MasonBuzz.com

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Eight southwest Ohio organizations will benefit Friday during Mars Hill Academy’s Day of Service.

Every student in the 300-pupil, grade K-12 classical and Christian school in Mason, will participate.

The day begins at 9 a.m. when kindergarten children make cards to go with blankets that will distributed by Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. The children will learn about the group through a visit with Judy Freeman, of the group.

First and second graders will host an appreciation tea for older adults from three senior citizen centers. During the tea, the children will perform for the senior and give them appreciation cards they made.

Third graders will visit with Mason Fire Department’s Deputy Chief Daniel Stitzel before helping to wash a fire truck. They will also hear a presentation about an upcoming mission trip to Togo from Roger Babik of Master Provisions. The children will give him cards to take on his trip.

Fourth through sixth graders are headed to Matthew 25 Ministries in Blue Ash to help assemble person care kits and repackaging liquid soap.

The Salvation Army’s Camp Swoneky in Oregonia will get help from the schools seventh through 10th graders. They will weed, rake, and clean facilities.

Juniors and seniors will go to the Teen Challenge women’s home and men’s ranch in Milford. There they will help make repairs, clean, and do farm chores.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: charity, christian, community service, day of service, mars hill academy, mason, school

Mason High School students are writing each other notes with words of encouragement and placing them on random lockers as part of a kindness campaign. Photo provided

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Mason High School may just be the kindest school in America.

That’s the feeling of 26 Acts of Kindness, a national campaign launched in December after NBC’s Ann Curry tweeted the idea of being kind to one another in memory of the 20 students and six adults killed in the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Ct.

The school’s freshmen class is spearheading a weeklong campaign to have its 800 members perform 4,000 acts of kindness – one act per day, per student, for five days – ending Friday.

“I came into it as a skeptic. I thought the students would not take it seriously,’’ said freshman Danielle Morey. “It touches me to see how it’s caught on. It does make a difference.”

By 8:15 a.m. Friday, the goal had been exceeded, with more than 4,600 acts of kindness performed just by freshman. Each of the 34 freshmen homerooms are also making public service announcements, some of which are posted at YouTube.

• Post stories/photos of your act of kindness on MasonBuzz’s Facebook page
• Mason High School is the biggest… best?

Students are writing each other notes with words of encouragement or praise and placing them on random lockers. They’re helping out at home, babysitting for neighbors, holding doors open for teachers, or just smiling at classmates.

Both teachers and students have pledged to make Mason High School’s freshmen the Class of Kindness and continue the acts of kindness throughout their high school career.

(more…)

Posted in: Community, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: 26 acts of kindness, ann curry, charity, class of kindness, community service, connecticut, jerry schrock, kindest school in america, kindness, mason high school, newtown, Sandy Hook Elementary, shooting, tender mercies

Kings High School Seniors where volunteering to do landscaping around the grounds of the high school as part of a National Day of Service and Remembrance of 9/11. (Tony Tribble for the Enquirer)

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Kings High School student Luke McLelland started his senior year with all 75 hours of his required community service hours finished.

But it didn’t stop the teen from joining his school’s Community Service Club, where he lines up service projects for classmates.

And that willingness to keep giving, said Superintendent Valerie Browning, is what the goal of the service requirement is all about.

“When I first came here I was really surprised – you don’t see that too often in public education,” Browning said. “As I became more and more exposed to it I realized how important service is for the kids, their growth and development.”

It also allows the community to see teenagers in a positive light.

“All too often we get into that mode of ‘Kids these days …” Browning said. “This allows people to see the positive side of our students.”

McLelland lined up three Habitat for Humanity houses his classmates could volunteer at during the senior class’ participation in the National Day of Service and Remembrance in September.

His was one of nine projects planned by seniors for seniors, who began the school day with a brief assembly before leaving for their work sites.

“The goal of community service is teaching kids the value of being active members of the community, not passive,” said Tim Guilfoyle, service club adviser. “I want kids to have the opportunity to lead other kids.”

Another service day – this one open to students in all grades – is being planned for spring by the service club.

“We spent the day building walls – hammering nails. We had 10 kids in each of three houses in Hamilton,” McLelland said.

“I love it. It’s super fun. I would much rather be outside spending time with my friends working than inside the classroom learning.”

(more…)

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: 9/11, brady vanover, community service, habitat for humanity, jake caito, kings, kings high school, luke mclelland, national day of service and remembrance, nick handorf, tim guilfoyle, valerie browning, volunteer

The Enquirer

Mason High School senior Thomas Probel spends a lot of time making music.

