Lisa Desatnik

I have been fortunate to have made a career out of doing what I love, which is using my communication skills to forge relationships and support of causes that are evoking positive change. I also enjoy working with civic-minded companies and organizations. I’ve earned numerous awards along the way, but my greatest satisfaction comes from knowing my work has helped touch lives in very meaningful ways. For that, I have to thank the dedicated staff and volunteers of so many charitable organizations, events, and civic minded businesses who work day in and day out to fulfill needs. These are the generous people with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working beside. I’ve created and implemented many successful cause-related campaigns and programs such as the award winning Lighthouse Vision Awards and the Collecting for Kids school supply drive. Included among my other past experience is: creating a PR campaign to change the image of newly developed Betts Longworth Historic District, for 8 years coordinating publicity and creative elements of the Inclusion Leadership Awards Event, and creating a PR campaign to help launch the Hidden Treasures CD (tribute to King Records) that resulted in a packed release party. I’ve also worked on numerous other events. Among them - the Appalachian Festival, the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati’s Buddy Walk, the YMCA Salute to Black Achievers, YMCA Character Awards, Greater Cincinnati Alzeimer’s Association Memory Walk, Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Association’s Voices of Giving Awards and more. Currently I help raise awareness about the positive contributions of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, and also continue working with other organizations. My experience includes media relations, planning, volunteer management, copywriting, social networking, events, and coordination of marketing materials. Among the other organizations with whom I have or am currently working are: Inclusion Network, iSPACE,FreeStore/FoodBank, Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Cincinnati Arts & Technology Center, Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation, Lighthouse Youth Services, Accountability and Credibility Together, CRI mental health agency, and more. I’m a past Board member of Children’s International Summer Villages and past member of the leadership team for the local chapter of Public Relations Society of America; and get involved with other volunteer opportunities. An animal lover sharing my home with three birds, I have been studying positive behavior management for many years and enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with others. My pet interest has led me to become a pet columnist for Hyde Park Living.

Introducing Intern, Indian Hill High School Senior Andrea Francisco

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I am so eager to introduce you to my new intern Andrea Francisco. Andrea is a student at Indian Hill High School in Cincinnati near me and she is such a positive person and it will be so nice having her a part of this project. Andrea will be writing posts, reaching out to Cincinnati nonprofits and even promoting Good Things in her school.

 

Below is her letter of introduction.

Indian Hill High School student Andrea FranciscoHello everybody, I hope your day is going well.  My name is Andrea Francisco and I am a senior at Indian Hill High School. This year I am lucky to intern with the lovely Lisa Desatnik, and am so excited to add my perspective as a high school student to this uplifting blog site, Good Things Going Around. When I was first introduced to this internship, I was instantly drawn into the positive atmosphere of Lisa and her website. I believe that we need more positive news in today’s world, and I hope that my future posts may brighten your day.

I am the youngest of four. Since my other siblings and I all have names that start with the letter A: Allison, Abby, Adam, and Andrea, we are sometimes jokingly called the A-Team. They are all moved away or at college now, so I am the lone baby bird in the nest right now. However, soon I will have to learn how to use my wings and fly off to college.

One of my passions is playing sports; I’ve competed in cross country, swimming, and track for the school teams since seventh grade. There are so many memories from sports I collect, one of my favorite being running through a muddy creek in the annual cross country race at Mason. Another one of my cherished memories is sprinting in the 400 and 800 meter relays and competing in the 100 and 200 meter races. Everyone at track meets, even people from other schools, stop and stare at Coach Savage when she yells “Moooooooove!” from the stands as Braves runners cross the finish line. I love the rush of endorphins and the accomplished feeling I get from from exercising. Even though running and swimming for three seasons is hard work and the weather isn’t always perfect, it is a great outlet to meet new people and bond with others, along with taking away from the stresses of daily school life.

Another part of my life is the fellowship at youth group in Sycamore Presbyterian Church, which I have also been a part of since seventh grade. Our youth group has grown pretty big in the past few years, which it makes it even more fun. I’m so grateful for this church in my life and don’t know where I would be without the positive experiences I’ve felt in mission trips to Jackson, Kentucky, Browning, Montana, and San Juan Ixcoy, Guatemala. I hope to have similar experiences later in life and get involved in more mission trips like these in college so I can grow closer to God and the world outside my wealthy suburban bubble.

