Bill Hutchinson was shocked by some information he stumbled upon in the late 1990s. “I learned there are (many) homeless children in Cincinnati. I just couldn't believe it,” Mr. Hutchinson, a College Hill resident, said.

Hometown Hero Bill Hutchinson with Project Connect kids Sapphire Ruff, 8, Ulysses Ruff, 10, and Fantashia Ruff, 7, in a garden at Hayes Porter Middle School. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        So Mr. Hutchinson, 72, decided to make homeless children a priority. He volunteers the equivalent of three days a week with Project Connect, a federally funded educational program in the West End for homeless children that started in 1996.

        “He has raised so much money for the program, he's so involved with the kids, and he's so energetic and dynamic you'd think he's 50,” said Lisa Siegel, former president of Project Connect Homeless Children's Fund, the program's nonprofit arm.

        “Bill organizes hikes for the kids, he grills them lunch, he takes them on field trips, he writes grants for us, gets money from area corporations, he raises money through his speaking, and he organizes our annual benefit called "Children's Faces Without Places.' ”

        The fifth annual benefit, which includes a live auction, which will be Sept. 27 at Devou Park in Covington.

        Mr. Hutchinson, who is vice president of the board of directors of the fund, also raises money through a “Kids Making Change for Change” program he created, in which he talks at schools to encourage children to help the homeless.

        Mr. Hutchinson retired in 1990 as director of trade development and trade relations for the former MarionMerrell Dow Co. in Reading, where he worked 31 years.

        Mr. Hutchinson learned about Project Connect in 1999 and worked there 18 months as a nearly full-time volunteer. He took a one-year job working there for a stipend through AmeriCorps as part of a national service corps, then returned to his volunteering in April.

        “These kids need so much help. Homeless children are often two or three years behind in school, they move seven or eight times a year, which is incredibly stressful,” said Mr. Hutchinson.

        “We work with 12 area shelters, do after-school programs, tutoring in the summer, and we have a great summer program which includes reading enhancement, lifestyle enrichment activities and such,” he said.

        “We take them places like swimming, to art museums and Kings Island. I remember the last day last summer, kids leaving were so sad, and some said they couldn't wait to come back next year. We hope we never see them here again, that they get homes and a stable life instead.”

        Mr. Hutchinson said he can't refuse to help.

        “There are just so many needs,” he said. “I have very strong feelings about this country we live in — the freedoms, the joys. But there are massive gaps between the haves and the have-nots. We're just trying to stop that cycle of homelessness, through education and caring. This just has to be done.”

        ———

        Do you know a Hometown Hero — someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and to helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net, or fax (513) 755-4150.

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