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Charity Events

A Window of Opportunity To Change Lives

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This coming Monday April 4,  Linda Vista, Inc. is hosting its 2011 Window of Opportunity Luncheon at 12:00 noon at the Holiday Inn, 2800 Presidential Drive.  The Mistress of Ceremonies will be local television personality Marsha Bonhart. Featured speakers include the Honorable Barbara Gorman of Montgomery County Common Pleas Court and Amos Otis, President of SoBran.

The luncheon is the first fund raiser for Linda Vista. Funds raised will be used to support the organization’s efforts to transition homeless women and their children to permanent housing.

“Linda Vista provides housing and a high quality program that teaches self-sufficiency to homeless women ready for change. Linda Vista provides the women with a clear vision to the future for themselves and their children,” says Carmen Gooden, founder and executive director of Linda Vista. More than a way to raise dollars, this event seeks to enlighten a broader spectrum of the community about the staggering number of homeless women and children in need of housing and support services how Linda Vista is working to meet that need.

Since opening its doors in 2006, the Linda Vista has become a recognized provider of homeless services by the City of Dayton and Montgomery County homeless solutions program. For twenty-four months, residents participate in life skills sessions, job readiness training, parenting classes and personal development workshops. The children are enrolled in an on-site after school program and on the weekends and during school breaks, participate in cultural, sports and arts activities.

Nearly two hundred (200) women and their children have been referred to Linda Vista for housing and services from 2006 – 2010. Over the last three years, Linda Vista has maintained a 80% success rate for a positive exit (clients exit to permanent housing) and has maintained 100% capacity since 2009.

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Carmen and her staff seek to inspire the community to take a step forward to provide a caring and loving facility for women where they can regain and perpetuate their self-dignity in a challenging world. It is their firm belief that it “takes a community to heal a community.”

As one of the graduates of the program stated, “Life is a journey, but we are not defeated anymore.”   Strong, meaningful words, from a person that has a new life, a successful life thanks to Linda Vista.

Open a window of opportunity for a deserving family by attending this event. Tickets can be purchased for $35.00 by calling 277-9663 or 397-6537.

Nick Clooney – George’s Dad and So Much More (Win Tickets!)

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Nick Clooney(The following was submitted by Tamera Geesling of the Junior League of Dayton)

Besides having a famous son, Nick Clooney has earned his own reputation as a legend in the broadcasting biz.  Nick is an award-winning journalist, author and television personality and will be in Dayton on April 7, 2011, to speak at the Junior League of Dayton’s Town Hall Lecture Series.

Reporter, Journalist, Television Show Host, Author, Activist – Nick Clooney has worn many hats during his distinguished career.  He has accumulated numerous awards and honors for his work, including three Emmy nominations for his work researching and introducing “golden era” movies for the American Movie Classics (AMC) channel and was named one of the “best in the business of television news” by the  Washington Review of Journalism.

In addition to hosting the The Nick Clooney Show, he garnered national attention for his coverage of the 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire in northern Kentucky.  Clooney continued to focus on hard news, and helped the ABS affiliate, WKRC-TV, become a solid #1 in local news rankings.

Clooney is also known for having a son who has achieved success in the acting and directing fields.  In 2006, Clooney and his son, George, travelled to the war-torn region of Darfur and filmed the documentary, A Journey to Darfur. The film has been shown throughout the world and was released on DVD in 2008, with proceeds donated to the International Rescue Committee.

The Town Hall Lecture Series is sponsored by its media partners, ThinkTV and Times Community Newspaper.  The Nick Clooney lecture is presented by Freund, Freeze & Arnold: A Legal Professional Association.  To date, the Town Hall Lecture Series has raised over $1.8 million to support local JLD community programs, such as POWER (Program of Wellness Education and Resources), a children’s advocacy program in partnership with The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, and the Holiday Hunt, an annual tradition of the Dayton Holiday Festival.

Tickets are $31 each (plus handling) and can be ordered by calling 937-228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.  Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and the lecture begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Schuster Center in Downtown Dayton.