Along with playing in his school’s wind symphony, marching band, pit orchestra, pep band and symphony orchestra, Thomas is in his second year playing with the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra.

“Performing is a part of my life which I can never let go,” Probel says.

Yet he also makes time to volunteer through his Heritage Presbyterian Church, the Flying Pig Marathon, Matthew 25 Ministries, and the Interfaith Hospitality Network.

When he goes off to college to study engineering, Probel says he will still look for opportunities to play his clarinet.

How did you get involved in playing instruments?
My father used to play clarinet and saxophone when he was in high school. My parents encouraged my siblings and me to become involved in music. I used to play my dad’s clarinet around the house and then eventually took piano lessons. In sixth grade I chose to play clarinet with the school band. I also saw how much fun my older brother Matthew had with marching and concert bands.

What has been your most exciting moment so far that involved playing music?
My entire senior has been exciting for me. I have been given so many opportunities I’ve taken advantage of, like having a solo in my marching band show that placed in the Top 10 in the Grand National Finals. All of the honor ensembles that I have been a part of this year were also rewarding, from principal clarinet in All-State Orchestra to being a part of the Honor Band of America.

Posted in: Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: cincinnati symphony youth orchestra, community service, flying pig marathon, heritage presbyterian church, interfaith hospitality network, mason high school, matthew 25 ministries, music, orchestra, symphony, thomas probel, volunteer

Pamela Coleman-Brailsford

Pamela Coleman-Brailsford, senior director of supplier diversity and sustainability at Mason-based Cintas Corp., is among eight local businesswomen to be inducted into the YWCA Career Women of Achievement class on May 9.

The YWCA established the awards in 1980. Since then, more than 250 women have been honored in one of the most widely recognized programs for business achievement in the region.

This year’s winners were selected from among 70 nominations from area businesses and individuals. An independent panel of five community leaders selected eight women best exemplifying personal career success, leadership and the ability to serve as role models.

Here’s more about Coleman-Brailsford, and why she was selected:

Among Achievements:

• Established Cintas’ Supplier Diversity Executive Steering Committee.
• Board member and Membership chair, South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council.
• Advisory committee member, Center for Sustainability, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

Quotable: What does every woman need to know to succeed in business today?

“Young women should always get outside of their comfort zone. Be a continuous learner and identify at least one mentor or sponsor who provides a different perspective or skill set. But most importantly, be an agent of change and bring new ideas and solutions while taking the lead in your own personal development.”

Read bios on the other award-winners at cincinnati.com.

Posted in: Business, Community, News |

Tags: Tags: businesswomen, cintas, cintas corp., community service, pamela coleman-brailsford, ywca career women of achievement

Gabrielle Pathrose, 11, of Mason, was named the third place winner in the Gee Whiz Kids Award program by the Heart of America Foundation. Photo provided/Mason Schools

At just 11 years of age, Gabrielle Pathrose has already dedicated countless hours to helping others.  Now the Mason sixth-grader is being recognized for those efforts.

The Heart of America Foundation named Gabrielle the third-place winner in its annual Gee Whiz Kids Award program.

The award honors students ages 12 and under who exemplify the value of service in America.

Gabrielle and her older brother, Joshua, 13, teamed up this past year to raise thousands to benefit families of 9/11 victims and international disaster relief efforts.  The pair performed concerts — Josh plays guitar and Gabrielle plays violin — at local grocery stores and collected donations.

The siblings raised $600 more for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center by selling cold water to spectators at local soccer games.  They then collected more than 200 stuffed animals and toys to donate to patients at Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.

Gabrielle is an active junior volunteer at the Cedar Village retirement community in Mason, where she volunteers three hours each week after school helping residents with physical therapy, assisting nurses and playing her violin.

She also volunteers at the Chesterwood Village nursing home in West Chester at Christmas and Easter.

Gabrielle will receive a certificate and $100 scholarship donated by Marilyn and Amanda Perlyn, the mother-daughter author and illustrator of the book, “The Biggest and Brightest Light,” a children’s book that teaches the importance of giving.

