WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2013
LIFE
FOREST HILLS JOURNAL
PEOPLE | IDEAS | RECIPES
Lizzy Daly of Loveland paints the face of Kira Kays, a Stepping Stone camper. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Meriweather LeBlond McClorey, of Boyne City, Mich.; Sis Geier, of Oakley; and Minor LeBlond, of Indian Hill, chat at the Stepping Stones 50th anniversary party. THANKS TO PEGGY KREIMER
CELEBRATING
50 YEARS
Close to 300 former and current volunteers, staff, participants and friends gathered at Stepping Stones in Indian Hill to celebrate 50 years of providing services to people with disabilities. Founder Minor LeBlond of Indian Hill was the guest of honor, greeting old friends and colleagues. LeBlond and the late Peggy Geier and the late Mary T. Schloss founded Stepping Stones in 1963 as Greater Cincinnati’s first summer camp serving children with any disability. Geier’s daughter, Adelaide (Sis) Geier had cerebral palsy and was the first camper. At the reunion, Sis Geier drew cheers as she addressed the crowd. “This was my mother’s dream” she said. Today Sis Geier, of Oakley, is a volunteer in Stepping Stones’ Adult Services program. “If my mother we here today I think she’d jump up and down,” said Geier.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (RTerrace Park) presented a Congressional Record Entry commemorating Stepping Stones’ 50 years of service and innovation and talked about his years as a teen volunteer at Stepping Stones. “I volunteered here. My kids all volunteered here,” said Portman. “Stepping Stones is always on the move, always looking for innovative ways to serve the community better.” Stepping Stones pioneered recreation programs for children and adults with disabilities, developed the region’s first on-site infant stimulation program in 1971, created the region’s first alternative education program for students with severe autism and created unique programs for teens and adults with disabilities. Today Stepping Stones is a United Way partner agency serving close to 1,000 children, teens and adults with disabilities at program sites in Indian
Hill and Batavia. Stepping Stones partners with the Rotary Club of Cincinnati presenting programs at the Rotary’s Camp Allyn in Batavia. Co-chairs for the 50th anniversary reunion were board members Mary McGraw, of Indian Hill, a former summer volunteer; and Joe Link, of Wyoming, a former volunteer and staff member. Staff special events coordinator for the reunion was Theresa Ciampone, of Anderson Township. The reunion was at Stepping Stones’ Indian Hill site. Reunion guests toured a history gallery in the Stepping Stones gym and got a taste of camp activities with pedal boats, fishing, face painting and picnic fare. The 50th summer day camp season for children with disabilities recently opened. Volunteers are welcome throughout the nine-week camp season. For information, contact Sarah Woeber, 513-965-5110 or web site www.steppingstonesohio.org.
Rich Dineen, of Montgomery, Jeremy Vaughan, of Indian Hill, Fred Fischer, of Indian Hill, and Jim Shanahan, of Hyde Park, attend the Stepping Stones 50th anniversary celebration. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Mark Berry and son, Trey, of Indian Hill, spend some time together at the Stepping Stones 50th anniversary celebration. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Rob Portman greets Minor LeBlond at the 50th anniversary festivities for Stepping Stones. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Mary McGraw, Teresa Ciampone and Joe Link celebrate 50 years of Stepping Stones. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Lakshmi and Josi Sammarco have some fun at the Stepping Stones 50th anniversary celebration. THANKS TO PEGGY KREIMER
Joe Link, of Wyoming, and Barbara Koerner, of Mount Washington, make their way around the festivities at the Stepping Stones 50th anniversary celebration. THANKS TO BRUCE CRIPPEN
Sis Geier speaks at the Stepping Stones 50th anniversary. BRUCE CRIPPEN