DaytonMostMetro.com has a pair of FREE TICKETS to give away – simply fill out the form below and then click the Facebook Recommend button in the Social Share section.  As soon as we get at least 50 FB “recommends” then we’ll draw a random name from the entries.  Please make sure your mailing address is correct as we’ll be mailing the tickets to the winner, and make sure you are available at 10am on April 7 for the event.  Good luck!

The Junior League of Dayton is an organization of women who are committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.  For more information about the JLD and its community programs, visit www.jldayton.org.

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Baskets for Bottoms Diaper Drive Kicks Off!

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DAYTON — Social media philanthropists CultureMASH have announced their next big social good initiative: Starting Saturday, March 12, the group will launch Baskets for Bottoms, collecting diapers and other baby-related toiletries to benefit The Mustard Seed Foundation.

Baskets for Bottoms will run approximately one week with many available drop-off locations. All items collected will be donated to The Mustard Seed Foundation, a local nonprofit that serves disadvantaged, teen mothers ages 13-21 and their children who are at or below the poverty level. The Mustard Seed Foundation provides its programs and services to all counties throughout the state of Ohio and accepts teen mothers who are in state or county custody or have been referred by other service agencies. “For many of these girls, we’re their last hope between a good life and a life on the street for them and their babies,” says founder Shondale Atkinson. “We are trying to break that cycle of poverty and show these girls that they can be the difference in the lives of their children. But we can’t do this alone; we’re very grateful for the contributions of individuals and organizations in this region who are committed to making the Gem City truly shine.”

Collection Items

Diapers

Toiletries and Baby Wipes

Diaper Creams

NO MONETARY DONATIONS.

These businesses have taken a step toward improving the lives of impoverished young women by signing up to be a drop-off location:

Tim Horton’s – 150 Monarch Lane – Miamisburg, OH 45342150

Skyline Chili – 8906 Kingsridge Drive  – Dayton, OH 45458-1619

Airport Toyota – 1180 West National Road, Vandalia, OH 45377

Living Word Church – 926 East National Road. Vandalia, OH 45377-3202

The Ohio Coffee Company – 46 West 5th Street Dayton, OH 45402-2310

Fresh Ideas Hair Design – 1464 West Main Street  New Lebanon, OH 45345-9772

Coins4Me 38 W. Franklin St. Centerville OH

The Wine Loft @ The Greene – Beavercreek, OH

Each Baskets for Bottoms drop-off site offers a chance for donors to win a prize! Check out the CultureMASH Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/CultureMASH) for details.

Doing Social Good and A Chance to Win One of the Following!

$50 Jewelry Gift Card – Coins4Me
10 $5 GC – Skyline Chili
1 Year of Free Oil Changes – Toyota Airport
$75 Gift Card to Cake Hope and Love
and more!
To learn more about The Mustard Seed Foundation, or to find out how to contribute to their mission, visit www.themustardseedfoundationofdayton.org or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/themustardseedfoundationofdayton.

About CultureMASH

Founded in 2010 by Shana Douglas and Carla Weis Hale, CultureMASH is a team of creative young professionals in all facets of marketing and new media using their talents to give something back to the community. CultureMASH will train and assist organizations in using the latest tools to broaden and captivate their audience. Though not entirely focused on “e-charity,” the real-time web has become a sustainable means of marketing for the nonprofit sector. When used efficiently, social media can heighten awareness, help with promoting causes and boost fundraising so organizations can continue to have an impact and further their missions. Through use of creative talents and sound strategic thought processes, CultureMASH believes these messages will be amplified beyond the social network. By organizing communities both on and offline, a rejuvenation of volunteerism and involvement is ahead. CultureMASH is the bridge that will connect organizations back to the community to wage true advocacy campaigns.

Hunks & Heals and Beads, Oh My!

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Vince Corrado, 2009 Best Legs Champion

It takes a real man to strut his stuff in a pair of high heels and Clothes That Work (CTW)  has been lucky enough to repeatedly count on some truly philanthropic guys in our community.  On Tues, March 8th photographer Andy Snow will be doing a photo shoot, capturing the contestants for the 20111 Online Best Leg Competition at The Wine Loft at The Greene. Last year’s online contest raised over $4000, one $5 vote at a time, to allow CTW to continue to empower job seeker with clothing and confidence.

