Sun staff
A successful program this summer led to a number of community members being recognized on Monday night for their contributions to the Reds Community Fund.
When schools close for the summer, many children in the county lose their chance to get a good meal, Administrator Rex Parsons said at a Batavia Township Trustees special board meeting.
About 250 children participate in the Reds Rookie Success League, where children learn life skills and learn about their community, and are fed, Parsons said.
“I think the Clermont program itself is run almost the most effectively of all the groups we have,” said Colleen Cheek, with the Reds Community Fund.
Cheek especially praised Parsons for his leadership and accredited much of the program’s success to his efforts.
Food is one of the program’s largest expenses, and so donations of food are a great relief because that money can then be put towards things like gloves for the kids, Cheek said.
Park National Bank, Chik-Fil-A, Skyline, Auxier Gas, the Sam’s Club and Walmart corporation, the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce, University of Cincinnati Clermont, the Clermont County Visitor’s Bureau, the Batavia Township Trustee Board and volunteers Mark and Donna Cann were recognized with a plaque and a canvas of the Cincinnati Red’s “Great Eight.”