Kindness
People Working Cooperative Volunteers Helped Area Seniors
It’s that time of year again when thousands come together to help others in need with fall home repairs and clean up.
People Working Cooperatively’s Prepare Affair was Saturday Nov. 15 where 3,000 volunteers helped 1,000 senior clients by raking leaves and cleaning gutters and other small repair tasks. It was the 27th annual event with many heart-warming stories. The oldest client served was 105 – the youngest volunteer was 3. Many volunteers adopt the same clients year after year, making them part of their family.
“This has become a family tradition for us,” said volunteer Valerie Robinson, who brought her 80-year-old father. Bill to rake leaves. “We really enjoy giving back.”
PWC serves Greater Cincinnati seniors and underserved 365 days a year with professional home repairs, modifications, weatherization and other services to keep the homeowner safe in 
their homes where they want to be. To learn more or make a donation, visit www.pwchomerepairs.org.
Cincinnati Metro Bus Operator Honored For Good Deed
Here is to good people doing good things!
Photo, from left: ATU Local 627 President Troy Miller, SORTA Board Vice Chair Ken Reed, SORTA Board Chair Jason Dunn, Metro Operator Jontay Love and Metro Interim CEO Darryl Haley.
When Cincinnati Metro bus operator Jontay Love got in his vehicle the day of October 13, it was to be a day like many others. However things took an unexpected turn.
He was driving Metro’s Rt 43 through Avondale around 10:15 pm when he heard gunshots. Jontay stopped his bus and saw an injured person lying on the ground calling for help. He followed Metro protocol to alert the authorities, and he got off the bus to assist the victim. Jontay stayed with the individual and talked to him until authorities arrived…and then finished his route as usual.
“I wanted to help keep him calm. I didn’t want him to panic or go into shock,” Jontay said.
A Metro operator for the last 10 years, he has had several commendations for his service during his tenure. SORTA presented him with Metro’s STAR Award, which stands for “Service That Attracts Recognition,” on Oct. 21. This award acknowledges and rewards employees who demonstrate exemplary service to Metro and the community.
Here is to random acts of kindness!
The Grand City Experiment Is Spreading Kindness In Cincinnati
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 serv
ice 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.
Mentoring Inspires Greatness, Pass It On
I had just come across a paragraph I had written awhile back for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. It was about the importance of mentoring. Reading it inspired me to share some thoughts.
To Big Brothers Big Sisters…
All of us, no matter what our upbringing, will face obstacles and detours on our journey through life. Having a positive role model – a mentor – who we can count on to help guide us, teach us and inspire us is a true gift that has the rippling power to uplift our entire life. The power of an adult who cares to an impressionable young person is so huge. It is the greatest feeling to know you have made a positive impact on a child. I have been the mentor and the mentee. Those relationships will be ones I will always 
treasure. They have taught me about empathy and integrity. They have made me a better, stronger person. Thank you to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati for fulfilling such a vital need in our community.
Mentors change lives
So I got to thinking about the people who I have been lucky enough to have crossed paths with, people who I consider my friends, role models and mentors. There have been many, each impacting my life in a different way.
There is Bill Mefford, who took me under his wings as a young professional, had the confidence in me to let me learn by doing on amazing projects, and was always available to share his knowledge when I needed it. Bobbi Harrison, one of the most creative people I have ever met, is someone I can always count on to bring out my smile. Just being in the same room with him inspires me to think in ways I hadn’t considered before. Toni Miles, Peg Gutsell and Sandy Kerlin were three clients turned friends whose appreciation for my strengths gave me wings. Friend Dianne Wente has never let me quit and always pushed me to see my potential. Mike Shikashio met me for the first time at an Association of Professional Dog Trainers conference and continued to find me throughout the weekend to ask if I was going to pursue dog training. Since then, he has never once waned in encouraging me and pointing out my strengths. Mike has been a rock to me, always finding time no matter how busy he is (and believe me – as a father, husband, successful dog trainer and president of the International Association of Behavior Animal Consultants, he IS busy) to be my sounding board, providing information, and offering advice. Other dog training friends Barb Gadola and Sheri Boone have also been there for me. Carolyn Dickerson has reminded me about inner strength and inspires me to be a better person. And of course my parents who taught me about kindness, love, standing up for what I believe it, and so much more.