Friends and fans of these hunks are invited to join the fun and start the voting for our 2011 Hunks in Heels as we host a kick off party from 5 -7pm. Admission is $20 per guest and will include appetizers, 2 glasses of wine or beer, and 2 mardi gras bead necklaces (it is Fat Tuesday, after all).  Guests can award the beads to their choice for best legs!  Additional beads (votes) will be available for $5 each.

Confirmed Hunks include:

Marty Beyer, Partner, Sebaly Shillito + Dyer

Ron Burdge, Attorney, Burdge Law Office

Sean Costello, Assistant IP Manager, Freund, Freeze & Arnold

Sherif Hedayat, Owner at Erratic Media Group

Richard Kaiser, Marketing Strategist at Penny/Ohlmann/Neiman

Bill Pote, Publisher at DaytonMostMetro.com

Kevin Round, General Manager of the Dayton Racquet Club

Troy Singer, P&G Relationship Manager at Hooven-Dayton Corp

Bryan Suddith, Executive Director, Greater Dayton Chapter at A Kid Again

Mark Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Partner at Elements IV Interiors

CJ Webster, Regional Sales Manager at LexisNexis Group & Generation Dayton Representative

and more being added every day!

If you know a hunk we need to include just send us an email and we’ll see what we can do to recruit them.    Can’t make the party on Fat Tuesday?  Don’t worry- we’ll have the online voting up soon after the party for you to check out Dayton’s Best Legs!

Be sure to put May 14th on your calendar for the actual Hunks in Heels race held on the square at The Greene.  Last year we had over 150 hunks competing, we expect even more this year!

In the meantime, enjoy highlights from last year:

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American Heart Association Sing Your Heart Out [GALLERY]

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Participants at the "Sing Your Heart Out" belt out a tune at Therapy Cafe on Thursday, Feb. 26.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. and WHIO-TV’s Brittany McGraw lent their voices to a good cause Thursday Feb. 24 for the 2nd “Sing Your Heart Out” fundraiser held at Therapy Cafe.

The event was an effort to to raise funds and awareness in the fight against heart disease in children and childhood obesity.

Attendees donated money to the American Heart Association for a chance to rock-out to their favorite songs, karoake-style in front of the packed house Thursday night.  If you missed out and still want to contribute, visit http://www.heart.org/daytonohheartball for information about the upcoming 16th Annual Stars of the Heart Ball (March 26), a red carpet affair benefiting the American Heart Association.

For now, see if you spot any familiar faces singing’ to the oldies:

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11th Annual Crown Jewels Hat Show [GALLERY]

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All eyes are on Natasha Williams as she sashays down the aisle during the 11th Annual Crown Jewels Hat Show on Feb. 26.

Books & Company at the Greene hosted the 11th Annual Crown Jewels Hat Show on Feb. 26 and the 300-plus spectators in attendance were treated to a hat and fashion show featuring women from the 2011 Crown Jewels of Dayton calender, as well a few new faces.

The event was everything you’d expect from co-founder Sharon Davis Howard: some strut, a little sass, and a lot of class!

Participants included Generation Dayton’s Jennifer Rettig, Maha Kashani and Jen Cadieux,  news personality Natasha Williams, Deb Norris of Sinclair Community College and a host of other prominent area women (and the first male) strolling down the catwalk.

The event was flashy, fun and fabulous!  For more fun with Crown Jewels plan on attending the Derby Day Brunch on Saturday, May 7th at Brio.

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CROWNS Hat Show Celebrates 11th Anniversary

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Back by popular demand, the 11th anniversary edition of the “CROWNS Hat Fashion Show” is returning to Books & Company Saturday, February 26, 2011 at The Greene in Beavercreek.  Sharon D. Howard, event founder and producer will emcee this program, a tribute to the African American women’s tradition of wearing extraordinary hats to church services.

