A $50,000 Lesson In Honesty

I love this. What a great story about a lesson in honesty, a story retold time and again in every major news media.

It happened in a hockey rink. The purpose of the event ironically was to raise money for charity so everyone who participated was already giving back in a small way. The idea? For $10, you got a chance to win $50,000 by making a near impossible shot from halfway down the rink. But Nick Smith did the impossible. He scored!

The only problem was…Nick Smith was Nick Smith. He was Nick’s twin brother, Nate. Nick was outside at the time.

Instead of keeping the money, their dad wanted to tell the truth. “We thought honesty was the best policy and we wanted to set a good example for our kids,” Pat Smith said.

Below is a story from NBC.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Cincinnati Reds Rookie Success League Taught Skills For Baseball…And Life

“Baseball is such a metaphor with life. There is so much humility built into the game. We knew with the right volunteers and leadership, the League could bring that message home.”

            ~ Charley Frank, Cincinnati Reds Community Fund executive director

 

What a wonderful gift the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund has given local children in urban neighborhoods. Each summer for the past nine years, Schmidt Fields has been filled with laughter and hi-fives. Kids, many of whom had never picked up a baseball before, are creating memories, learning the fundamentals of America’s favorite pastime, and being prepared for an enriched life in a character-based curriculum.

The Cincinnati Reds Rookie Success League is a free summer coed camp. At Schmidt Field – two days a week there are more than 170 kids from YMCA of Greater Cincinnati afterschool programs and some from the Cincinnati Boys and Girls Clubs; and two days a week there are children from the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. There are also camps in Fairfield, Mason, and Louisville. Collectively, more than 1,500 children participated this year.

 “At the YMCA we know participating in sports is a great way for teaching kids that being active is a lot of fun, and more than that, sports are also a great environment to build their confidence and teach them skills that will help them grow into positive, contributing adults later in life,” said Chuck Barlage, executive director of the Williams YMCA who coordinated the YMCA participation. “We are so appreciative to the Cincinnati Reds for stepping forward to provide these learning experiences for our kids.”

According to the Reds, minus interns and a handful of staff, the vast majority of the coaches are volunteers who care. Some of the Cincinnati Reds players also stopped by.

“The league is intended to teach the game in a very safe, fun and non-threatening environment,” said Charley Frank, executive director of the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund. “However, we want the kids to leave with familiarity with the “Six Stars of Success” that we teach each day – Cooperation; Integrity; Respect; Education; Determination and Spirit.”

 

About the Reds Community Fund:

Since its inception in 2001, the Reds Community Fund has used baseball as a vehicle to reach out to kids. As the nonprofit arm of baseball’s first professional team, the Community Fund strives to create programming that connects underserved children with baseball, while creating fundraising programs that connect baseball with the community. Whether it’s renovating baseball fields, providing opportunities to kids with disabilities, underwriting expenses for inner-city teams or hosting its “Reds Rookie Success League,” the Reds Community Fund is dedicated to improving the lives of youth through baseball. On the web at: www.redsyouthbaseball.org

Love At All Ages

There’s not a whole lot of introduction needed for these wonderful video clips. I think we probably all have some of that hopeless romantic in us. One story is of the pure sweetness of children, the other is of an older couple who proves we’re never too old to fall in love. And also prove that Match.com really does work sometimes.

A Young Man’s Legacy Is Creating Lifelong Summer Memories For Kids

Working with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, I am so fortunate to be continually inspired by the actions of those with whom I work and get to know. Lois Fischer is the office manager of the Clippard Family YMCA. She is someone with a huge heart and a passion for kids.

You can imagine the devastation for her – and her family – about five years ago when they tragically lost Andrew far too soon. Still in high school, Andrew loved life. He loved to learn and to share, to explore and to experience. All of those things he did through camp…

And so, through camp, Lois and her family want to carry on Andrew’s legacy. They created Andrew’s Kids Scholarship Fund to give kids in their area whose families otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it, those life changing moments at YMCA Camp Ernst. This year with the help of the YMCA, family and friends, they raised enough to provide 14 children with scholarships. I was there on the night that Lois handed on the certificates.

Below is a group photo (of those who could be there) and a video I created about it.

Children Learn How To Live A Happy Life

An absolutely beautiful video that is a must watch. In Japan, the goal of this grade 4 class is to learn how to live a happy life and be a caring person.  We can learn a lot from watching their lesson.

Next Page »