You’ve reached the end of the page, thanks for reading! I forgot to mention that I love writing, if anyone was wondering. I feel like I could write for hours sometimes. Anyway, thanks for this opportunity Lisa, and I am excited to share more thoughts with the readers of Good Things Going Around. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!

Andrea

Nonprofit ‘Girls On The Run Of Cincinnati’ Builds Strengths

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Cincinnati nonprofit - Girls on the Run of CincinnatiJust think about it as Can University – a place where girls learn that they CAN. No limits. No constraints. Only opportunities to be remarkable.

And for 10 years, more than 10,000 local girls have grown physically; in confidence; character values; teambuilding and life skills through this great learning think tank.

Also known as Girls on the Run of Cincinnati, it is part of an international non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of young girls in grades 3 to 8. Its 12-week programs (one in the fall and one in the spring) combine exercise with positive education and encouraging role models. Meeting at various locations twice a week, each 75 minute lesson incorporates running and walking games, as well as teaching participants about healthy eating, leadership, setting Girls on the Run of Cincinnati nonprofitgoals, cooperation and other age-appropriate topics. The culmination has the girls participating for their very own 5K run/walk.

Megan Folkerth is making a difference.

This fall will be the 11th race in which she has volunteered for the organization. Since 2009 she has served on the Race Committee, coordinated the running buddies and been one (an adult matched with one of the girls to run together in the 5K), and a SoleMate fundraiser.

A long distance runner herself having completed 15 marathons, five ultra marathons, various other races and in training now for a 100 mile trail race, Megan understands the value in reaching within yourself. “It is a huge sense of accomplishment when you push yourself to attaining a new goal,” she told me.

Why is Girls on the Run important to her? “I think about the struggles you go through as a young girl and how awesome a program like this would have been for me years ago. We are helping these participants to grow up and be successful and lead a healthy life.

“My greatest satisfaction though comes from watching them cross the finish line and finish something they did not think they could do 12 weeks ago, and knowing Girls on the Run of Cincinnati volunteer Megan Folkerthmy efforts contributed to that success. It just makes you feel great.”

It is an afterschool program – girls meet twice a week at their site with a head coach and assistant coach. There is a lesson and a running component. Lessons vary from body image to self esteem to anti-bullying. Different element of curriculum each time and big celebration is 5K.

Megan has helped organize a bone marrow drive with the Flying Pig Marathon. She coaches in a running group and done some volunteer work with MS.

She has been running – first half marathon in 2007. She has done 15 marathon, various halfs and others, 5 ultra marathon (50K or over and usually trail races). Why does she run? She works in the health field and this is a huge component to leading an active life. Sense of accomplishment to push self to attain a new goal.

How can you help?

Girls on the Run relies on volunteers to work directly with its girls and coach its programs. In addition to coaching, there are several other volunteer opportunities including: race day event volunteers, office support volunteers, SoleMates participants, committee members and various other projects. There are also group volunteer opportunities for corporations or organizations.

SoleMates are adult runners who pledge to raise money for Girls on the Run while training for their own races. With the program costing about $160 per girl, these fund raisers have an important role in ensuring everyone who wants to participate will have that opportunity.

 

The Grand City Experiment Is Spreading Kindness In Cincinnati

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What a neat idea! Coming in October to Cincinnati is the Grand City Experiment.

What is the Experiment you ask? The Grand City Experiment is a serv7-24 Grand Cityice project from this year’s C-Change, a leadership development program of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. Led by Aftab Pureval and Andrew Salzbrun, the group will be asking people to engage with neighbors, co-workers, family, friends and even strangers in a daily charge to make Greater Cincinnati more welcoming.

To participate, simply share your email address at www.TheGrandCityExperiment.com. You will receive a few emails prior to October and then daily emails once the experiment begins. Daily challenges may range from introducing yourself to a stranger to inviting someone in your office out to lunch.

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