Nonprofit Organization
Swimmer Diana Nyad Spoke About Perseverance At YWCA Luncheon
You may have heard about Diana Nyad, who, at 64, became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida WITHOUT a shark cage. Many people in Greater Cincinnati got to meet and listen to Diana thanks to the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati. Linda Clement-Holmes, senior vice president, Global Business Services at P&G, was among them. Below are some of Linda’s thoughts after the opportunity. Thank you to her for sharing them!
“About 6 months ago, I had the privilege and honor of spending a little bit of time with Diana Nyad when she was in Cincinnati speaking at the YWCA Career Women of Achievement Luncheon. Diana Nyad is the first person (at age 64) to have EVER 
made the swim from Cuba to Florida without the use of a shark cage. She completed that historic swim in about 53 hours. In addition to monumental feats like the Cuba to Florida swim, she is also an inspirational speaker. One of the things she talks about is doing your absolute best and knowing that no matter the outcome, you know that you could not have done one [millimeter] more (she usually holds up her thumb and index finger to demonstrate the extreme minuteness of doing [millimeter] more).
How many of us can look back at our day and say, “Today, in all that I did, I did the ABSOLUTE BEST JOB I COULD HAVE DONE, AND NOT ONE MILLIMETER LESS”? I would say not many of us. I know I can’t. And there are many reasons for this as well as the fact that we all have good days and bad days. But on average, how many times can you say that?
Try it. Tonight, before you close your eyes and go to sleep, ask yourself, “Did I do my absolute best job possible on EVERYTHING I did today?” It could be work-related or family-related, it does not matter. The question still applies.
Try it. In particular, if there is someone who says they give their ABSOLUTE BEST EVERY SINGLE Day on EVERY SINGLE THING THEY DID, I would love to hear how you are doing that, and what tips you have for the rest of us.”
Linda was a co-chair for the event, is a former YWCA Career Woman of Achievement Award recipient and YWCA Board member.
Do you give your best every day? I invite you to post a comment with what you are doing.
Join Me At Bark Out Against Battering This Weekend
This Saturday, bring your favorite pooch with you to Washington Park (across the street from Music Hall) for the 4th Annual 
Bark Out Against Battering Pet Fest, for some fun trick-or-treating (just for the dogs) and other activities. I’ll be there with a booth so if you come, please stop by and say hello!
The event runs from 11 am until 2 pm and is a partnership between the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati, Women Helping Women, Washington Park, and 3CDC. There will be a pet parade, pet photo booth, animal adoptions and a costume contest.
Funds raised by the event will help support the Domestic Violence Shelter’s efforts to work with the SPCA in removing the worry women have, by assisting in providing protective shelter for pets during the women’s stay in shelter. That’s a great cause.
For more information about the YWCA, other Domestic Violence Awareness Month events, and ways to help abused animals please visit: www.ywcacincinnati.org , www.womenhelpingwomen.org , www.spcacincinnati.org
A note about dogs and costumes: If you dress your dog in an outfit, please make sure your dog is comfortable. Your dog 
will communicate that with his body. Some signs of a happy dog are: a relaxed body; fast, vigorous tail wag; loose lips or even open mouth with loose tongue; rhythmic panting. There are many creative ways you and your dog can look great for Halloween and have fun together!
Wearing costumes can be very stressful to many dogs and a stressed dog can be more likely to become reactive. If you try to put clothing on your dog, watch your dog’s body language. Some signs that your dog is not comfortable include: his tail may be down, his body may be tight, he may have a tense mouth, you will see the whites on the sides of his eyes, his ears may be back, he may yawn or lick his chops. Please click here and here for more body language signs.
If your dog is showing any signs of stress with a costume, an alternate option is to try a simple bandanna or Halloween themed collar instead.
The Children’s Home Of Cincinnati Gets New Fitness Equipment
There are so many reasons why kids need to be active. Among the benefits are physical and mental exercise, practicing positive social skills, and a sense of accomplishment and fun.
Now, just as The Children’s Home of Cincinnati is becoming more involved with integrated healthcare efforts, it has opened a brand new fitness equipment park for the children in its care. It was funded by a grant from The National Recreation Foundation. The park was assembled by students from The Children’s Home Ready Set Work! program and staff from the Facilities team. It has a variety of equipment including pull up bars, step ups, rowing machines, chin ups, leg presses and more.