Serving as our models will be women from African-American churches from all over the Miami Valley, who will model their own hats.  Be prepared to see gorgeous creations!  You won’t find prettier hats anywhere.  Also participating will be celebrity models from throughout the Dayton area, including Beavercreek Council Member Vicki Giambrone, Trotwood Mayor Joyce Cameron and Montgomery County Commissioners Debbie Lieberman and Judy Dodge.  Guest escorts will be Kettering Mayor Don Patterson and WDTN’s Jim Bucher.

The “CROWNS Hat Fashion Show” will begin promptly at 3:00pm; it is FREE and open to the public.  Arrive early to get the best seats because this is typically a “standing room only” event!  Books & Company at The Greene is located at 4453 Walnut Street.

For more information about the CROWNS Hat Show, call (937) 572-8001 or (937) 429-6302.

Growing A Mo In Movember For Men’s Health

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Salvador Dalí

Ah, remember those mustaches of yore… Rollie Fingers, Tom Selleck, Charlie Chaplin, Salvador Dali, Yosemite Sam, Ron Jeremy… of course, in many parts of Dayton facial hair never went out of style – but today there is a new group of men sporting the stache, and it is for an excellent cause.

Welcome to Movember – a campaign that challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st  clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month.  The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men.  Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.  In 2009, global participation of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas climbed to 255,755, with over one million donors raising $42 Million US equivalent dollars for Movember’s global beneficiary partners.  The funds raised through Movember’s US campaign benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Yes, this post is not exactly the most timely one we’ve done as it is already Movember 18th, but it is definitely not too late to help this good cause.  Our good friend Andy Williamson (Daytonian, Outdoor enthusiast and all-around nice guy) has joined the Movember challenge and needs YOUR help by either joining his team (there are still many good stache-growing days left in Movember) or making a donation to Andy’s team.  Any amount will help – even just $10.

Team MoFRO

I’m joining the growing club of modern gentlemen who believe in the virtues of fine moustachery, immaculate grooming and growing a moustache for Movember. I am looking for like-minded ladies and gentlemen to join my team to change the face of men’s health.Movember is about raising funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically cancer affecting men, because:-    1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime

–    1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime

The more people I can get on board, the more lives we can impact. I am asking you to join my team and either grow a moustache as a Mo Bro, or join as a Mo Sista to help recruit other gentlemen.

To join my Movember team go to http://us.movember.com/register/91322 and follow the steps.

Once registered you’ll be sent all the information you need to raise funds and start growing as part of my Movember team – MoFro.

If you’re interested in learning more about the work that is being carried out as a result of Movember funds, feel free to read the details at http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs.

I hope you join me to change the face of men’s health.
Andy Williamson

ALSO – the MoFRO group is organizing a “Mustache Ride” on November 30th – bring your bike and a suggested $10 donation to Fifth Third Field at 5:30pm for a short ride around Dayton (bring a light).  Awesome raffle prizes from around the region will be awarded and mustaches will be available for everyone.  The ride ends at Brixx for some Mo-friendly beverages!

CTW Boutique Holiday Open House

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Please mark your calendar to join us for our

Annual Holiday Open House

in the

Clothes That Work Boutique

November 10

from 3 – 6:30pm.

There will be a drawing for a fabulous Kathy Van Zeeland handbag and other surprises throughout the evening. We will have our festive assortment of holiday sweaters on display, some are classic and beautiful and some are, well, that perfect gag gift for the person who has everything.

We will also have our Better Bar well stocked for some great holiday finds.  The Boutique has never looked better and our elves have gotten a great start on making sure that you find something you just can’t live without each time you visit.

**15% off your purchase if you bring in a donation of new men’s dress socks,

boxers, belts, personal care items, and gloves and scarves.

Clothes That Work Boutique is located in the Job Center at  1133 S. Edwin C Moses Blvd.  Call 222-3778 for more info!

Join The Fight Against World Hunger

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How many times have you come home, ravenously hungry, opened the refrigerator door, did a quick once over, saw only a fridge full of food that need to be cooked and declared to yourself, “There is nothing to eat!” Now, imagine that scene again, but this time there is little to no food to be eaten and with hunched shoulders, you sighed, “There is nothing to eat.”

