Cincinnati
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
Voices of Giving Awards Honor Philanthropists
So often I talk about how fortunate I am to be working with and among some of this community’s most generous individuals and organizations making meaningful impact.
The Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council (GCPGC) and its Voices of Giving Awards is one example. This is the fourth year I have helped them with post event coverage. The GCPGC is a professional association of individuals whose life work is to help to ensure the viability of nonprofits. This year at CET, a studio was filled with representatives from some of those charitable organizations as 22 diverse area philanthropists and two financial advisers – all of whom share a common trait of selfless generosity – were honored. Voices of Giving Award recipients have contributed to the long term sustainability of meaningful causes through bequests or planned gifts.
“Our honorees have been touched in diverse ways by area non-profits and their passion runs deep. Their choice to create a lasting legacy through causes so close to their hearts will impact lives now and in the future,” said GCPGC Voices of Giving Awards Co-Chair Carol Stevie.
2011 Voices of Giving Honorees
Heidi Jark and Steve Kenat on behalf of the American Cancer Society
Pauline Strayhorne on behalf of CET
Chuck Goering on behalf of Children, Inc.
The Honorable Julia A. Stautberg (posthumously) on behalf of the Cincinnati
Bar Association
Andrew MacAoidh Jergens on behalf of Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park
Dan and Irene Randolph on behalf of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Jack and Peggy Bunker on behalf of CISE Foundation
Harry Kangis and Julia Hawgood on behalf of Episcopal Retirement Homes
Anne Heldman on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
Oakley and Eva Farris on behalf of Northern Kentucky University
William and Phyllis Augspurger on behalf of People Working Cooperatively
Barbara M. Stern on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati
John F. and Susan C. Hoerner on behalf of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati
John D. and Ruth Erhardt on behalf of The Wellness Community of Greater Cincinnati
and Northern Kentucky
Professional advisors honored:
Robert Brant on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
Timothy E. Johnson, Ph.D., on behalf of GCPGC
To view video interviews with the honorees on CET Connect, please click here.
For more information on the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council, please visit www.gcpgc.org.
Talbert House Is Celebrating Dads
Teri Nau of Cincinnati nonprofit, Talbert House, got in touch with me to let me know about their free event for families on Sunday. It’s all about celebrating DADs and creating a bonding day of laughter, fun and friendship for parents and kids.
(Please click on the image twice to enlarge for details.)
Teri told me the idea for the Celebration event came about after their luncheon last year honoring Fathers-of-the-Year. They were looking for an opportunity to reach out to more dads to let them know of the agency’s Fatherhood Project, a program that works with men in strengthening their connection and involvement in the lives of their children.
Talbert House is a community-wide nonprofit network of social services with over 30 proven programs focusing on prevention, assessment, treatment and reintegration. Each year, the agency helps 26,000 men, women and children across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky overcome adversity to become healthy and productive citizens through its programs in community corrections, mental health, substance abuse and welfare-to-work.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati Honor Youth Of The Year
Congratulations to Javele Jackson, a senior at Western Hills University High School who also spends after school time at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati’s (BGCGC) US Bank Club.
Javele found out at the BGCGC’s annual Achievement Luncheon that he was selected as Youth of the Year for his contributions to his family, school, the community and the organization. And what an extra thrill it was for him to have received his award from Nick Lachey!
The youngest of five children, Javele is someone to whom his cousins look up. He speaks to them about having a positive self-image, the negatives of drug use, and taking care of oneself by eating right and exercising. Javele is not just a kind person in the Club, but also at Lee Chapel A.M.E Church where he serves as a Junior Usher and fundraiser. He played basketball at the Club and school until he hurt his knee, but uses his leadership ability to help the younger kids with their basketball fundamentals. Javele said that the BCGCG is “a place where the staff cares about your well being and where there are resources and opportunities that you can’t get off the streets.” He plans on attending Mt. St. Joseph College to pursue a career as an athletic trainer and nutritionist.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati provide FREE daily meal and afterschool and summer programming for 10,000 children between the ages of 6 and 18 at ten locations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The organization provides a safe, positive environment focused on enrichment activities that support high school graduation, fitness-for-life and community service.
Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired Celebrates Centennial
The greatest part about my professional work is knowing I’m supporting efforts that are making a real difference in the lives of others. The Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired is one example. It’s hard to believe that I think I’ve worked with them for more than seven years.
Literally hundreds of volunteers and staff with an average tenure of 12+ years – all dedicated to helping people who are blind or visually impaired to ‘know they can’. Day in and day out, life skills once taken for granted are re-taught with adaptive tools and new strategies. News and information is made accessible 24 hours a day with Radio Reading Services. Children are strengthening motor skills in music therapy. Valuable support and resources are offered to families and individuals. And people with varying degrees of vision are employed to enhance the lives of others.
This year marks a special year for CABVI. It is the Centennial Anniversary for the Walnut Hills based agency and you’ll be hearing a lot more about them in days to come. Since its beginning, some 130,000 people have discovered and rediscovered personal abilities with their assistance.
“As population trends over the next three decades are expected to double the number of people who experience blindness or vision impairment, we will continue to seek enhanced ways of helping people with visual impairments maintain independence,” said John Mitchell, CABVI executive director.
For a full list of historical dates, please visit the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired website at www.cincyblind.org.
Kroger Co. is supporting the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s 100th anniversary by becoming the agency’s Centennial presenting sponsor. Pictured is Reuben Shaffer, vp operations for Kroger and CABVI board member, presenting a check for $10,000 to CABVI representatives – Kathy Gottschlich, CABVI director of development and community relations; Michael Lichstein, CABVI board president; John Mitchell, CABVI executive director.
