The 13th annual Mardi Gras for Homeless Children will be Feb. 24 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. Sponsors include the Northern Kentucky Restaurant Association and the Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Association.

It will involve culinary treats from 30 restaurants, in addition to live music, door prizes and auctions.

"It provides a great boost for our program here,'' said Sister Mary Stanton, executive director of Bethany House in South Fairmount, one of the four local charities that benefit from the Mardi Gras. "Last year, we received about $21,000 from the Mardi Gras.

That amount allowed us to feed a lot of families and use other monies in our budget for other programs.

"This event is important because it emphasizes the importance of caring and feeding homeless mothers and children.''

Other local charities that benefit from the event are Mercy Franciscan at St. John, Over-the-Rhine; Brighton Center's Homeward Bound; and Welcome House in Covington.

The goal this year is to bring in $60,000 or more for the four charities, which help a total of 40,000 people each year.

For more information, call (859) 291-6572.

Foundation receives grant

In recognition of its efforts in the Ohio High School Transformation Initiative, KnowledgeWorks Foundation has received a $1 million grant.

KnowledgeWorks Foundation provides funding and leadership for education initiatives throughout Ohio. It was created in 1998 as a charitable foundation through the reorganization of the Student Loan Funding Corporation.

With more than $200 million in assets, the foundation is one of Ohio's largest philanthropic partners in education.

Chad Wick, president and CEO of KnowledgeWorks Foundation, said the grant solidifies Ohio's place on the national high school reform scene.

Homework help

Middle and junior high school students in the Winton Woods, Princeton, Northwest and Fairfield school districts can receive help with homework at the Forest Chapel United Methodist Church from 6-7:30 p.m Tuesdays.

The church is at 680 W. Sharon Road next to the Parkdale Branch Library.

No appointment is necessary. Information: 825-3040.

Charitable class

The 23 students in Alicea Brown's first-grade class were recognized Thursday for donating a dollar each to Matthew Ministries, a charitable organization that collects unused products from companies and sends them to Third World countries.

Money from Brown's class was used to buy notebooks. Each student colored the notebook covers. They were sent to a school in Nicaragua.

Academic All-Stars: Student named Eagle Scout

Justin Landers of Troop 940, sponsored by St. John Church in West Chester Township, has achieved the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America: Eagle Scout. For his community service project, he and his crew created a nature center and pond at Independence Elementary School in Liberty Township.

The son of Connie and Tom Landers of Liberty Township is a sophomore at Lakota East High School.

Scholarship awarded

Steven Hogel, a freshman pre-pharmacy major at the University of Cincinnati Clermont College, is the winner of a scholarship sponsored by the Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra.

While attending Glen Este High School, he participated in the competition choir and worked lighting for school theater performances. He is the son of Kim and Mark Hogel of Summerset.

Leadership recognized

Walnut Hills High School graduate Liz Stevenson has earned a $1,000 Chick-fil-A Leadership Scholarship. It recognizes employees who excel in the areas of leadership, academics and community involvement.

A nursing student at the University of Cincinnati, she is employed at the restaurant at Kenwood Towne Centre.

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