Millions go hungry every day - Photo by Lyric Fields

In a world where there are more than 1,000 billionaires with a net worth of $3.6 trillion, up from $2.4 trillion in 2009, (Forbes, 2010), there is an estimated total of 925 million people undernourished according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. There are number of factors that contribute to food scarcity globally, poverty being the leading cause.

In the Miami Valley many families come home to empty refrigerators every day. Unable to feed their children, they turn to local food pantries and social service agencies for support. Sometimes a teen or youth is left to fend for themselves. When that happens, they go to Daybreak, Dayton’s only homeless shelter for youth.

This week the Dayton Urban League Young Professionals (DULYP) in partnership with the Dayton Urban League Guild, the National Urban League (www.nul.org), and National Urban League partner, YUM! Brands is hosting a National Day of Empowerment to collect various non-perishable items for the youth served at Daybreak. At this event, the DULYP will report on its weeklong efforts to address world hunger by supporting this very worthy local agency. Donations of non-perishable food items (i.e. soup, Ramen noodles, tuna and Poptarts) along with gift cards to WalMart and Krogers will be accepted at this event.

Event: Fight to End Hunger (National Day of Empowerment)

Date: Saturday, October 30

Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Location: Dayton Urban League, 907 W. Fifth Street

For more information email Serida Lowery at [email protected] or call 672-0402.

“Struck by Living”

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A lot of people just don’t understand depression.  Comments like “buck up,” “just don’t worry about it,” and “what do you have to stress about?” demonstrate the lack of understanding in our society surrounding clinical depression.  Author Julie Hersh is addressing that lack of understanding with her new book Struck by Living: From Depression to Hope.

Eastway Behavioral Healthcare, the region’s largest, private nonprofit mental health agency, is pleased to welcome Julie Hersh to speak about her experiences on Thursday, November 11 at the Dayton Art Institute.  The luncheon will feature Ms. Hersh sharing her story and include a book signing.

Struck by Living is a narrative non-fiction which traces the author’s search for identity through her career, interfaith marriage, motherhood and clinical depression.  With humor and brutal honesty, Hersh picks apart the irony of her life.  Loving husband, healthy children, financial security and …  she tried to kill herself three times.

Hersh says, “My goal with Struck by Living is to dispel the fear associated with mental illness and make it more real for those who have never experienced depression.”  Her book provides a personal account of what a clinically depressed person feels and the challenges faced for a medical problem with an inexact methodology for recovery.  For more information on Ms. Hersh’s story, visit the book’s Web site: www.struckbyliving.com.

About the Author: Julie Hersh is Board President of the Dallas Children’s Theater and active supporter of the Suicide and Crisis Center, Mental Health America, Empower African Children, and other nonprofit organizations.  After earning her BBA at the University of Notre Dame, Hersh worked in high-tech product development and marketing/sales in Silicon Valley.  She “retired” from a lucrative sales management position after the birth of her first child.  A long-time member of the Cooper Center, Hersh ran her first marathon at age 48.  She lives with her husband and two children in Dallas, TX.

Event Information:

WHAT: Struck by Living: Eastway Welcomes Author Julie Hersh
WHERE: Dayton Art Institute
WHEN: Thursday, Novemeber 11 11:30-1:30 (lunch served at noon)
Advocate Ticket: $75 Individual
Champion Tickets: $500 table of eight
Corporate Sponsorships Available

Contact Megan at [email protected] or 937-496-2000 ext. 2055 for tickets for more information.

The Boy Scouts Need You!

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DODGE, DUCK, DIP, AND DIVE

at the Second Annual Dayton Corporate Dodgeball Tournament benefiting the Boy Scout program in the Miami Valley and surrounding areas. This double-elimination tournament will be held Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.

Team registration begins at 9am with an all team meeting at 10:30am. The first ball out is at 11:00am.  Only 48 teams will be accepted for the 2010 Corporate Tournament. The cost of entering a team into the tournament is $300 (100% Tax Deductible). All dodgeball players will receive a free Frickin Dodgeball T-Shirt. Tournament teams consist of 6 players and up to 4 subs. Team t-shirts/uniforms are encouraged. The tournament will be held on Saturday, October 30th. Tournament will follow NADA rules. www.dodgeballusa.com/rules.html

The tournament is open to all businesses, civic groups, college clubs and/or groups of individuals. The winning team will receive a $1000 cash prize and the coveted trophy “The Golden Baller”.See promotional flyer under FAQS for other perks including drink tickets and VIP access.

