Fundraising Focus
Meet the Cohees: Pelotonia’s Super Fundraising Couple

By Steve Wartenberg|July 15, 2016

Steve Cohee knows exactly why he fell in love with and proposed to Teri Wheeler.
“It’s the size of her heart,” Steve said.
The local restaurateur has also learned what to do when Teri (now Teri Cohee) sets her heart on something, especially when it involved philanthropy and helping others.
“When she sets her mind to do something, we do it,” Steve said with a shrug and a smile.
What the Cohees have set their hearts, minds and Steve’s restaurants on doing is raising money for Pelotonia. The combination of Teri’s big ideas and Steve’s entrepreneurial skills have resulted in a fundraising total of $169,658 since 2012, with a helping hand from Mast Global, the sourcing and production arm of L Brands. That monstrous total has earned Teri a few places in the top ten lists over the years too. In 2013 AND 2014 she was Pelotonia’s highest-fundraising Virtual Rider and in 2015 she was the 8th highest-fundraising Rider. That’s A LOT to be proud of.
“The reward for me is the James,” said Teri, a Rider on the Mast Peloton, which is part of the L Brands Super Peloton. “Every time I hear about the great research they’re doing, or bringing in a top doctor with the help of Pelotonia funds, that’s my reward. There’s a sense of pride in the James and what they’re doing.”
The Cohee’s 2016 fundraising efforts will be even more heartfelt and personal.
Teri’s father, Lee Wheeler, was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer on April 28. He passed away on May 16.
“Pelotonia is even more of a mission for our family, our entire family, this year,” Teri said. She and Steve have two children: Jadyn, 11, and Brayden, 8. Steve has a son, Michael, 31.
How do the Cohees raise so much money for cancer research?
It starts with Steve’s restaurants. He’s owns three Adobe Gila’s (one in the Easton Town Center and two in the Chicago area); and recently opened Loco Cantina in Las Vegas. He sold the Ugly Tuna Saloona near the Ohio State campus, but owner John Votino (Steve’s business partner) remains committed to the Pelotonia fundraising efforts.
“We have a lot of music and bands at the restaurants, but we never charge a cover charge, that’s our philosophy,” Steve said. He changed the policy for Pelotonia and, on weekends leading up to, during and right after our ride, there’s a $1 cover charge.
“Once we explain to people where the money’s going, they’re happy to pay the cover,” Steve said, adding some people chip in a few extra bucks.
A portion of the price of drink specials also goes into their fundraising pot. Brett Chadwick, the general manager at the Adobe Gila’s in Easton has become the point man for the Pelotonia fundraising at all the restaurants.
L Brands matches, dollar-for-dollar, every dollar that every member of their Super Peloton raises for Pelotonia. This doubles what the Cohees raise every year.
“Philanthropy is ingrained in all of us at L Brands and it starts with Mr. Wexner,” Teri said of the philanthropic founder/CEO of the company, and one of the Pelotonia’s strongest supporters.
Teri also plays a key role in Mast Global’s fundraising efforts. The Peloton raised $1.1 million in 2015, and has a total of more than 500 Riders, Virtual Riders and Volunteers this year. Teri is in charge of the Pelotonia-themed accessories the team uses in their fundraising efforts.
Teri and Steve are just getting started and already have a few big – and secret – Pelotonia fundraising ideas they plan to launch in 2017.
“She’s the big dreamer who comes up with these great fundraising ideas,” Steve said.
“And he’s the realist who gets them done,” Teri said.
Together, they make an unstoppable fundraising super team.
100% of participant-raised funds go to innovative cancer research.

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