COLUMBUS, Ohio — A significant milestone has been reached in the effort to establish a monument dedicated to women’s suffrage at the Ohio Statehouse, thanks to a generous $1 million donation from an anonymous benefactor, as announced on Monday by the organization leading the initiative.
Charles Moses, who serves as the Chair of the Capitol Square Foundation, characterized the contribution towards the construction of the Ohio Women’s Monument as “transformational.” This donation honors the memory of Jo Ann Davidson, Ohio’s first female speaker of the House, who passed away in October.
In his statement, Moses expressed that this generous act “ensures that Speaker Davidson’s remarkable legacy is etched into Ohio’s history forever.” The concept for the monument has been in development for several years and received formal approval from the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board last month. Recently, it gained momentum through a fundraiser headlined by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin.
State Senator Stephanie Kunze, chair of the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Monument Commission, remarked that the donation would serve as a motivational force for those dedicated to finalizing the project, which is slated to be unveiled in 2026. She emphasized that the sculpture, created by artist Brenda Councill, will honor the collective spirit and enduring accomplishments of women throughout the history of Ohio.
