Students at Summit Country Day felt a need to continue their annual Jump Rope For Heart program even after part of their school building collapsed in January.

Last month, the 231 middle school students joined with 135 primary students in grades 2-6 at the school and took at least one jump for each of the 242,398 people who died in 2003 from illnesses caused by smoking.

Third- and fourth-graders at Summit Country Day School in Hyde Park, including fourth-grader Matt Schiess, 9 (foreground), jump rope in the school's gymnasium. The students raised nearly $17,000, for the American Heart Association, with 500,000 jumps. Cincinnati Enquirer/GARY LANDERS

According to Jennifer Pierson, public relations coordinator, the students jumped about 500,000 times and raised $16,931.25 for the American Heart Association.

The activity took place in the gymnasium at the school's main campus, 2161 Grandin Road, Hyde Park. Some of the students have remained at scattered sites since the collapse. Some are at the Crossroads Community Church, 3500 Madison Road, Oakley, and others at Xavier University.

"We landed on our feet, in spite of the tragedies,'' Pierson said. "The students were upbeat about the Jump Rope For Heart program. They spent two days in the activity. They had sheets of paper with 25 steps marked on them. When 25 jumps were made, they would cross them off and move on.''

Nine to be honored

Nine people will be honored by the Sankofa Educational Enrichment Program Inc. at its 2004 Nguzo Saba Awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The event will be in the Quinn Chapel AME Church, 10998 Southland Road, Forest Park, and will include guest speaker Kenya Jordana James, the 14-year-old founder, publisher and editor of blackgirl magazine.

Honorees are Sharon Johnson, principal of Withrow University High School; Obadiah Williams, founder and director of Early Childhood Stimulation and Parent Training Program; Cheryl and Reola Hunt, founder of Jamaica Children's Fund; Kenneth Price, head of Triad Development and Digital Millennium; and Annie Ruth, head of A. Ruth Creations.

Also, Gloria Turnbow, a volunteer who works with the NAACP Youth Council; Alton Frailey, superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools; George Malone, retired real estate and insurance executive; and Akil Wilder, an honor student, vice president of the junior class and band captain at Shroder Paideia High School.

For tickets - $30 adults, $15 students - e-mail aimaClarke@aol.com or call Kimya Moyo, 961-3526.

Kenya Jordana James, of Atlanta, who was named Black Enterprise Magazine's 2003 Teenpreneur of the Year, will also participate in a youth forum 7-9 p.m. Friday at Parham Elementary School, 1835 Fairfax Ave., Evanston. The forum is titled "The Role of African-American youth in the 21st Century.''

Participants include Wilder; John Campbell, NAACP Youth Council; Vincent Gantt, Entrepreneur High School, Winton Hills; and Deland McCullough, principal of Harmony Community School and a former Cincinnati Bengal.

For information contact Kristin Harper by e-mail, kristinrharper@hotmail.com, or by calling 961-5308 or 983-8185.

Open house Saturday

The Spiritual Advisory Group at the Lincoln Crawford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Walnut Hills provides help and guidance to residents and staff as a big part of its mission.

On Saturday, members of the group will hold an open house at the center from 2 to 4 p.m.

"The spiritual group is made up of community representatives from various denominations,'' said Bishop Dwight Wilkins, chairman of the group.

Richard Binenfeld, executive director of the center, said the Spiritual Advisory Group has been instrumental in strengthening the spirit of residents who lack family or church support.

Saturday's open house also will include members of the spiritual group mingling with residents and staff and discussing future projects.

Joanne Byrd, resident council president, will receive a gift purchased by the spiritual group.

The center is the oldest nonprofit African-American nursing home in Ohio

The center's history can be traced to John Crawford, a soldier who escaped from a Confederate prison in Virginia during the Civil War with the help of slaves. Crawford said slaves provided lodging and food for him en route from Virginia to Cincinnati. He later put in his will that his College Hill farm be used as a home for elderly black men. The center is now owned by the Wesley Services Organization.