A hundred volunteers climbed 200 historic steps in Over-the-Rhine last week to raise money for better health services for the poor and uninsured.

        The result was $30,000 for The Crossroad Health Center, 5 East Liberty St., Over-the-Rhine. a non-profit organization, started in 1992.

        Last year the agency served 6,500 clients, up from 5,400 in year 2000.

        “Fifty percent of the people we see are children,” said Brook Gumm, a nurse practitioner. “I recently saw a family of seven from Afghanistan who only had the state medicaid. I also saw a four-year-old Hispanic kid with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. The child had no insurance.” Forty percent of Crossroad patients are uninsured, she continued.

        “We are blessed to have three bilingual staff members and several volunteer translators which enabled us to see 500 Hispanic residents,” she said.

        The path the volunteers took zig zags up the hill through a set of historic steps on Hiram, Young, Milton, Boal, and Broadway streets.

        The steps level off at what is known as the Pinnacle beyond Boal Street. The Pinnacle is all that remains of an ornate marble archway that survived a mid 1880's fire that destroyed the Hamilton Courthouse. The archway was later relocated to its present position before it was demolished in a car accident.

        Pledges were made for each step, some as high as $5,000 from corporate sponsors.

        “We had about 20 individual donors who pledge a total of $10,000,” said JoAnn Reilly, a volunteer at the center. “This is our only fund raiser. About 55 percent of our operating budget comes from private donations and grants. Another nine percent from United Way.”

        Three people received honorary membership cards and miniature Purple heart medals at the recent meeting of the Cheviot/Western Hills Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Hearts.

        They are Ruth Stokes, Jerry Casey and Ron Bluestein.

        “We can only have members who have won the Purple Heart, as the base membership, and wives, daughters, etc. as part of the Ladies Auxiliary,” said Tim Culbertson, commander. “These honorees are supporting friends who do not meet the criteria for membership.”

        Ruth Stokes is the widow of former Hamilton County Sheriff, Lincoln Stokes.

        Parents in the 13-week Raising Great Kids parenting program graduated last week in a ceremony at Heinold Foreign Language Academy, 2240 Baltimore Ave., Westwood.

        The curriculum taught the parents about problem-solving, discipline and anger management.

        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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