About 300 young football players and cheerleaders from the West End and Over-the-Rhine will take the field today after all — wearing new green and gold uniforms.

        The Findlay Street Neighborhood House met its fund-raising goal of $22,000 this week.

        It wasn't easy.

Volunteers such as Tonya Garnett worked at a fish fry on Friday to help raise money to buy uniforms. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        When Coach Nate Foster took charge of the Neighborhood House's Wildcat football teams, he succeeded in recruiting youths from the West End and Over-the-Rhine.

        Perhaps he was too successful.

        Three hundred children, ages 5 to 15, signed up for 80 slots on the teams.

        Mr. Foster was faced with two choices: raise $22,000 for uniforms and equipment for all those players or turn some away.

        He sent 1,000 letters to local businesses seeking help buying uniforms.

        He had fund-raisers and festivals.

        Still, he came up with only a fraction of what he needed.

        Last week, he called Bill Cunningham, a talk-radio host on WLW-AM (700). Mr. Cunningham plugged the program, and donations of cash and used equipment came in.

        By Thursday, he was still $8,500 short.

        That's when he got a phone call from Cincinnati Reds star Ken Griffey Jr., who came through with a check for $8,500.

        On Friday, a fish fry at the Neighborhood House on Findlay Street helped the cause even more. Mr. Foster said he'd like to expand the program and take all 300 kids to a tournament in Atlanta on Thanksgiving weekend. Also on Friday, Mayor Charlie Luken stopped by with another check for $500 from his campaign fund, and dozens of smaller donations kept coming.

        “The little checks coming in mean even more because we get a letter with each check,” Mr. Foster said. “And the letters you read will bring tears to your eyes.”

        The teams kick off their season today in Dayton.
       

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