Patrick Points

 

Vocation/Avocation: I work in the IT department of a large law firm in Cincinnati, but I’m a English professor at heart.

 

For fun: I golf with my dad every Saturday. I love cycling, though I have not ridden much this year as I’d like. I read as much as I can, especially anything by Jonathan Carroll, Cees Nooteboom, or Haruki Murakami. Over the past year I’ve become involved in an amazing book club that lets me live out my professorial fantasies.

 

Your favorite spot to relax in Ohio/Kentucky: Smith-Berry Winery in Henry County, Kentucky (the Berry half of that name refers to Wendell Berry’s daughter—Google Wendell Berry if you don’t know the name; you should).

 

During summer months, the winery hosts a bi-weekly concert and cookout featuring great food and great local bands playing pop, blues, country and bluegrass. The band sets up under a barn and the audience enjoys wine and music under the sky. It’s a joyous and rejuvenating occasion no matter the weather.

 

Latest inspiration: Ryan Korengel. Ryan is the 13-year old son of some friends who suffered a severe skull injury last September when he was hit by a tree branch during a windstorm which swept through the area as a remnant of Hurricane Ike. Ryan has undergone multiple surgeries, and has had most of his skull replaced. He was told he would probably never walk again. A year later, he just made his school’s golf team by shooting a 38 during team tryouts – one-handed. What he has overcome in the past year is more than most of us will ever face, much less overcome with a smile.

 

Best part about your involvement in SVP Cincinnati: My partners. They humble me with their generosity. Signing a check is easy. It takes really committed and generous people to give their time and experience to those in need.

 

They’re also a lot of fun. I’m sorry to say that I haven’t put in as much time as I’d like, but our new investees, Gorman Heritage Farm and Imago, have renewed my enthusiasm and I am eager to be a part of one or both projects.

 

Your perspective on SVP Cincinnati: One of the wonderful things about SVP is that it’s not committed to just one cause or group. Our goals and methods remain the same, but our interests and opportunities evolve. It’s a great way to keep the partnership emotionally and intellectually involved. I’ve heard others say it and I’ll echo the sentiment: we learn as much from the people we invest in as they do from us.