Awards
Bobby Mackey Inducted In Northern Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame
It is so nice when you hear about people being recognized for pursuing their passion and following their heart.
Bobby Mackey was just notified he that he is being inducted into the Northern Kentucky Musical History and Hall of Fame. There will be an exhibit that will run at the Behringer Crawford Museum all through the summer, with the induction ceremony in late may 
and concerts at the museum all summer.
Besides being a genuinely nice guy, his Bobby Mackey’s Music World is celebrating almost 35 years as Greater Cincinnati’s top country music night spot featuring Bobby and the Big Mac Band every Friday and Saturday night. And his music is sold worldwide.
From the very beginning
Born and raised in Concord KY, Bobby has been singing and winning talent contests since age 4. His earliest start came while singing along to the juke box in his father’s grocery store.
He moved to Covington with his then new bride Janet to work on the railroad – a career he says he probably would still be doing if he hadn’t found an outlet for pursuing his dream.
The 30-year-old couple bought a closed up night club on Rt 9 Licking Pike in Wilder, Kentucky. The former site of the Latin Quarter and Prim Rose Country Club had a colorful history of gambling and gangster activity.
None of that was relevant to the up and coming traditional country music singer with an already established strong local fan following. This was Bobby’s chance of having his own place. After months of painting cleaning prepping the 80+ year old building he opened Bobby Mackey’s Music world September 8th 1978.
And the rest, you could say, is history.
When it comes to appreciating what you have and those around you, Bobby is quick to talk about the role his family has had in shaping his life’s direction. His parents encouraged and supported his talents from the moment he picked up his first guitar. He and his wife are proud parents, grandparents and even great grandparents. And, I get the feeling that gift of encouraging dreams is something they’ll be passing down.
Congratulations to Bobby!
Cincinnati Bengals Players Honored By NFL
It’s great when deserving people are recognized for how they are making a difference. Our Cincinnati Bengals linebacker
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vincent Rey
Vincent Rey and defensive end Michael Johnson quietly do so much for our community. Recently they were honored by the NFL Players Association with the highest honor the NFLPA can bestow on a player – the Byron ‘Whizzer’ White Award.
The Award recognizes players who go above and beyond to perform community service, and the honorees receive a monetary donation for their foundation or a charity of their choice.
“As an NFL football player, you have a lot of people that look up to you. And if there’s anything I can say or do that will encourage anyone, then I’ll gladly do it,” Vincent told Dhani Jones for SB Nation.
Last fall Mike and Vincent stopped by Beechgrove Elementary to encourage students to go after their dreams, show kindness and do good every day. You know I like that!
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson
“Always do your best. Give it everything you’ve got to get the job done,” Mike told them. “Take advantage of every day. Take advantage of every opportunity.”
Cincinnati Civil Rights Champions Honored
In Marian Spencer 92 year life, she has fought for civil rights and social change. She is the first black woman elected to Cincinnati City Council, the first woman to serve as president of the local NAACP, and won the lawsuit that desegregated Coney Island in the 1950s. She & her soul mate, the late Donald Spencer who fought alongside her, were honored last weekend by the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati. WLWT-TV Courtis Fuller interviewed Marian. Here is a link to her story: http://vsb.li/Ez6AJj
(photo credit: The Enquirer/Michael E. Keating)
Cincinnati Kids Can Apply For Grants To Nonprofits
I love the whole concept of Bake Me Home – two sisters who share a love for helping others and a mom who believes in encouraging their dreams reaching out to brighten the days of families struggling day-by-day. (To read my blog story about them, please click here.)
Bake Me Home is also encouraging other kids to get involved and give back.
Through the Bake Me Home’s Bake It Forward Program, kids entering 2nd through 9th grade who have made a difference in the lives of children can apply for a $100 grant to the nonprofit of their choice from Bake Me Home. Along with the grant money to benefit their chosen charity, winners will receive a Bake It Forward t-shirt, jar of Bake Me Home cookie mix, and will be invited to a celebration at the Duke Energy Children’s Museum on October 14th, 2012.
Deadline for submissions is September 6, 2012.
Cincinnati Nonprofits Vying For A Toyota
It is easy to take for granted our ability to hop in our car to travel where ever we want to go. For nonprofits who are working day in and day out to make meaningful impact, that transportation isn’t always easy. Having an organization vehicle can be costly.
Cincinnati is fortunate that we have so many outstanding nonprofits who have stood out above the crowd in vying to win a 
FREE Toyota in the national Toyota 100 Cars for Good project. Already our Cincinnati Zoo and Recycled Doggies have won.
Some others who are finalists still need your votes. Each day only 5 finalists are featured and the one that gets the most Facebook votes wins a vehicle of their choice. Peggy Kreimer of Stepping Stones had this to say about what their win would mean to them…
If we win a wheelchair accessible van, it will transform our adult services program for people who use wheelchairs. Our last accessible van was 17 years old and is no lon
ger road-worthy. When the adult participants go out to restaurants, to the Butterfly show, to sports events and picnics, the people who use wheelchairs just wave good-by. And when the group returns, they listen to the excited tales of adventures and fun that they, once again, missed. Your vote can get them into the community again.
Here is a list of Cincinnati area organizations who are finalists, and dates that you can vote for them.
Easter Seals WRC, July 12
Stepping Stones, July 14
Creek Road Baptist Church in Sharonville, Aug. 7
4C for Children, Aug. 9
Cincysmiles Foundation, Aug. 21
To vote, go to www.100carsforgood.com. You must have a Facebook account to vote and can only vote once per day.
Let’s support our local charities and spread the word!
