Greater Cincinnati
Lots of Good in Cincinnati Contest for World Choir Games
What or Who Gives You Reason To Smile in Greater Cincinnati?
The World Choir Games are coming to our awesome city of Cincinnati and thanks to my friends at Metro, I have some great tickets to give-a-way. Show your Greater Cincinnati pride and share either a picture or comment about a ‘Good Thing’ in our region; and you may WIN FREE great tickets thanks to Cincinnati Metro to be part of international history, right here in July.
By the way, you can avoid the hassle of parking and ride Metro to all the World Choir Game festivities. Parking and transportation updates will be posted on the Cincinnati Metro Facebook page and information will also be available on their website.
PRIZES:
2 tickets to the Opening Ceremony, U.S. Bank Arena, July 4
2 tickets to the Celebration Concert, Aronoff Center, July 6 (two sets)
2 tickets to the Celebration Concert, Aronoff Center, July 11
4 tickets to the Celebration Concert, Cincinnati Music Hall, July 12 (this is Gospel & spiritual – split in two sets)
2 tickets to the Closing Ceremony, U.S. Bank Arena, July 14
NOTE:
I will be drawing winner names on the following dates for the following:
June 26 – drawing for July 4 Opening Ceremony
June 27 – drawing for July 6 Celebration Concert
July 2 – drawing for July 11 and July 12 Celebration Concerts
July 2 – drawing for Closing Ceremony, July 14
Entering:
This contest is open to any adult (18 years old or older) living in the Greater Cincinnati area (including Hamilton, Clermont, Butler Counties in Ohio; and Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties in Kentucky)
Each entrant is only eligible to win ONE time; however, you can boost your chances by entering multiple times. If your name was not randomly drawn, you will continue to be eligible for other drawings during the contest period.
Entrants will not have a choice in concerts. Drawings including prizes will be randomly drawn.
PLEASE note the terms and conditions below.
Ways to enter:
1. Post a comment below saying what or who in Greater Cincinnati makes you smile. (can be a place, business, event, people, pet)
2. Submit a photograph of what makes you smile in Greater Cincinnati (can be a place, business, event, people, pet) by emailing to contest@goodthingsgoingaround.com. NOTE: By submitting a photo to us, you are representing: (i) that you are the owner of the photo, or are making your posting or submission with the express consent of the owner of the material; and (ii) that you are eighteen years of age or older. In addition, when you submit or post any material, you are granting us, and anyone authorized by us, a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, copy, transmit, create derivative works from, distribute, and/or publicly display the image, in whole or in part. Also, in connection with the exercise of such rights, you grant us, and anyone authorized by us, the right to identify you as the author of any of your postings or submissions by name as we deem appropriate. No copyrighted material will be accepted.
3. Tweet about what makes you smile and include @goodthingslisa in your tweet. Then leave a comment below that you tweeted.
4. For additional chances, share the contest on Facebook and ‘tag’ the Good Things Going Around Facebook page and post a comment saying that you did. (NOTE: I will be posting the main image for the contest on the Good Things Going Around page so that you can just click ‘share’ for easier posting.) I also encourage you to ‘LIKE’ Cincinnati Metro on Facebook for updated information on transportation to the World Choir Games.
Other information:
The contest will run through July 2, 2012 at 2:30 p.m.
Please note the drawing dates above. Entries must be submitted no later than 2 p.m. on the drawing dates to be eligible for that day’s drawing.
Each entrant is only eligible to win one time. If your name was not randomly drawn, you will continue to be eligible for other drawings during the contest period.
Entrants will not have a choice in concerts. Drawings including prizes will be randomly drawn.
We want to acknowledge that this promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. By entering, you understand that you are providing information to Good Things Going Around and not to Facebook.
If you win:
We will email you when your name is drawn and you will have 24 hours to reply. If you do not reply within the 24 hours, another name will be drawn.
Tickets will be mailed in regular USPS mail. We are not responsible for lost or damaged tickets.
Meet Na’Dreya Lattimore, A ‘Kid of Character’
At 11 years old, Na’Dreya Lattimore (a student at Holmes Elementary School) has already demonstrated she is a courageous leader eager to stand up for what she believes in. Resiliency was taught her very early through personal hardships that gave her a renewed strength of character. An honor student, Na’Dreya is a leader in the Born Leaders of Covington Kentucky (BLOCK) group and was instrumental in developing a literacy program for students at a local child care center, as well as other community service projects. Her demonstration of determination thrust her into the national spotlight last year when Na’Dreya decided to write to the President about her opinion on the ‘No Child Left Behind’ Act. She felt that children who needed more help in school were holding back kids who were learning more quickly.
