Social service agencies funded by the United Way will get a Christmas present, plus New Year wishes.

        They will get free tickets to Mighty Ducks hockey games throughout the season.

        The offer comes through a $20,000 donation from Fifth Third Bank.

        “Now, we are able to reach out to a new audience with the message about the good things United Way, its donors and funded programs are doing together to make our community better due to this public-private partnership,” said Carol Aquino, vice president, communications, at United Way.

        The Jan. 26 game, played at Cincinnati Gardens, will be called United Way/Fifth Third Night. A portion of ticket proceeds will go to United Way.

        It will also be a thank-you event for many of the employee campaign coordinators at organizations throughout the community.

        Daniel C. Fischer, senior vice president of Fifth Third Bank, said the partnership with United Way raises additional money for the agency.

        Visitors to Cincinnati Gardens will see the organizations' logos in the ice and hear about United Way in special public service announcements.

        Fifth Third Bank Cincinnati employees gave more than $2,687,000 this year during the United Way campaign.

        Success Is Me, an after-school literacy program in grades K-4 to operate in five Northwest district schools, needs readers, pen pals, individual tutors, reader's audience and journal buddies.

        The program is made possible by a $150,000 state grant to the Clippard Branch YMCA, 8920 Cheviot Road, Groesbeck. It will begin in February at Bevis, Houston, Pleasant Run, Weigel and Welch elementary schools, all in the Northwest School District.

        Jennifer Pugh, coordinator, said volunteers from the community are needed to make the program a success.

        “Our goal is to reach 1,000 children in two years,” Ms. Pugh said.

        Volunteers will read books to individuals or small groups of children and engage them in discussions about the story.

        A pen pal writes letters to children, discussing hobbies or events and gives the children encouraging words.

        The individual tutors will work with a specific child who needs support in learning to read or improving reading skills.

        A reader's audience will listen to a child read a book independently and respond to the meaning of the story. The reader's audience may also engage the child in a discussion of the book.

        Journal buddies are trained to share writing a journal with one child. The journal buddy and the child respond to each other's entries.

        To help, call Ms. Pugh at 923-4466. Training will be provided.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. 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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