August 25, 2025 / SonLight Power solar project in Cincinnati
The summer’s hottest days didn’t stop SonLight Power from delivering a big impact close to home.
It was hot enough to fry eggs on pavement. Or melt the soles off shoes on a rooftop…more on that later.
SonLight Power and a close-knit team of volunteers endured some serious July heat on the roof of an area school to install our latest solar project in Cincinnati.
Above: The 49 panels of a new 28-kilowatt solar array shine under the summer sun at Frederick Douglass Elementary School in Walnut Hills.
Thanks to those days under the summer sun, students at Frederick Douglass Elementary School (FDES) in the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati started the new school year with something much more than books and binders.
This year, the curriculum will feature STEM lessons using energy production data from the new solar array that shines brightly on the school’s roof.
Community Makeover in Walnut Hills
From July 21–24, Walnut Hills became a hub of activity, energy, and possibility as SonLight Power and our partners near and far came together to reimagine education and transform learning for years to come. 
Above: Upper left: Volunteer Mallory Geresy of the Cincinnati Zoo (middle) drills as Clay Luna (black shirt) and Ken Mason (blue shirt) observe; Upper right: Volunteer Mark Rasmussen of CVE North America directs the lift with solar panels; Lower left: Volunteers Megan O’Keefe and Mallory Geresy carry a panel to its place on the FDES roof; Lower right: Clay Luna (beige hat) guides a panel into place on the FDES roof with the help of volunteers Dean Violetta (left), Chris Record (lower left), and Tony James (right) from the Cincinnati Zoo.
As part of our fifth Community Makeover with the Reds Community Fund, SonLight Power joined forces again with the Cincinnati Zoo to install a new 28-kilowatt solar array on the FDES roof.
The 49 solar panels used in the project were donated as part of the Zoo’s Community Solar Resilience Program.
This clean, renewable energy source will save FDES and Cincinnati Public Schools some $148,000 in electricity costs over the next 25 years.
It will also elevate STEM education for students and teachers at the school. The shiny new array visible on the sloped roof will certainly spark curiosity in and out of the classroom. 
Above: The solar project at FDES was a big part of this year’s Community Makeover in Walnut Hills, stewarded by the Reds Community Fund (left). SonLight Power partnered again with our friends at the Zoo (right) to install our latest and largest project together in Cincinnati.
In addition to the solar energy system, nearly 500 volunteers from some of Cincinnati’s biggest brands (think P&G, GE Aerospace, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, to name a few) converged upon Walnut Hills to tackle a massive neighborhood-wide makeover on July 24th.
One day earlier, a videographer from Cincinnati’s FOX19 showed up at FDES to record footage in advance of the big community service day. His timing couldn’t have been better.
This is the piece that aired during the FOX19 nightly newscast on July 23rd, featuring the SonLight Power solar installation:
The FDES grounds alone saw these upgrades: fresh landscaping, a new playground, STEM lab transformations (complemented by the new solar power system), and beautification projects inside and out.
The result? A school that doesn’t just look refreshed, it amplifies education, with new tools and opportunities to inspire young minds.
Above: Spruced up landscaping at FDES's front entrance (left), fun garden art inside the school (center) and outside (right) were also part of this year’s Community Makeover
Powering Education in More Ways Than One
It’s easy to see how solar power saves money on electricity costs. But no matter where SonLight Power goes, the impact you generate reverberates beyond utility bills, reaching right into the heart of the community.
And this project at Frederick Douglass Elementary is no different. Now, teachers can integrate the solar power system into science, technology, engineering, and math lessons, elevating education to new levels.
Students will not only learn about renewable energy but experience a sustainable energy system right above their heads as they grasp how the power of the sun can be harnessed to light classrooms, run computers, and charge devices.
“This is about giving kids hands-on experience with technology that will shape their future,” says SonLight Power executive director Kevin Sasson. “It’s something they can learn from every day."
Above: GE Aerospace added new learning resources to the STEM lab at FDES to complement the solar energy system installed by SonLight Power
Bart Sauer: The Right Person at the Right Time
When the opportunity to participate in the 2025 Community Makeover emerged, the SonLight Power team knew the solar project at FDES would be transformative.
