How One Lifelong Cincy Couple Invests in Our Cultural Future

For Kelly Wittich and Bill Montague, Cincinnati isn’t just where they live — it’s home, in the deepest sense of the word. The couple, who have spent almost their entire lives in the Queen City, recently made the decision to include ArtsWave in their estate plans.

“We wanted our legacy to support organizations that truly enhance the quality of life in Greater Cincinnati,” they explained. “ArtsWave stood out because of its deep impact across the entire community.”

Bill vividly recalls a summer evening in 1978 at a Cincinnati Pops concert in Ault Park. “I was a college kid sitting on the lawn with friends when word started spreading through the crowd that Pete Rose’s record 44-game hitting streak had ended,” Bill remembers. “Even during this cultural event, our city’s passion for both arts and sports was on full display.”

The couple’s planned gift to ArtsWave reflects their belief that a vibrant arts community is essential to Cincinnati’s economy, identity and future. They appreciate how ArtsWave supports dozens of organizations rather than just a single institution.

“We’ve seen firsthand how the arts bring people together across neighborhoods and backgrounds,” Kelly notes. “That kind of community-building is worth investing in for future generations.”

Kelly and Bill hope to inspire others to consider how their own legacy might support Cincinnati’s cultural landscape.

“Cincinnati has given us so much,” says Bill. “Supporting ArtsWave is our way of ensuring others can experience the same rich cultural life we’ve enjoyed here our entire lives.” Kelly and Bill encourage everyone to look at their plan, decide what is important for family and the community, and “just do it!”

To learn how you can join Kelly and Bill and make Cincy’s arts part of your legacy, contact Karen M. Ecker, JD, at karen.ecker@artswave.org or 513.632.0106.