A Conversation with Rhonda Sheakley
Written by Blaire Bartish. Photography by Angie Lipscomb.
The day we met with Rhonda Sheakley, it was raining. Not just raining, but torrential, gross, miserable, and cold. Everyone who walked into the Cincinnati Ballet was on a scale of “soggy dog to drowned rat.” And then Rhonda walked in. Her positive energy immediately changed the tone of the room. She said hello to everyone she knew and introduced herself to us; her whirlwind caught us and we chatted as we headed to our interview.
If you’ve been to any nonprofit organization in Cincinnati, it’s likely you’ve seen the efforts of Rhonda and her husband Larry. To say they are dedicated to the culture and people of this city is an understatement. Rhonda is the driving force behind many of the Sheakleys’ efforts in nonprofit support. When asked what organizations she has been a part of, it’s almost easier to list groups she hasn’t been involved with.
“This is a legacy for our family,” she replies when asked about why she does what she does. “It shows where we stand and what we value.”
“I noticed there was a gap in the volunteer movement. As more women stay in the workforce, there are fewer ‘professional volunteers,’” she says. So she simply hit the pavement and did what she could, kids in tow. Over the years she’s been involved with Lighthouse Youth & Family Services, the Boys and Girls Club, the Cincinnati Ballet, the Cincinnati Art Museum, Playhouse in the Park, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the now defunct National Council of Jewish Women, just to name a few.
“This is a legacy for our family,” she replies when asked about why she does what she does. “It shows where we stand and what we value.”
Rhonda is the oldest of three. When she was in eighth grade, her family relocated to Cincinnati from Philadelphia, and she credits this move with developing her sense of independence and can-do attitude, which was necessary for her move to New York City immediately after graduating college at 20. The self-proclaimed “outgoing nerd” worked hard to make a name for herself in marketing and communications.
“I learned to make up what I couldn’t do, create something out of nothing,” Sheakley says.
“I know I’ve been blessed enough to help,” she says. “[It’s important to] connect the dots to prevent the cycle of poverty from continuing.”
As always, we asked Sheakley to tell us about an influential woman in her life. Describing her role model as “overly strong” and “a great entertainer with a great sense of style,” Rhonda tells the story of her mother, who spoke fluent Russian, helping new Russian immigrants in the ’70s get jobs in the makeup department at local department stores. It’s easy to see how this example led to the powerful woman who will drop everything to cook meals for homeless young adults at the Sheakley Center for Youth (a part of Lighthouse Youth Services) or stop by the Boys and Girls Club in Price Hill on Wednesdays to connect to the kids.
“I just love it when kids come up to me and say, ‘I know you’re Mrs. Sheakley,’” she says with a happy smirk. It’s evident that helping people is something that truly makes her happy, and not just something that she “should do.” “I know I’ve been blessed enough to help,” she says. “[It’s important to] connect the dots to prevent the cycle of poverty from continuing.”
Her parting words for us, as she was being whisked off to another meeting to aide in more strategic planning for the Ballet, were: “If you can believe it, you can do it.”