YWCA leader earns NFL honor, Super Bowl trip

CINCINNATI — The Super Bowl carried special meaning this year for an Ohio native whose work off the field earned national recognition.

What You Need To Know

Rickell Howard Smith, CEO of YWCA Greater Cincinnati, has been named the “2025 Inspire Change Changemaker” by the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL Foundation

The recognition comes with a $10,000 donation to support domestic violence survivor services at YWCA Greater Cincinnati

As part of the recognition, Smith was also surprised with tickets to Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco

Rickell Howard Smith, CEO of YWCA Greater Cincinnati, has been named the “2025 Inspire Change Changemaker” by the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL Foundation. The honor is part of the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative, which highlights leaders working to create lasting, positive change in their communities.

“It is such an honor to be honored by my hometown, my Bengals,” Smith said.

The recognition comes with a $10,000 donation from the Bengals organization and the NFL Foundation to support domestic violence survivor services at YWCA Greater Cincinnati.

Smith said the funding will go directly toward operations, including the organization’s domestic violence shelter that opened last year. It’s an achievement Smith called one of the highlights of her tenure.

“Because it doubled our capacity to be able to serve survivors here in Hamilton County, Ohio,” she said.

As part of the recognition, Smith was also surprised with tickets to Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco. While the Bengals will not be playing, Smith said she planned to proudly represent her hometown team on football’s biggest stage.

“We are always going to represent the Bengals no matter where we are,” she said.

Smith said the true victory is the national spotlight that the honor brings to YWCA’s mission to support survivors of domestic violence and advocate for long-term solutions.

“We help people who are in crisis. We also advocate for an end to violence against women and girls,” Smith said. “So we’re trying to attack the problem from all angles.”