YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
YMCA Celebrates 40 Examples Of Character Values
I’d like to introduce you to pretty awe-inspiring youth who I’m very lucky to be getting to know. They are some of our Greater Cincinnati area’s great role models for caring, respect, honest, responsibility and caring. I’m talking about the 40 teenagers who will be celebrated on April 17 as YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Character Award recipients.
Take for example…
Linnea Head, a 
student at Seven Hills School, whose influence has been described as ‘legendary’. A fearless model of ethics, it was during a school assembly when she stood before her student body and inspired every student to choose ‘trust’. Again she rallied her classmates to a cause when she heard about a Ugandan elementary school for displaced children.
Or
Dion’te Riley, a Withrow University High School student who traveled to the Domincan Republic to participate in a food drive. He personally collected enough food to fill 17 grocery carts for 
families in need.
Each one of the YMCA Character Award recipients has his/her own very personal story for impacting their world. I encourage you to please click the link and read more about them. If you know one of them…please congratulate them.
Or better yet…please join Tracey Johnson of FOX19 and the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati at the YMCA Character Awards Event on April 17. It begins at 6 p.m. at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Cost is $25 per person for adults; $10 for youth. You can call 513-246-3205 to reserve a seat.
2012 YMCA Character Award recipients 2012
YMCA Character Award recipient list 2012
WIN TICKETS!
I will have two pairs of tickets to the event to give-a-way. I will be randomly
drawing two names of people who are Good Things Pledge champions. An additional
chance will be given for participating in the Good Things Going Around Facebook page.
Drawing will be on Wednesday night, April 11, 2012.
Not a Good Things Pledge champion yet? Just add your contact information on the Pledge page!
Honoree Shamari Hinkston Talks About ‘Caring’
The Cincinnati Herald Staff Are Good Things Pledge Champions
I created my Good Things Pledge as a fun way of reminding people that they have the power to do and feel Good Things. We have the power to stand tall and rise above when things may not appear to be going our way. We have the power to appreciate all that is beautiful and meaningful in our world.
It has been so fulfilling to see how many people have signed up to become Good Things Pledge champions. Today, I just added Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, Dan Yount, Courtney Myrick, Inez Barnes, Walter White, Andrea Laudat Blackmon, Wade Lacey Sr., Gwen Seay, and Rachel Roberts to the list. They all work for The Cincinnati Herald and they invited me to their office today to hand out their certificates and take their picture.
I have worked with The Cincinnati Herald for years on behalf of my clients, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, Beech Acres Parenting Center and others. They are truly caring group of people who do so much for the community – individually and collectively. I appreciate their generosity. Not to mention their excellence in reporting news.
To become a Good Things Pledge Champion, simply add your information to this page and I’ll send you a certificate.
If you’d like for me to stop by and take a photo of your office or group with certificates, just send me a message
in the Contact Lisa page.
Free FAFSA Help Is Available For Cincinnati Families
For Greater Cincinnati teens who think college is financially out of their reach because they’re in over their head when it comes to getting financial aid…local youth serving organizations with a common interest in their success say – RETHINK IT.
They Are Partnering To Remove Barriers For Students In Applying For Aid To College
The organizations are coordinating on College Goal Sunday and College Prep events where knowledgeable, professional volunteers will help students and their families complete AND submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the single most important application required for most scholarships, grants, loans and federal assistance. All of the events are FREE. Pre-registration is encouraged.
I’m helping to spread the word on behalf of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, one of the partners. Other partners include: Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Project Grad, Gear Up, Upward Bound, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Cincinnati Public Schools, We Need MORE (CPS initiative), University of Cincinnati, College of Mt. St. Joseph, Parents of Public Schools, Hobsons, and the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.
Please visit http://learngrowthriveymca.com to learn more and to pre-register.
YMCA Salute Gala Celebrated Achievers
I just wrapped up working on a wonderful project – the Salute to YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Gala.
David Garibaldi, known the world over for his amazingly unique stage entertainment, brought his show to our region for the very first time as he created four 6 ft tall masterpieces before a filled Bank of Kentucky Center arena with more about 550 seats sold – at the Salute to YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Gala. The evening was a celebration of the potential of young people when inspired by caring adult role models who are volunteers of the YMCA.
The YMCA Salute Gala honored local professionals who are giving back as volunteers of the YMCA’s college readiness program. Also honored were eight teens selected to receive YMCA scholarships, including Breana Marie Nicholson – who was honored as 2011 YMCA Teen Achiever of the Year. Lisa Martin-Patterson and Olivia Darks were honored as YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Program Community Volunteers of the Year. James T. Cowan, MBA, and Chrystal Davis, were honored as YMCA Adult Achievers of the Year.
One of the largest regional programs of its kind, the YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Program motivates students of color to further their education and goals with help from successful, professional role models. Since its beginning, the Program has served over 6,000 teens, awarded over $200,000 in scholarships, assisted youth with over $4 million dollars in awarded scholarships and engaged more than 4,500 adult volunteers through a network of corporate and community partners.
The Salute Gala also raised essential funding so that the Program can continue to offer this valuable experience to hundreds of area youth, paving their path toward college and a career.
(photos by Mark Bowen)
YMCA Scholarship Recipients Received A Special Gift
At the Salute to YMCA Black & Latino Achievers Gala, in addition to honoring adults who are giving back, we also had the great pleasure of recognizing eight of our 2012 graduating YMCA Teen Achievers who have earned YMCA scholarships. It was so special when they all were invited to a fitting with Macy’s stylists for their first business suit. The professional attire is a gift from the downtown Macy’s store (Macy’s is a major sponsor of our YMCA Salute Gala) and Mrs. Kay French, a YMCA of Greater Cincinnati board member. I am enclosing a few photos from the fitting day.
YMCA Teen Achiever honorees:
Breana Marie Nicholson, Princeton High School – YMCA Teen Achiever of
the Year
Other YMCA Teen Achiever scholarship recipients:
Jada Calhoun, Princeton High School
Ryan Darks, Roger Bacon High School
Aquil A. Frost, Wyoming High School
Tamika Lawson, Colerain High School
Mallory Screws, Walnut Hills High School
Robert Stevenson, Butler Technical High School