It is not too late to sign up a team or for a sponsorship. Please go to www.frickindodgeball.com and sign up today! We are looking to have an awesome time.

If you can’t attend or play, please consider a donation to help the tournament be a success. If you are interested in donating, please contact Chris Grove, Chairman 2010 Frickin Dodgeball Tournament.

Archie Griffin Rushes Into Dayton for Junior League of Dayton Town Hall Lecture Series – Win Tickets!

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Buckeye Football Legend to Speak at Junior League Town Hall Lecture Series on November4th

(From Tamera Geesling of the Junior League of Dayton)

Archie Griffin’s accomplishments on the field are legendary.  He is the only two-time winner of the prestigious Heisman Trophy, a three-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Most Valuable Player, first-round draft pick and member of several Halls of Fame.  Among fans of The Ohio State University (OSU), he is a legend and an icon.  Griffin will appear in Dayton on November 4, at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Center for Performing Arts as part of the Junior League of Dayton’s (JLD) Town Hall Lecture Series.  Additionally, several local members of the OSU Alumni Band are scheduled to lead Griffin on stage to kick off the event.

It could be said Griffin was born to be a Buckeye – he was born at the OSU Hospital.  After a stand-out career at Eastmoor High School in Columbus, Ohio, Griffin also valued the importance of a good education and considered attending the Naval Academy, Northwestern and (gasp!) Michigan.  Griffin’s close-knit family was an influencing factor.  “The fact that my older brothers were playing out of town and my parents would have the opportunity to pretty much just come around the corner and watch me play if I went to Ohio State was appealing,” Griffin said.

Griffin’s freshman debut in 1972 was humbling as he fumbled his first collegiate carry and was taken out of the game.  Griffin has said that the three D’s (desire, dedication and determination) have been a motto for him throughout his life.  In his second OSU game he set a school single-game rushing record of 239 yards.  It was the start of a brilliant career that would see him amass an OSU record 5,589 yards, 26 touchdowns, numerous awards and the enduring adulation of Buckeye fans.  In 1976, he was a first-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, where he served as co-captain and played for eight years.

What makes him a true legend is that he is equally well-known for his accomplishments off the field.  Former Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes said of Griffin, “He’s a better young man than he is a football player, and he’s the best football player I’ve ever seen.”  Today, Griffin is the President/CEO of The OSU Alumni Association and one its biggest cheerleaders.  In addition to being a member of several charitable organizations, Griffin started the Archie Griffin Scholarship Fund and he and his wife Bonita founded the Archie and Bonita Griffin Foundation Fund that sponsors sports, educational and travel programs for central Ohio children.  Additionally, he is the spokesman for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program which recognizes the nation’s most esteemed high school senior men and women for excellence in athletics, academics and leadership.

Don’t miss your opportunity to learn from this Ohio legend. Tickets are $31 each (plus handling) and can be ordered by calling 937-228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.  The lecture begins at 10:00 am and doors open at 9:00 am.   The Archie Griffin lecture is presented by AAA Miami Valley with additional support provided by Liberty Savings Bank and media partners, ThinkTV and Times Community Newspaper.

To date, the Town Hall Lecture Series has raised over $1.8 million to support local JLD community programs, such as POWER (Program of Wellness Education and Resources), a children’s advocacy program in partnership with The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, and the Holiday Hunt, an annual tradition of the Dayton Holiday Festival.

The Junior League of Dayton is an organization of women who are committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.  For more information about the JLD and its community programs, visit www.jldayton.org.

DaytonMostMetro.com has your free tickets!

For a chance to win a pair of tickets ($62 value) to see Archie Griffin on November 4th for the second installment in the Junior League of Dayton’s Town Hall Lecture Series (Jamie Farr was the first), simply comment below and tell us something about the Junior League of Dayton that you admire and we’ll randomly select a winner on Wednesday October 27th.  NOTE: This event takes place at 10am on Thursday November 4th – please make sure you can attend before entering to win.

