By Janet C. Wetzel
Enquirer contributor
Some people call them guardian angels. Others have dubbed them "The Three Musketeers." But regardless of the title, people agree - they're dedicated, caring women, determined to make a difference.
Mary Ellen Cody, Sue Rae Fleischer and Lillian Jones met three years ago and quickly formed a steely bond. Now they routinely work together for a common goal - helping others.
Their volunteering extends into many arenas in the Cincinnati area. They give often and willingly, but the bulk of their time is devoted to Every Child Succeeds (ECS), an intervention program for first-time, at-risk mothers and their babies.
They will go to almost any length to fulfill their mission. They laugh recalling how Mrs. Fleischer was once in a drive-through when she learned that an executive of a company she planned to ask for a product donation was in the car behind her. Without hesitation, she jumped out of her car and rushed back to ask him to help ECS. His surprise was genuine; the donation was generous.
It began in the summer of 1999 when ECS was founded by United Way, Community Action Agency, and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (where it is located), to help provide an optimal start for children.
ECS is a home visitation-based program serving nine counties. It works with about 1,500 mothers and their children monthly, providing help with parenting skills, health education, and links to community service through social workers and nurses working with families from prenatal until the child is 3, said Margaret Clark, program director.
When Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Fleischer and Mrs. Cody were asked to help with ECS, they were stunned to learn that there was no volunteer program - they would have to launch one and run it.
"At first we sat looking at each other and wondering, `Is this for real?'" said Mrs. Cody, of Hyde Park.
After the first major task - finding a warehouse with low rent - the trio searched for low-cost items to make up parent aid bags until they could get corporations to donate products. They also launched their fund-raising effort.
Each month, all 1,500 families get parenting aid bags with something for mom, a hardback book and an age-appropriate item for the child, such as a drinking cup. Before donations got started, their budget allowed only dollar-store items.
At first they worked nearly full time. They still spend several hours weekly soliciting donations, preparing bags, meeting with the small volunteer staff, and making joint decisions. For projects such as fund-raisers and the annual Mother's Day party, they log 40 to 60 hours a week.
"We just became best friends. Now when someone asks one of us to do something else, the others come along. We support each other in everything," Mrs. Fleischer, of Wyoming, said. That includes other volunteer work.
Mrs. Cody and Mrs. Fleischer are on the board of the Dominican Community Services; Mrs. Cody and Mrs. Jones are on the boards of Dress for Success and Friends of the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music; Mrs. Fleischer is on the board of the local chapter of First Book, a Washington, D.C., literacy program and volunteered years at Cincinnati Country Day when her children attended. Mrs. Cody is on the Chicago Province of the Jesuits executive development board, and was on the Catholic Social Service board.
Mrs. Jones, a former teacher who lives in Mount Lookout, is on the boards of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Heart Association, Cincinnati Opera, Visiting Nurses Association, and has held offices in the Cincinnati Chapter of Links Inc., a women's service organization.
Do you know a Hometown Hero... someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net or fax to 513-755-4150.
