Two Cincinnati Bengals will gain plenty of yardage for patients at the Children's Hospital Medical Center.

        Linebacker Adrian Ross and strong safety JoJuan Armour will host a charity toy drive from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Tri-County Sprint PCS store, 80 W. Kemper Road, Springdale.

        The goal is to collect 400 new toys for the children.

        But there also is something in it for the toy donors. Each child who brings in a new toy will receive a free on-site vision screening from the Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute.

        Also, the first 200 people who donate a toy will receive a free 8x10 color photo autographed by Ross or Armour.

        The Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute was founded in 1995 at the Children's Hospital Medical Center to eliminate preventable blindness in children. The institute also oversees a free vision screening program for underprivileged youth.

        “The two players will kick off the drive by donating 20 toys each,” said Melissa Tritch, coordinator of the drive. “The Abrahamson Pediatric Eye Institute will bring a mobile unit and do the eye testing at the store.”

        For more information, call Nichole Evans at 564-0700.
        Several General Electric employees and retirees have completed a Gifts of Hope project to collect money and materials for the Cincinnati Deaf Institute, 3515 Warsaw Avenue, Price Hill.

        Bill Bross, project leader, said the group will give a party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Rita School For the Deaf, 1720 Glendale-Milford Road, Evendale, to present money and materials to the institute.

        Items include sign language books, dictionaries, flashlights, flash cards and small toy animals.

        “We have conducted this drive for the last five years,” Mr. Bross said. “The institute sends people into homes where there is a deaf child. They assist the family in communicating with the child.”

        Mr. Bross said they have raised $9,180 and will receive $2,500 from the Cincinnati Chapter of the ELFUN Society.

        The society is made up of General Electric employees and retirees.

        Santa Claus at a waste site?

        Yep, he will show up at the Rumpke landfill, 3800 Struble Road, Colerain Township, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 16 along with his elves.

        Rumpke will display its lighted Season's Greetings sign, Christmas tree, candy cane and snowman throughout December.

        The public is invited.

        Co-founders and brothers Bill and Bernard Rumpke were inducted into the Environmental Industry Association's Hall of Fame last year for their numerous successes, such as recycling initiatives and work philosophy.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Monday-Friday and Sundays. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are committing random acts of kindness that are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at (513) 768-8362; at ahoward@enquirer.com; or by fax at (513) 768-8340.

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