WASHINGTON—The Heritage Foundation announced that it has selected the Center for Christian Virtue as a recipient of the Heritage Innovation Prize. 

The Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) will receive a $100,000 award to support its Education Restoration Initiative, addressing Ohio’s academically broken and morally corrupt government-run education system. They’ll expand its Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) model, providing for a full-time, in-person Christian school Monday through Friday. CCV plans on leveraging Ohio's state voucher program to offer this moral and quality education to students at little to no cost, especially to those below the federal poverty line. Lastly, CCV intends to launch dozens of schools across Ohio and export this model to every state to serve and save children.      

Heritage President Dr. Kevin Roberts released a statement upon announcement of the award:   

"Countless organizations and families are on the front lines fighting for our kids, and we need them now more than ever to reject the Left's radical indoctrination agenda. So much of our nation's societal decay stems from our education system, and institutions like CCV are spearheading the effort to save our children and restore morality and sanity in our schools. It's a privilege to support and celebrate their righteous efforts, which will undoubtedly restore quality and sound curriculum for future generations in Ohio and our great nation." 

Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue, also released a statement:   

"Our nation is facing an education crisis. Too many agenda driven bureaucrats are pushing political ideologies in the classroom, while fundamentally failing the next generation academically. Center for Christian Virtue’s Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) has proven that when churches, Christian schools, and community leaders come together, we can create new and better opportunities for families by fighting for school choice, parental rights, and religious freedom. Thanks to the Heritage Foundation’s leadership and support, we can and will build new institutions to transform culture and change lives.” 

This is the fourth round of Heritage Innovation Prizes to be awarded. In 2023, winners of the prize included Communio, the National Association of Scholars, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, Speech First, and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. These awards are sponsored by The Heritage Foundation’s robust endowment for innovative conservative projects.  

For more information on the most recent Innovation Prize awards, read here, or for information on the inaugural awards, read here. For more information about the prize itself, read here.