Posted in: Community, News |

Tags: Tags: 9/11, cincinnati children's hospital medical center, community service, donations, gabrielle pathrose, gee whiz kids award, giving, heart of america foundation, international disaster relief, joshua pathrose, scholarship, shriner's hospital, the biggest and brightest light

Mason Intermediate sixth graders helped winterize a retirement community last month as part of a fall community service project. Pictured left-right are: Lindsey Learned, Caroline Gries, Rebecca Peters, Megan Ledford, Colleen Walker, Alex Crecelius, Dale Moberly and Aaron Crecelius. Photo provided

Sixth graders at Mason Intermediate recently performed acts of kindness for senior neighbors.

Students in Team Venture participated in a fall community service project to winterize the Deerfield Commons Retirement Community last month.

Students raked leaves, washed windows, swept garages, pulled weeds, cleaned gutters and socialized with residents.

This marks the fifth year for the team’s community service program, which is organized with help from Mason Serves.  Students are also encouraged to perform random acts of kindness throughout the year.

“Each year, it is extremely rewarding to see students develop a heart for their community and helping those in need,” said Team Venture teacher Dale Moberly. “They discover that they benefit just as much or more than the recipients of their kind efforts.”

Posted in: Community, News, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: community service, deerfield commons retirement community, fall community service project, mason, mason intermediate, random acts of kindness, students, team venture

Al Voorhis, MHS Class of 1944, was honored as the Mason High School's 2011 Distinguished Alumni.

Nominations for Mason High School’s Distinguished Alumni awards are being accepted through Dec. 1.

The award recognizes one Mason graduate, who has achieved professional recognition or performed good works.

Candidates must be at least a 20-year graduate of Mason and show contributions in one of six categories: arts and humanities; business and industry; community service; education; public service; or special recognition.

“This award helps us recognize our rich history, and connects our current students with these amazing individuals who have graduated and gone on to do great things,” said MHS principal, Mindy McCarty-Stewart.

Mike Chipman, class of 1965, was honored as the school’s first distinguished alumnus. Al Voorhis, class of 1944 was the 2011 award recipient.

Informational packets with nomination forms are available at the high school at 6100 Mason-Montgomery Road or online at http://tinyurl.com/3bs3xxz (PDF link).

The recipient will be recognized at the class of 2012 commencement ceremony.

Posted in: Events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: al voohis, alumnus, award, career, community service, distinguished alumni award, good works, graduate, mason high school, mike chipman, mindy mccarty-stewart

More than 160 Mason area Boy Scouts and troop leaders gathered Saturday to help give Cottell Park a “facelift” as part of a Day of Service project.

Scouts ranging in ages from 7-18 helped mulch, weed, landscape and remove waste from the Deerfield Township park.  Service projects like this are a cornerstone of Scouting and help cultivate a sense of civic responsibility, Scout leaders say.

“Scouts do small service projects throughout the year benefitting many organizations,” said Gary Hayes, Mason Scout parent, and volunteer chairman for this project.  “With the Day of Service, we wanted to mobilize all Scouts in Mason area to do a large scale project in one day that couldn’t be accomplished otherwise.”

More than 590 youth are involved in Scouting in Mason.  Programs are available for boys ages 7-18; the Boy Scouts Exploring program is open to boys and girls ages 14 and up.

Learn more about Scouting by attending an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Mason Early Childhood Center, 4631 Hickory Woods Drive, or at 6 p.m on Sept. 7-8 at the Mason Community Center, 6050 Mason-Montgomery Road.

For more information, call the Dan Beard BSA Council at 513-577-7700 or go to www.danbeard.org.

Posted in: Community, Faith & Religion, News |

Tags: Tags: boy scouts, community service, cottell park, dan beard council, day of service, deerfield township, mason, park

Chuck Proudfit, center, with the Rev. Jeff Greer of Grace Chapel in Mason and Ron McCann, director of SSE in Mason. Provided

A Mason man received honor and recognition this month for civic leadership and community service.

Chuck Proudfit, president of SkillSource business consultancy and At Work on Purpose, was honored by Venue magazine at its awards luncheon held at the Cintas Center last week.

Proudfit was honored for his work with the two organizations and with Self-Sustaining Enterprises, a nonprofit initiative of Grace Chapen in Mason.

SSE maintains marketplace ministries in Mason, Hamilton, Clifton and Sharonville.  Proceeds from its business ventures are used to fund enterprise projects in Mexico, Nigeria, Liberia and India.

Proudfit and a coalition of volunteers recently traveled to Nigeria to help poverty-stricken residents construct aquaponics fish ponds and drill freshwater wells.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: at work on purpose, award, chuck proudfit, civic leadership, community service, honored, mason, self sustaining enterprises, skillsource, sse, venue magazine