Volunteers were at the heart of the Oakwood Schools Foundation when it was founded over 40 years ago – and the same remains true to this day. Founded in 1981, the Oakwood Schools Foundation (OSF) was brought to life by a passionate group of volunteers who led the way, establishing a philanthropic organization for Oakwood Schools to support needs in education “beyond the reach of the School’s normal operating budget” as explained in the organization’s founding documents. Listed on the first Foundation ledger were the names of 21 volunteer community leaders, five Board of Education members and the superintendent of the time, Dr. Daniel Raisch. Much to Kevin Jones’ surprise, his late father, Robert K. Jones, was listed among the original founders.
A consummate community volunteer himself, Kevin Jones is a current Trustee of the Foundation, serving as its Vice Chair, while also providing additional volunteer leadership as the FLOURISH Campaign Chair. FLOURISH, a campaign for the performing and visual arts at Oakwood Schools is the largest campaign in the history of Oakwood. Upon seeing his father’s name on the document, Jones immediately said, “Thanks, Dad.”
He later said of the discovery, “I always felt very proud of my dad. I had no idea that he was one of the founding fathers back in the day and I was very excited to realize how closely I followed in his footsteps because the Foundation is so important to myself and to my family and our community.”
“Like father like son,” Amy Martin, Development Chair of the Foundation stated. She felt goosebumps upon seeing the familiar name. Martin was not surprised by the common thread from father to son all these decades later. Kevin has been a dedicated member of the community since he was a boy growing up on the 200 block of Corona, the oldest of the Jones family’s six siblings. Kevin went on to graduate from The Ohio State University and has been in the family insurance business for more than thirty years. Today, Kevin Jones leads the Robert K. Jones Insurance Agency in Kettering, the insurance agency founded by his father in 1972. He says going into the family business was a natural fit because, “I like to help people and insurance is a very people-oriented, relationship business”.
Kevin often shows gratitude to his fellow volunteers and highlights the efforts of others. He has a particular fondness for telling the histories of those family and community members who came before us – those who built the foundation for the current Oakwood community. Jones credits his parents, Marianne and Bob Jones, for teaching him these values and providing a loving foundation for himself and his siblings as they grew up in Oakwood – values that continue to live on through him today.
Kevin suggested honoring his parent’s legacy through a group gift from his brothers and sisters to the Flourish Campaign in honor of his loving parents. The gratitude he and his family feel for the upbringing provided by their parents and community is deep and heartfelt and have inspired them to celebrate the past and give to enrich future generations. Since leading this gift as a family, Kevin has shared this concept with other friends and family inspiring additional group family gifts along the way. These gifts will be memorialized throughout the campaign but also will live on in recognition, etched on the walls of the same Junior High and High School that he and his siblings walked not long ago.
Kevin Jones is often referred to as “the nicest guy in Oakwood” due to his focus on people and paying it forward. Kevin is a committed Oakwood Schools alum of the Class of 1982, has led various community organizations over the years in addition to running his family insurance agency, and still finds time to host gatherings for family and friends. Kevin resides in Pointe Oakwood and is an avid UD Flyers fan. He enjoys spending time with his life partner whom he calls his “better half,” Kris O’Neill, and her three children and attending his many friends and family members’ events and activities.
Article Link: Oakwood Register