Dads, daughters and dancing meant dollars for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

        The dads are the fathers of 130 girls in the St. Ursula Villa Girl Scout Troop 7474, who joined their daughters in a dance at the school in Columbia Tusculum.

        Of course, the moms did all the work to set up the dance.

        “It is one of the volunteer projects the group has and it gave the fathers a chance to have a night of fun with their daughters,” said Norah Mock, development associate at the school.

        They raised $500 from the dance and donated it to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Mason.

        “This is the second year we have had the dance,” said Cynthia Baylis, a mom and Girl Scout coordinator at the school.

        “It was a big success and a worthy project for the girls.”

        The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children who have life-threatening illnesses. It was established nationally in 1980.

        The foundation was organized in Mason in 1998.

        Tom Tressler, executive director of the Mason office, said 300 children have gotten their wishes since the group started.

        “We have 100 children on the wish list,” he said. “Some of the biggest supporters of the Foundation are children. Children like to help children.”

        St. Ursula has students from preschool to eighth grade from Columbia Tusculum, Mount Lookout, Anderson Township, Forest Hills, Westwood, Loveland and Northern Kentucky.
       • • • If you can coach, mentor or tutor, the COACH Initiative at Taft High School needs you.

        COACH stands for Citizens Organized for Athletes Committed to High Performance. The program is being developed by the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati. The league will work with Taft High School's new football coach, Mike Martin, a former Cincinnati Bengal.

        “The league is committed to seeing that every child at Taft has a positive role model,” said Sharon Hardin, director of marketing and key initiatives for the league.

        The program is designed to provide mentors, tutors and coaches to enhance the academic and social development of student athletes at Taft High School.

        Students on the football team and those who want to be on the team, but are not eligible because of grades, can be a part of the program. Tutors will work with struggling students to make them academically eligible, Ms. Hardin said.

        Coach Martin welcomes the help.

        “I think it is a great program because it gives the students a chance to be involved with people who care about them,” he said. “This is something that they need. We had 80 students to sign up for football. If we had to play a game tomorrow, only 25 would be academically eligible.” To help, call 281-9955 ext. 307.

        Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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