“Our new park will allow our students and staff to focus on physical health and well-being in addition to mental health. Students will even be able to see their progression and set goals for themselves through their own personal fitness tracker,” Kenna Goodrich, PR and special events coordinator for The Children’s Home of Cincinnati told me.
Founded in 1864, The Children’s Home is a Cincinnati nonprofit organization with more than 20 programs and services to guide young people and their families facing social, behavioral and learning challenges toward successful functioning in their homes, schools and communities. Over 6,600 children and their families were served last fiscal year.
Who will be using the new fitness equipment? Kenna told me, “Students, ages 13 and up, and staff will all be able to use the equipment. This includes students from The Children’s Home Upper School and Partial Hospitalization programs specifically. The Upper School and Partial Hospitalization are two of our on campus programs. They will get to use the park during gym class. Many of the children we serve suffer from trauma and are therefore experiencing different types of learning, social and behavioral vulnerabilities.”
Paw Joggers Run To Benefit Cincinnati Dog Rescues
I have always had a love for dogs. Our home in fact was never without one growing up. Jolie, our poodle, was a dear and special friend to me until she died at the age of about 18. Now training dogs as a second career is a real passion for me.
And for Billlie Mendoza, owner of Paw Joggers, keeping dogs healthy and happy is an equal passion. I am so impressed that 
now, this owner of a successful dog walking (and jogging) company is turning her business skills toward raising money for our area’s important rescue organizations.
The first annual Paw Joggers Run will be this Sunday, October 20 at Sharon Woods (11450 Lebanon Rd, Sharonville, OH 45241). There is both a 5K and a 2K course for runners and walkers. It is a pet-friendly and family event so bring your favorite four-legged friend with you. Registration that morning begins at 7:30 am and the race begins at 9 am.
What I love is that 100% of the registration fees ($35 to $35) will go toward one of 24 qualified organizations from our Cincinnati area animal welfare community. You can select a beneficiary as part of your online registration process if you’d like. NOTE that there is a $15 canine registration fee per dog.
The Paw Joggers Animal Community Fund (Paw Joggers ACF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the local animal welfare community through events, awareness, and monetary donations. The Paw Joggers ACF and its events are powered solely by 
volunteers.
Register to walk, run, or VOLUNTEER through the Paw Joggers Rescue Run website http://pawjoggersrescuerun.com
Mercy Neighborhood Ministries Is Improving Cincinnati Lives
Congratulations to these determined, hard working students! After an intensive, three-week program, they are recent graduates of the Mercy Neighborhood Ministries (MNM) Home Care Aide Training Class.
Many of the participants join the class having experience in taking care of a loved one. Others may be transitioning from being unemployed or underemployed to starting a viable new career.
How empowering it is for them to learn new skills in a positive environment and gain renewed confidence. After graduation MNM has seen a high success rate of helping them find full or part time jobs in neighborhoods where they live.
Home Care Aide Training is just one of many programs and services of Cincinnati nonprofit Mercy Neighborhood Ministries. Its website says it promotes the empowerment of individuals and families through programs that address their immediate needs, foster self-reliance, promote holistic health, and advocate for social justice. Other services include a monthly food pantry, crisis assistance, a grandparent’s support group, senior services, ABLE/GED classes and more.
Taste of the Neighborhood
On October 27, MNM will hold ist annual Taste of the Neighborhood from Noon until 3 pm at Purcell Marian High School (2935 Hackberry St Cincinnati, OH 45206). The event is free and open to the public.
This year’s participating restaurants include Eli’s BBQ, Kitchen 452, Eat Well Café and Take Away, Skyline Chili, Giminetti Baking Company, The Brew House, Café deSales, and Parkside Café with caramel apple cake from Bon Bonerie and Frisch’s pumpkin pie.
Children can enjoy strolling performances by Circus Mojo and take part in a scavenger hunt, costume parade, making balloon animals, and face painting while adults enjoy music by bluegrass band, Northbound Motion, and bid on gift baskets stuffed with great goodies and gift certificates to area restaurants, museums, performances, and sporting events.
If you can’t attend the Taste of the Neighborhood, you can buy a gift basket or certificate online now! Just visit www.mercyneighborhoodministries.org and click on the “Buy an Auction Item Now” link on the home page.