She closed her letter with this…’One more thing, … you need to look at us differently. We’re not black, we’re not white, biracial, Hispanic, Asian or any other nationality. We are the future.’” President Obama recited her letter in an Urban League speech. “Na’Dreya, you are right,” he said.
Na’Dreya is one of 10 kids who will be honored October 12 by the Cincinnati nonprofit organization, Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. I was thrilled when they asked me to help with writing the bios and helping them to get added exposure for the event. What a wonderful cause. One of my other favorite events of the year is working on the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Character Awards Event that honors 40 older teens for their character values. This event recognizes younger children, grades K through 8 (at the time of the end of the 2010-2011 school year).
Who are Character Council ‘Kids of Character’?
Well, at a young age, they are already role models and leaders. They’re not afraid to speak up for important causes and work hard for what they believe in. They are compassionate friends and respectful contributors to society. While diverse in their backgrounds, these are the common threads that all 10 Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky ‘Kids of Character’ honorees share. (Please see list of honorees below.)
And for that, they will be honored at the first annual Kids of Character Celebration Dinner. Anthony Muñoz, Character Council spokesperson, will join community members recognizing these shining examples of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.
According to Mary Andres Russell, executive director, ” Our Board and committees all agree that in order to truly create a city and region of character, we have to reach the children and reach them early. There are so many outstanding kids in our community who have benefited from great parents and dedicated teachers. We decided to create a forum to honor these children to encourage them and that they might be a light to others. Through the process, our judges discovered a commonality — most have overcome great adversity. Instead of crumbling, they have used the adversity to shape their character.”
Character Development begins early
The Character Council, whose mission it is to foster character development in children and adults as a foundation of success, works with many local educators and organizations to teach these values to youth.
The organization recently adopted its fourth CPS school as a ‘school of character’ and this past summer it rolled out character education programs in ALL 26 Cincinnati Recreation Centers collectively serving about 2500 kids.
Event information:
October 12 at 6:30 PM
Montgomery Inn in Montgomery
‘Kids of Character’ Celebration Dinner
Cost: $75 per seat
RSVP: 513-467-0170
Founded in 2000, the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky engages educators, community volunteers, employers, and worship congregations in building and strengthening positive character traits as a foundation for life success. In 2010, more than 371,000 citizens were impacted with its message of good character. Among its strategies: the Council has trained and provided educational materials to more than 1000 Cincinnati police officers, employees of more than 60 local businesses, and more than 1200 local educators on promoting positive values; and offers presentations and information to the general community on good character. For more information, visit http://charactercincinnati.org.
Character Council Laying The Foundation For Community Success
Character…it starts with me.
That’s the tag line for a Cincinnati nonprofit, the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, that is all about building positivity among children and adults in schools, religious congregations, businesses, families, and communities.
Building and strengthening character traits… what a great reason for an organization to exist!
Last year alone, more than 371,000 people were impacted with its message of good character. Among its strategies: the Council has trained and provided educational materials to more than 1000 Cincinnati police officers, employees of more than 60 local businesses, and more than 1200 local educators on promoting positive values; and offers presentations and information to the 
general community on good character.
Signing up as a ‘Businesses of Character’ means your company agrees to follow a four-step process to consciously create a culture in which good character is valued, promoted, taught, expected, and rewarded so that it becomes a platform for achieving company goals.
Westwood School is a ‘School of Character.
In 2009 staff of this Cincinnati Public School came to the Council when their students were showing a lack of respect for authority and brought anger into the classroom. At the time only 20% of parents were engaged in their children’s school activities.
Great for the community that educators wanted to be proactive. Westwood School became a ‘School of Character’ and worked with the Council in launching a comprehensive plan that promoted good character, addressed the root causes of behavior issues, and gave staff the tools they needed to succeed. Within its first year, teachers were already reporting less fighting and disciplinary referrals to the principal’s office declined 24%.
The organization is about to adopt its fourth CPS school and this summer it rolled out character education programs in ALL 26 Cincinnati Recreation Centers collectively serving about 2500 kids.
Flexibility: a willingness to change plans or ideas without getting upset.
If you are on Council’s email list or visit its website, you’ll be familiar with this trait. The word is the August ‘trait of the month’ and the organization offers ‘I will’ statement suggestions for putting those traits into motion. It is just one of the tools the Council offers to support community efforts to build positive energy.
And I’m all for positive energy!
To learn more about the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, please click here to visit their website.
