For Heath Monesmith, philanthropy is an extension of what it means to be a teammate and leader. “I believe in great teamwork,” he says. “Being part of a team means supporting one another, not just at work but in the world as well. We are all woven into our communities, and philanthropy is a means of giving back and being a great teammate.”
This is a philosophy Heath and his wife, Kim, have carried since they were married in 1995. That same year, they embarked on their philanthropic journey with United Way through Heath’s workplace campaign at a Pittsburgh law firm. He comments, “Kim and I feel it is incumbent upon us to give back, even in small ways, as much as we can and to be consistent. United Way has been one way to do this.” That commitment has remained as they moved from Pennsylvania to Texas and, in 2013, to Ohio, where they are now Philanthropist Society members.
Heath currently serves as the president and chief operating officer of Eaton’s Electrical Sector. As a company, Eaton is equally committed to philanthropy and holds community service as a core value. Employees are encouraged to pursue giving back in many ways. As the host of a top workplace campaign in Greater Cleveland, Eaton excels at engaging employees in big and small ways to support United Way and the nonprofit sector. Since 2020, Eaton in North America has contributed more than $18 million to the United Way network. Additionally, Eaton regularly organizes Days of Caring that drive and inspire engagement, and get work done.
“The best teams are well-coordinated with a common purpose and vision. It is an understanding of how things come together to create the biggest impact. The concept applies to corporate teams and philanthropic work,” believes Heath.
He feels a significant way United Way leads the community and creates sustainable change is by coordinating efforts and resources. In addition, the organization’s work to tackle the root causes of poverty resonates with him. Heath notes that while one can make individual efforts toward addressing challenges like homelessness and hunger, these actions can dissipate quickly. Coordinated, collective action designed to target root causes will have a more forceful impact.
Heath cites the Louise C. Stokes Scholar House as one example of United Way coordinating collective action to address the root causes of poverty. “My wife and I are both first-generation college graduates in our families. We have always believed in the power of education and what that can do for people.” He continues, “I am particularly excited about Scholar House because it is about offering affordable housing for mothers trying to better themselves through education. It shows the impact of what addressing the root causes [of poverty] can do for people.”
This approach to creating change together is something that Heath feels permeates throughout the Cleveland community. When asked what makes him proud to be a Clevelander, he references close-knit relationships among not just residents, but leaders in government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. “Programs like Leadership Cleveland help leaders and community members form networks that can have a lasting impact. They bring people together for a common good and to be of service to one another. It’s a unique characteristic of Cleveland compared to other cities, and it inspires action.”
For those looking to take action and prioritize philanthropy in their own life, Heath offers simple advice: Do not overthink it – Just start. Plugging into the system does not have to be a considerable effort, and there are people who want to support you in that journey. He recommends utilizing local resources to help individuals align their passions with opportunities to give back. Then, remember it is okay to start small with financial support and volunteerism.
When asked what excites him most about the future, Heath returns to his philanthropic journey. “As I’ve grown and matured, I’m looking forward to having more time. Our children are in college. My wife and I are looking forward to exploring new opportunities and engaging more,” Heath says, “We still talk about an experience we had helping at the Cleveland Book Bank. It was so impactful to be there and help. We are excited to contribute even more through volunteering.”
In addition to United Way, Heath and Kim support educational institutions, including their alma maters. Heath also serves on the board of directors for Playhouse Square.
This article originally appeared in Give for Good, which is published by United Way of Greater Cleveland for our friends and benefactors. For more information on our Workplace Campaigns, please visit our Workplace Campaign page or email Sandra Fletcher, Senior Associate Director, Corporate Philanthropy at sfletcher@unitedwaycleveland.org