What are you most thankful for in YOUR home?

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DAYTON, OH — ThankfulHome.org, a program of St. Mary Development Corporation, has launched a photo contest to allow people to share what they’re most thankful for in their homes. Photos can be of people, rooms or items — new or old. In addition to the photo, entrants can add a caption of up to 100 words.  The contest ends Thanksgiving at midnight and the winner will receive a Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera.
“Our mission is to help people be thankful for their homes and help others find a decent place to live,” says Tim Bete, editor of ThankfulHome.org and communication director for St. Mary Development Corporation. St. Mary Development is southwest Ohio’s largest non-profit provider of high-quality, affordable housing. Over the past 21 years, they’ve created more than 2,400 housing units and prevented more than 1,000 foreclosures.
Contest entries can be submitted until Nov. 25, 2010 at http://contest.ThankfulHome.org. Visitors will vote on their favorite photos to determine the 10 finalists. Bete will judge the finalists and pick the winner, who will be announced on Dec. 3, 2010. Official rules can be found on the contest Web site.
ThankfulHome.org began in June 2010 as a place for people to share why they are thankful for their homes and talk about difficult housing situations they’ve faced (e.g., homelessness, unsafe conditions.) By connecting people who have decent housing with those who don’t, St. Mary Development hopes new innovative solutions to housing issues will emerge.
For more information about ThankfulHome.org and the photo contest, contact Tim Bete (Communication Director, St. Mary Development Corporation; Editor, ThankfulHome.org) at [email protected]. For more information about St. Mary Development Corporation, visit www.StMaryDevelopment.org.

A Cigar, a Dress and a Hairy Chest – Jamie Farr at the Schuster Center

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(From Tamera Geesling of the Junior League of Dayton)

Before there were mash-ups on Glee, there was M*A*S*H.  Whether you watched the show live or the reruns, which still air, chances are you have seen an episode or two – or even all 251 episodes of M*A*S*H.  And the show wouldn’t have been complete without Jamie Farr’s character, Corporal Max Klinger.  On October 14, the Junior League of Dayton(JLD) welcomes Jamie Farr to town to kick of the 55th season of the Town Hall Lecture Series at the Schuster Center.  WE HAVE FREE TICKETS – DETAILS BELOW!

Farr began his niche in television in the late 1950s.  He became a regular on The Red Skelton Show and played second banana to Harvey Korman on The Danny Kaye Show.  He has appeared as a panelist on numerous game shows including The Gong Show, Match Game, Hollywood Squares and The $25,000 Pyramid.  In 1985, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

But despite a half-century career in television, Jamie Farr is most remembered for his outrageous portrayal of Corporal Max Klinger. It was the ultimate comedic trifecta – a cigar chomping, hairy man in a dress.  Originally hired for one-day’s work, Farr impressed the producers with his over-the-top character portrayal and he became a regular on the show’s eleven-year run.  His antics and dresses were all a part of his attempt to garner a Section 8 Discharge from the military. But the joke was on him.  In a letter home Klinger wrote “”You see, Unc? It’s no wonder I never got a Section Eight; there’s nothing special about me. Everybody here is crazy!”Farr shared a similar backstory with Klinger – a Toledo, Ohio native with a love for Packo’s Hungarian hot dogs and the Toledo Mud Hens. He was also the only regular cast member to have served in the Korean War (on which the show was based).

The final two-and-a-half hour episode aired February 28, 1983 and set records as the most watched program in television history with 105.97 million viewers.  Nearly 77% of homes with a television were tuned into the finale. The record held for 27 years until it was recently surpassed by Super Bowl XLIV in 2010 with 106.5 million viewers.

After M*A*S*H ended, Farr kept busy with television, movie and stage appearances.  In 1985, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Off-screen, Farr became involved in charity work. Since 1984, the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic has been held in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio.  This tournament for professional female golfers on the LPGA tour has generated over $6.5 million for local children’s charities.

