CINCINNATI — Kim Knoppe is the owner of Autumnwood Homes. Since 1987, he has acquired and built hundreds of homes across the state. And now he’s working on a project in his hometown in the westside of Cincinnati. 

“I just saw lots of empty lots and I saw a lot of homes that were run down,” said Knoppe. “The neighborhood had gone down since the 50s and 60s when I lived down here.”

In an attempt to help revitalize the area, Knoppe recently bought 150 lots, five of which are currently under construction in Cincinnati. These new homes, he believes, will help rebuild the community. 

“The garage door is a two-car tandem,” he said. “It has a three-story open foyer, three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath, and it has all the amenities.”

Kim Knoppe recently donated $100,000 to Elder High School. It will go toward a new entrepreneurship class. It’s in addition to a $1 million donation Knoppe made to expand the Elder Panther Fitness Center.

It’s all made possible through his foundation. Knoppe is a 1969 Elder grad. Elder Principal and CEO Kurt Ruffing says this means a lot to the school.

“Thanks to Kim and his lovely wife Marian, who was a principal at Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, they were not only able to provide the finances, but the guidance to start such a course,” said Ruffing. 

Not only does Knoppe give back to his alma mater, but to Hope Hollow as well. Hope Hollow is a nonprofit organization that supports cancer patients and their families with essentials like meals and transportation. Over the years, he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.

As Knoppe continues to build and revitalize his community, he keeps one goal front and center — to give back to the community that gave him so much. And with his trust, he plans to make that happen even after he dies.

“Part of my overall plan, in addition to revitalizing the entire west end and I have a good foot forward on that, is to continue to give more to charity,” he said.