWCA and Cincinnati Art Museum. She is also past president of The Women’s Capital Club, Cincinnati.