Posted: 11:50 a.m.
The Bengals have recognized 11 charities for their work in Greater Cincinnati by teaming with NFL Charities to distribute $15,000.
"As with any large metropolitan area, Greater Cincinnati has many needs," Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn said Tuesday in a news release. "Fortunately, we are blessed with many organizations that work tirelessly to meet these needs. We applaud these organizations for the fine work they do, and we want to take this opportunity to recognize them."
The organizations receiving the grants:
Student Activity Foundation - $5,000 FreestoreFoodbank - $1,000 C.I.S.E. - $1,000 Marvin Lewis Community Fund - $1,000 Salvation Army of Cincinnati - $1,000 Society of St. Vincent DePaul - $1,000 March of Dimes, Ohio Chapter - $1,000 Cincinnati Area Toys for Tots - $1,000 Cris Collinsworth Pro Scan Foundation - $1,000 The United Way of Greater Cincinnati - $1,000 The Greater Cincinnati Boys and Girls Clubs - $1,000
The Student Activity Foundation (SAF) supports extra-curricular activities for students in the Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS). The SAF hosts an annual Student Athlete Dinner, provides uniforms and equipment for cheerleading and sports teams, and provides funding for college visits and field trips to the Freedom Center and the Shrine Circus. The SAF has also brought performances of the MadCap Theater to more than 25 different CPS elementary schools.
The SAF is also promoter of the Martin Luther King Day Classic basketball event. This year's games are Jan. 21 at USBank Arena with two CPS schools, Withrow and Hughes, playing Indian Hill and Brooks Academy of Chicago, respectively.
"As a relatively new organization this means a lot to us," said SAF executive director Brian Leshner. "The NFL and the Bengals have helped so many organizations in our community, we are thankful for being included in this program"
Other comments:
Lawra Baumann of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati: "The Boys and Girls Clubs are grateful to Katie Blackburn and the Bengals for their continued support. This grant is only the most recent example of their commitment to our organization."
John Vonderhaar of the March of Dimes: "The Bengals and the NFL are great partners to have in our community. We also appreciate the support we have received from players over the years as we highlight our needs in the Greater Cincinnati area."
John Young of the FreestoreFoodbank: "This grant is the icing on the cake from our perspective. The Bengals help us in so many ways. Whether it is by allowing us to collect canned goods during the holiday season, their sponsorship of the 'Taste of the NFL' fundraiser or players showing up to help distribute food, their active support of the FreestoreFoodbank is greatly appreciated.