But there was a major challenge: while the project had the Zoo’s donation of panels and volunteer support, it still lacked funding to cover essential equipment and installation costs. If the funding gap couldn’t be filled, the solar project just wouldn’t pencil.
That’s when longtime SonLight Power friend and former board member, Bart Sauer, stepped in.
Above: Bart Sauer (left) and Kevin Sasson (right) with solar array on FDES roof in background
Bart has supported SonLight Power in a variety of roles over the years: a volunteer on mission trips, a board leader, a faithful donor, an ambassador for the mission among his networks.
Beyond SonLight Power, Bart is an engineer and senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Petroleum and Chemical Industry Committee (PCIC). During his time with IEEE, Bart became familiar with a special grant he knew would be great for SonLight Power: the PCIC Eugene J. Fagan Fund.
But until March 2025, neither SonLight Power nor the Fagan Fund were aware of each other.
“This spring, I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to finally connect SonLight Power with this opportunity,” Bart explains. “The Frederick Douglass project just seemed like the right fit combining education and engineering while making a real impact in the community.”
Bart’s timing was impeccable. And the result was nothing short of amazing: the full funding needed for the project came through just in time to make the project possible.
Above: Part of the SonLight Power installation team at FDES pause for a photo with solar array on the roof in the background (left to right: Mark Striker, Chase Bodkin, Mallory Geresy, Clay Luna, Mark Rasmussen, Ken Mason, Dean Violetta, Megan O’Keefe, Kevin Sasson)
Power of Partnership
Like so many SonLight Power projects, the success at FDES was made possible by the power of partnership.
Despite rooftop labor in stifling mid-90-degree heat and humidity, SonLight Power partners rallied together with materials, at-cost services, in-kind donations, and amazing teamwork:
- The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden continues to be SonLight Power’s go-to ally in getting solar projects implemented locally. From project planning to permitting guidance to connections with local expertise to equipment storage, the Zoo walks the talk when it comes to sustainability and care for our Cincinnati neighbors. As mentioned, the Zoo donated the panels for this project. And thanks to the Zoo’s dedicated volunteers, those panels were installed with great care. In fact, one of our Zoo teammates, Chris Record, gave his sole to the project. Literally. See photo below.
- B&J Electrical provided critical permitting and electrical expertise. Anyone who has worked on large commercial projects knows how tricky the permitting process (electrical, structural, building, etc.) can be. B&J came through again, like they did at our Horses on the Hill solar project last year.
- Fronius USA not only supplied the system’s inverters at-cost, but their rep, Natina Carlton, also drove four hours one way to support our installation efforts for a second time. That’s a four-hour trip. One way. Without stops. Talk about customer care!
- Ken Mason, a faithful SonLight Power volunteer based in Greater Cincinnati, drove his RV to the FDES parking lot each day to ensure volunteers could beat the heat with access to air conditioning and cold beverages in the RV. He received some MVV (Most Valuable Volunteer) nominations for his thoughtfulness.
Above: (Left to right) Teammate Chris Record from the Cincinnati Zoo gave his very sole to the project in the intense heat; Natina Carlton from Fronius lends a helping hand; Randell from B&J Electrical arrives onsite to assist
Together, these contributions created more than a solar project – they built a foundation for long-term savings and hands-on learning for the school and community.
"The solar panels on Frederick Douglass Elementary’s roof are more than just panels,” Kevin explains. “They’re a symbol to students that they matter, that innovation can start right here at home, and that their learning can be powered by both curiosity and the sun."
In September, Bart will present at the IEEE PCIC conference in Dallas, Texas about the impact the Eugene Fagan Fund is making on STEM education and the wider community in Walnut Hills.
Over 1,500 engineers from across the country will hear what’s possible when technical expertise and community vision — plus Son/sun power — work hand in hand.
“This ministry is unique,” Bart says. “We can bring light to a school like Frederick Douglass Elementary, and in doing so, bring the light of the gospel, too. Even in a secular setting, God makes a way.”
Inspired by the impact SonLight Power can have on a school like Frederick Douglass Elementary? Find out how your organization can partner with SonLight Power on purpose-driven solar projects. Connect with us at [email protected] or visit SonLightPower.org
