Diamond Hill Capital Management in Partnership with Johnson Investment Counsel Brings Financial Literacy Program for High School Girls to Columbus, Ohio

COLUMBUS, OHIO, September 15, 2020 – Diamond Hill Capital Management in partnership with Johnson Investment Counsel today announced their sponsorship of the nonprofit organization Rock The Street, Wall Street (RTSWS). This sponsorship will bring RTSWS’s financial and investment literacy program for high school girls to The Metro Early College High School in Columbus, Ohio, and is the first time RTSWS will be available in Columbus.

RTSWS is a 501(c)(3) organization that aims to spark interest in finance among high school girls. Many girls opt-out of math at an early age and fail to choose a math-oriented career because they lack role models in the real world. RTSWS provides programming that connects girls with female finance professionals who teach investing and budgeting in a classroom-based setting and provide mentoring opportunities.

“It’s imperative to improve girls’ financial literacy before they reach college,” said Maura Cunningham, founder and CEO of RTSWS. “Creating a more robust pipeline of women entering finance must start as early as possible and with relevancy. Many girls adjust their college searches and their career direction after completing our program. And all of them leave the experience with greater fiscal confidence that will benefit them throughout their lives.”

Heather Brilliant, CEO of Diamond Hill, will volunteer to teach part of the program. “I am excited to work with an organization that not only prepares young women for financial independence but also introduces new career opportunities. I believe a diverse workforce improves outcomes, and I look forward to working with the students and sharing my passion for the investment industry.”

Michelle Stroh, Senior Portfolio Manager and Principal at Johnson Investment Counsel led the internal effort to bring RTSWS to Columbus. “I am looking forward to sharing the collective knowledge and experience of our firm with the young women of Metro High School. Together with Diamond Hill, we are honored to be paving the way in Columbus for the Rock The Street, Wall Street program and offering earlier access to financial literacy for young women in our community.”

More than 2,325 girls have gone through the RTSWS program since its founding in 2013. RTSWS students average a 92% increase in their understanding of financial literacy between the start and end of the program. Graduates of the program are 4.8 times more likely to pursue degrees in finance, economics, or related fields than the national average for undergraduate females.

About Rock The Street, Wall Street

Rock The Street, Wall Street is a financial and investment literacy program designed to spark the interest of a diverse population of high school girls into careers of finance. The program helps girls understand the real-world application of the math they learn in class, teaching them about saving, investments, budgeting, stocks and capital markets, and their role in maintaining the welfare of their families, communities, and the economy. RTSWS programs are funded by sponsors; volunteers are female financial professionals who go into local high schools to teach the M in STEM and serve as real-life role models and mentors for girls. RTSWS programs provide a strong focus on the barriers that need to be removed and the types of interventions that “lift” students’ interest, commitment, and ability to persist in the M of the STEM fields. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., RTSWS programs are in more than 30 high schools across 19 U.S. cities in the 2020-2021 academic year: Atlanta, Ann Arbor, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Denver, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York City, Omaha, Philadelphia, Portland, Raleigh, Silicon Valley, San Diego, and St. Louis. RTSWS is a 501(c)(3) organization.

About Diamond Hill Capital Management

Based in Columbus, Ohio, Diamond Hill is an independent active asset manager with significant employee ownership and $22.7 billion in assets under management as of August 31, 2020. Investment strategies include long-only U.S. and international equity, alternative long-short equity and fixed income. Diamond Hill invests on behalf of institutions and individuals by providing strategies that deliver lasting value through a shared commitment to its intrinsic value investment philosophy, long-term perspective, disciplined approach and alignment with client interests.

About Johnson Investment Counsel

Johnson Investment Counsel serves clients in 48 states and manages more than $12.9 billion in assets. Through Johnson Wealth Management, Johnson Family Office Services, Johnson Trust Company, and Johnson Asset Management, the firm serves individuals, corporations, retirement plans, foundations, and endowments. Johnson Investment Counsel is a 100 percent employee-owned company with 42 shareholders among 141 employees. Its professionals are dedicated to developing genuine relationships with clients and delivering exceptional service. Johnson Investment Counsel is committed to remaining an independent firm acting in the best interests of clients and employees.

Johnson Investment Counsel has six offices across Ohio and Michigan with two in Cincinnati, and one in each city Cleveland/Akron, Columbus, Dayton, and Metro Detroit. For more information on locations and services, visit https://www.johnsoninv.com