Tickets are $31 each (plus handling) and can be ordered by calling 937-228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.  Series tickets are still available for $75 and $90 and include Jamie Farr (October 14, 2010 – support provided by The DP&L Foundation and Dayton Superior Corporation), as well as Archie Griffin (November 4, 2010 – presented by AAA Miami Valley with support from Liberty Savings Bank), Nick Clooney (April 7, 2011 – presented by Freund, Freeze & Arnold: A Legal Professional Association) and Gina Barreca (May 12, 2011).  The Town Hall Lecture Series is also sponsored by its media partners, ThinkTV and Times Community Newspaper.

To date, the Town Hall Lecture Series has raised over $1.8 million to support local JLD community programs, such as POWER (Program of Wellness Education and Resources), a children’s advocacy program in partnership with The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton, and the Holiday Hunt, an annual tradition of the Dayton Holiday Festival.

The Junior League of Dayton is an organization of women who are committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.  For more information about the JLD and its community programs, visit www.jldayton.org.

For a chance to win free tickets to this event (a $62 value), just comment below using your real email address (we won’t make it public) and then hit the Share or Like button so that your Facebook friends know about this event.  We’ll announce the winner of a pair of tickets on Friday October 8th – good luck!

Scan Your Way To Masquerage

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Dayton’s Party of Parties is just 5 weeks away -Masquerage, AIDS Resource Center Ohio’s (ARC Ohio) annual masked party for a cause fundraiser.  But for one lucky winner, visiting the sponsors of this year’s Masquerage will pay off in a big way- they can Scan Their Way to a $500 Red Ribbon Lounge Ticket package that includes VIP event tickets, an overnight package at the Dayton Marriott with breakfast on Sunday and  transportation to and from the event.

In a unique partnership with Dayton-based Comtactics, participants can use their smart phones to scan a QR code from a poster at each sponsor’s business and when they visit at least 10 sponsors, they will automatically be entered in a drawing to win the Red Ribbon Lounge ticket package.  Participants can download a free code reader for their smartphone on the ScanDayton.com site.  Participants can even enter the drawing by texting the word “SCANDAYTON” to 41411 and then follow the instructions.

Comtactics, LLC, a multiplatform communications company based at Dayton’s Tech Town, developed the “ScanVenger Hunt” idea as a creative way to introduce the technology to the Dayton-area.  They’ve successfully hosted ScanVenger hunts at The Greene and during Urban Nights. “This will be our first partnership with a nonprofit fundraiser and we’re excited about using 2d technology for this dynamic interactive contest, says Sean Fields, President and CEO of Comtactics.

Since Masquerage’s inception in 2002 , this party for a cause has raised more than $650,000 in unrestricted funds in support of HIV/AIDS case management, education, prevention, testing and advocacy; allowing attendees to have a unique and entertaining experience while supporting ARC Ohio and its mission of impacting those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.  With offices in Dayton, Lima, Mansfield and Toledo, ARC Ohio is recognized as the leading provider of HIV/AIDS related programs within a 40 county region of Ohio. For more information about ARC Ohio, log onto www.arcohio.org or call (937) 461-2437.

To be entered in the drawing to win a $500 Red Ribbon Lounge Ticket package you’ll need to visit at least 10 of the sponsors- but since we like our friends at DaytonMostMetro.com you can scan the code pictured here and you’ll only need 9 more!

You can visit American Family Insurance, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Better Business Bureau, Coco’s Bistro, Digital Fringe, The Flower Shoppe, Lexus of Dayton, MacTown,  any of the Marion’s Piazza, Masque, Meadowlark Restaurant, Preen Apothecary, either of the Square One Salons and Urban HandMade.  Keep checking the Masquerage website for more additions!

Tickets for the Masquerage party can be reserved online at www.Masquerage.org or charged by phone by calling 461-2437 x 2029.  General Admission tickets include welcoming cocktail, hors d’oeuvres, and nonstop dancing and entertainment for $50, while entry to the Red Ribbon Lounge runs $150 per guest and includes heavenly delicacies created by The Meadowlark, valet parking courtesy of Lexus of Dayton, a swag bag full of sinful delights, and, for the first time ever, a complimentary array of lustful libations!