I know I am missing out on so many who have played a role in my being the person that I am today. I am grateful to each and every one of them. And I strive to pay that forward by using my gifts to empower others.
My challenge to you is this – take a moment to reflect on those who have been a positive influence on your life and how their presence has impacted you. Be grateful. Pay it forward by being that positive influence in someone else’s life.
Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council Honors Philanthropists
I have so enjoyed working with the committee of the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council for more than five years in sharing the news of their Voices of Giving Awards. It is a wonderful effort to say thanks to those who have made lasting contributions to causes close to their hearts.
honoree Terry Bruck with Michelle Johnson representing the Cancer Support Community Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky photo credit/Paula Norton
In this year’s 16th annual Voices of Giving Awards presented by PNC Bank, 26 Greater Cincinnati philanthropists were recognized for their selfless generosity and foresight in contributing a bequest or planned gift to their favorite charitable organization. Also honored were two advisors whose pivotal role in cultivating those gifts is helping sustain valuable causes.
“It is our great honor to celebrate so many truly inspirational individuals in our community. Our Voices of Giving Awards honorees have such diverse passions; however, what they have in common is their selfless generosity and foresight. Their bequests and planned gifts are ensuring the sustainability of many very important causes in our community,” said Michelle Mancini, co-chair for the event.
Philanthropist honorees included: Terry Bruck on behalf of the Cancer Support Community Greater Cincinnati – Northern Kentucky; William and Susan Friedlander on behalf of the Cincinnati Ballet; Rosemary and Frank Bloom on behalf of the Cincinnati Museum Center; Marvin Kolodzik on behalf of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestra & the University of Cincinnati Foundation; T. Brian Brockhoff on behalf of the Catholic Inner-City Schools Education Foundation; Dan Meyer on behalf of Episcopal Retirement Homes: Susan Mustian on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Robert Brant on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati; Herb Reller and Bessie Wessel (both honored posthumously) on behalf of Life Enriching Communities – Twin Towers; Jack Wild on behalf of Life Enriching Communities – Twin Lakes; Roger Grein on behalf of Magnified Giving; Gary and Joyce Sallquist on behalf of Miami Valley Christian Academy; Dr. James M. Garvey, Jr. on behalf of People Working Cooperatively; Gary and Joan Thompson (Joan was honored posthumously) on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati; Robert and Rhea Glassmeyer (honored posthumously) on behalf of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; James J. and Anne McGraw, Jr. on behalf of The Athenaeum of Ohio; Dorothy Meader Martin Kersten (honored posthumously) on behalf of The Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation (CET); and Fred Grove and Nancy Neff on behalf of Xavier University.
honoree Scott Boster and Michelle Mancini, representing the American Cancer Society photo credit/Paula Norton
Advisors who were honored were Scott Boster on behalf of the American Cancer Society; and Jan Frankel on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
To read short backgrounds on each of the honorees,
please click the link below:
2014 Voices of Giving Honorees
To see the entire photo album from the event,
please click here.
The 2014 event was co-chaired by Lori Asmus and Michelle Mancini. Committee members included Sally Alspaugh, Diana Collins, Carol Derkson, Bruce Favret, Jim Friedman, Misty Griesinger, Bill Hitch, Mary Alice Koch, Telly McGaha, Tracy Monroe, Carol Stevie, Sue Ellen Stuebing, Dan Virzi, and Molly Talbot.
The Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council is a professional association for people whose work includes developing, marketing, and administering charitable planned giftsfor non-profit institutions and a variety of other legal and financial settings.
