Kids Voting

Southwest Ohio Kids Voting, part of a nationwide, nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing students to become informed, lifelong voters, celebrated its sixth annual Kids Voting Gridiron Dinner and Roast.

Modeled after the National Press Club's annual event, the Kids Voting Gridiron provides an opportunity to poke light-hearted fun at the community and has honored and roasted some of its most prominent leaders.

This year's "targets" were National Underground Railroad Freedom Center CEO Edwin Rigaud, retired Ohio Senate leader Stanley Aronoff, and community leader and arts fund-raiser Melody Sawyer Richardson.

The "roasters" included Al St. Clair, vice president, Corporate Quality Assurance at Procter & Gamble; Judge Mark Painter of the Hamilton County Court of Appeals; and Jack Rouse, CEO of Jack Rouse Associates. The group honored retired Ohio House leader William L. Mallory Sr. with its Champion of Democracy Award and State Sen. Bob Schuler as "Founding Benefactor." Schuler donated $2,500 from his Citizens for Schuler fund, which will support Kids Voting programs in high schools.

This year's roast drew 250 and raised more than $30,000 for Kids Voting.

Taste and See

Little Sisters of the Poor hosted a cooking class and dinner, "Taste and See," at St. Paul's Archbishop Leibold Home for the Aged in Clifton. Fifty-six guests enjoyed a cooking demonstration and meal prepared by William Ecker, executive chef at the Bankers Club.

Sponsors included the Ampac Co.; Anchor Flange; Keating, Meuthing and Klekamp law firm; and three sisters, Angela Haynes, Shawna Vogel and Erin Enneking. Volunteers from the University of Cincinnati and the Catholic young adult group Generation Christ offered their time as servers.

Since 1868, the Little Sisters of the Poor has served Greater Cincinnati's elderly poor.

The event raised funds to support the Riddle Road home's operations and for renovations that will improve accommodations for resident activities and create space for a proposed senior center day program.

Bowl for Kids Sake

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association of Cincinnati's Bowl for Kids Sake at the Madison Bowl drew bowlers of all ages and raised more than $32,000.

WMOJ-FM (94.9) provided entertainment and Jack Atherton, Joyce Wise, Ron Lawson and Deb Silverman were guest emcees.

Guests enjoyed prizes and gift certificates, animals from the Cincinnati Zoo, Max and Erma, from their restaurant, Phil Dalton, Frisch's Big Boy, Rainbow the Clown and the Amazing Cindini.

Sponsors included WMOJ, Max and Erma's, Huntington Bank, AGI, Avon, Fifth Third Bank, Just Saab, KG&N Attorneys at Law, Brookwood Retirement Community, Blaine's Fine Men's Apparel, Givaudan Raure, Ken Creamers, Suburban Pediatric Association, Hills Developers Inc., Cohen Brothers Inc., and Champion Windows, Siding, Patio Rooms.

Soup Bowl Celebration

Inter Parish Ministry, a Newtown-based ecumenical social service agency, hosted Soup Bowl Celebration! - a sold-out event at Peterloon Estate in Indian Hill.

More than 150 attendees enjoyed soups from Clough Crossing, Rookwood Pottery and Jean Paul's Pleasures and desserts from D's Cakes Unique and the Iron Skillet.

Event co-chairs were Merida d'Augustine and Sally Weekley.

Guests took home a soup bowl painted by artists representing the Art Academy of Cincinnati, the Contemporary Art Center, Mass Marketing Inc., Indian Hill Middle School arts honor students and Anderson, Turpin, Milford and Walnut Hills high school art clubs.

Celebrity-signed soup bowls were a highlight of a silent auction. They included bowls signed by celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse and Reds radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman.

Inter Parish Ministry, celebrating its 40th anniversary later this year, serves low-income families from eastern Hamilton County and Clermont County and is supported by more than 35 churches from nine denominations.

The event raised more than $6,000 to support the agency's food pantry, emergency assistance, Nearly New Store and other ministry programs and services.

Sponsors included Advanced Transitions Inc., Let's Go Doodlin,' Grant Vocational School Culinary Program and the Eclectic Garden.