The 8th Annual Red & Black Blast
The 8th Annual Red & Black Blast Recap
We sincerely appreciate your generous support of the 8th Annual Red & Black Blast. Your presence and financial support are instrumental in enriching the lives of individuals in the UC IDD Education Center programs—CEES, TAP, IMPACT, and RAAC. These funds provide vital opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to discover their strengths, chase their dreams, and embrace their unique purpose. Your dedication to these programs and the people they serve is truly inspiring.
The Red & Black Blast was sponsored by RESLV, The Berninger Family, Elizabeth and Brian Burress, Deloitte, Susan and Jeffrey Harris, Shireen and Homi Kapadia, The Oyler Family, The Matta Foundation, Alexander and Anna Polenok, Procter & Gamble, UC's College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and Information Technology and many other local corporations, families and individuals.
We were also thrilled to honor Ted Karras, NFL Center for the Cincinnati Bengals and founder of The Cincy Hat Foundation, with the Champion for Inclusion award. Ted and The Cincy Hat are creating positive change in our community providing people with IDD opportunities for education, employment and housing.
Thank you again for your support! Together, we are creating a world filled with possibility, hope, and endless potential.
We hope to see you at the next Red & Black Blast - stay tuned for the 2026 date!!
2025 Sponsors
Thank you to our generous sponsors who make the Red & Black Blast an unforgettable celebration! Your support helps us create impactful experiences and further our mission. Please take a moment to explore our sponsors and learn more about the incredible organizations and individuals who contribute to this event's success.
Platinum Sponsor
Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor for their dedication and support!
Directions
- From I-75, take the Hopple Street exit (exit 3).
- If exiting southbound, at the exit turn left onto Hopple Street and go up the hill.
- If exiting northbound, at the exit turn right onto Hopple Street and go up the hill.
- Hopple Street becomes Martin Luther King.
- Follow Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Drive beyond the Clifton Avenue intersection, where the university begins.
- When you approach the high rise blue glass building, your next right is Jefferson Ave. at the light.
- Turn right on Jefferson. At the second light turn right onto Corry Blvd. into campus.
- Take Corry Blvd. which leads directly into the underground CCM Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Varsity Village Dr. To Varsity Village Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Backstage Drive to Valet.
- From I-71 southbound, take the Taft Road exit (exit 3).
- The exit places you on Taft Road, a one-way street heading west.
- Follow Taft Road to the 5th traffic light and turn right onto Jefferson/Vine Avenue.
- Turn right at this intersection, and immediately turn left into Corry Blvd., into campus.
- Take Corry Blvd. which leads directly into the underground CCM Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Varsity Village Dr. To Varsity Village Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Backstage Drive to Valet.
- Take I-71 north until it merges with I-75 just south of Florence, KY.
- Stay on I-75 after you cross the Ohio River.
- Take the Hopple Street exit (exit 3).
- If exiting northbound, at the exit turn right onto Hopple Street and go up the hill.
- Hopple Street becomes Martin Luther King.
- Follow Martin Luther King Jr. Drive beyond the Clifton Avenue intersection, where the university begins.
- When you approach the high rise blue glass building, your next right is Jefferson Ave. at the light.
- Turn right on Jefferson. At the second light turn right onto Corry Blvd. into campus.
- Take Corry Blvd. which leads directly into the underground CCM Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Varsity Village Dr. To Varsity Village Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Backstage Drive to Valet.
- Take I-74 east to I-75 south.
- At the exit turn left onto Hopple Street and go up the hill.
- Hopple Street becomes Martin Luther King.
- Follow Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Drive beyond the Clifton Avenue intersection, where the university begins.
- When you approach the high rise blue glass building, your next right is Jefferson Ave. at the light.
- Turn right on Jefferson. At the second light turn right onto Corry Blvd. into campus.
- Take Corry Blvd. which leads directly into the underground CCM Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Varsity Village Dr. To Varsity Village Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Backstage Drive to Valet.
- From US 50 westbound, turn right on Taft Road.
- Taft is a one-way street heading west.
- Follow Taft Road to Jefferson/Vine Avenue.
- Turn right at this intersection, and immediately turn left into Corry Blvd., into campus.
- Take Corry Blvd. which leads directly into the underground CCM Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Varsity Village Dr. To Varsity Village Garage.
- OR Turn Right onto Backstage Drive to Valet.
Parking
- Turn into campus at Corry Blvd. and follow Corry to the 3rd stop sign.
- Continue straight onto CCM Blvd. And then turn right onto backstage drive
- Turn into campus at Corry Blvd. and follow Corry to the 3rd stop sign.
- At the 3rd stop sign look to your right and you will see a grey slate building with a clock tower: this is the location of the Red & Black Blast in Tangeman University Center (TUC) Great Hall.
- At the 3rd stop sign bear slightly to the left and enter the underground CCM Parking Garage (purple arrow to the left)
- Try to park in the far right hand corner marked Electronic Media on any level and enter the building through those doors only, and take that hallway to the elevator.
- Remember what parking level and what section you are parking. You will need to recall this upon exit and for the elevator.
- Take the elevator to the 4th floor.
- Step out of the elevator and make a U-turn to the left. Take the glass doors and exit outside.
- Once outside take the walkway over to the grey slate building, Tangeman University Center (TUC).
- Once you are in TUC, follow the signage all the way
- through the building, to the elevator, next to the
- bookstore. Take the elevator to level 4 to Great Hall.
- Turn into campus at Corry Boulevard and follow Corry to the 3rd stop sign.
- At the 3rd stop sign look to your right and you will see a grey slate building with a clock tower: this is the location of the Red & Black Blast in the TUC - Great Hall.
- Turn right onto Varsity Village Dr. And then turn right into Varsity Village Garage (purple arrow on the right).
- Walk out the driving entrance of the garage. Then walk to the left onto the stadium concourse. Tangeman University Center will be on your left.
- Enter building and turn to the left and take the elevator to the 4th Floor. Follow signs to the Great Hall.
The 8th Annual Red & Black Blast will celebrate the life-changing IDD Education Center programs; Collaboration for Employment and Education Synergy (CEES), Transition and Access Pathways (TAP), IMPACT Innovation (IMPACT) and our newest program, Regional Autism Advisory Council (RAAC). These programs are instrumental in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) gain independence, uncover their passions, and thrive in a supportive and inclusive community. Guests will enjoy inspirational stories, dinner, cocktails, silent auction and music by ETrayn.
In addition, we are thrilled to honor Ted Karras, NFL Center for the Cincinnati Bengals and founder of The Cincy Hat Foundation, with the Champion for Inclusion Award. Ted advocates for equal access to education, employment and housing for people with disabilities. In 2022, Ted launched The Cincy Hat brand as a fundraiser for the Village of Merici in Indianapolis, an independent living and services provider for adults with IDD. Building on this success, Ted created the Scholarship Series Hat in 2024 to fund scholarships for the IDD Education Center program, TAP, an inclusive college education for students with IDD.
Thank you for partnering with us! Our programs depend on philanthropic contributions to breakdown barriers to provide opportunities for employment, social connections, and life-long learning.
When: Thursday February 27, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Where: Tangeman University Center - Great Hall