Neighborhood organizations; youth league baseball, soccer and basketball clubs; churches; and charity groups can get away from bake sales and car washes to raise money with the opening of the Great American Ball Park.

Ryan Minton, group manager for Sportservice, which operates the concession stands, said they will be run exclusively by volunteers from various organizations.

He said volunteer groups raised $950,000 last year, working concessions at Cinergy Field.

"This year, we will have 26 concession stands that will be run by volunteer groups,'' Mr. Minton said.

He said the groups will be trained, and food and drinks will be provided.

They will get 10 percent of what is made at the concession stands for the first 10 games and 12 percent for 20 games.

"If attendance is down at a Reds game, we will pay each person $50 each,'' Mr. Minton said.

He said 85 groups are returning from last year. To sign up, call Mr. Minton at 765-7585.

More help is coming for injured Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy, Paul "P.J." Reinert.

Fifty cents of every dollar made on car washes Sunday at Fantastic Finish Inc. Car Wash, 1015 Town Dr., Wilder, will be donated to Deputy Reinert

"We conduct benefits every Saturday and Sunday,'' said Judy Morris, account manager for the company. "Our recent benefit was for volunteer firefighters and we raised $1,100.''

A benefit will be held for Newport Police Officer Doug Halcomb Nov. 24. Officer Halcomb has cancer.

LaSalle High school will host Lancer Madness at 6 p.m., Nov. 25 and allow sheriff's deputies to collect free donations for the school's Paul J, Reinert Family Assistance Fund.

Deputy Reinert, who was injured in a car crash while chasing a speeding motorist in Colerain Township Sept. 4, is a 1991 graduate of LaSalle High School, where he played football and was vice president of student government.

Princeton High School staff raised $1,323.60, last month in a walk through Glenwood Gardens, Woodlawn. The funds went to Princeton's Neediest Kids. It was sponsored by the Princeton Organization for Wellness.

A $100,000 grant from the Charlotte R. Schmidlapp Fund, Fifth Third Bank, trustee, will be used to establish a scholarship fund for female members of Dominican Community Services' early childhood program and a wellness program for young mothers.

More than 900 low-income elderly and disabled homeowners will get help Saturday during "Repair Affair," sponsored by People Working Cooperatively. Volunteers, along with firefighters, will repair and insulate homes. For more information, call 351-7921.

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.