Seventh Annual Hometown Huddle

Bryan Robinson was one of several Bengals players and coaches on hand to take part in this year's Hometown Huddle. (photo by McDaniels Photography)

This year's project included the development of an all-accessible wilderness trail and challenge course called the "Trail of Champions" at Cincinnati Children's campus in College Hill for the division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

The College Hill campus offers residential services for children ages 9 to 17 needing long-term psychiatric care. The division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Cincinnati Children's uses the treatment facility to provide close to 20 treatment components geared towards helping patients develop self-awareness, utilize alternative coping strategies and enhance self-esteem. The campus offers a home-like atmosphere with a kitchen, bedrooms, school and indoor and outdoor recreation areas. It also provides a safer and more permanent transition to family living arrangement, resulting in re-unification, foster or adoptive placement.

The "Trail of Champions" course at the College Hill campus will be used for the rehabilitation of children from ages 5 to teenagers. The course will be approximately ¼ mile long and will consist of four stations, at which children can exercise as part of their physical rehabilitation. The facility will be open to the public when the hospital is not using it.

"The Cincinnati Bengals are looking forward to developing this facility for Cincinnati's Children's Hospital and its community," said Coach Marvin Lewis. "We hope our participation will encourage others to volunteer in their communities, as well."

"The NFL/United Way partnership is positive proof that much more can be accomplished collectively than by any one group or person alone," said Rob Reifsnyder, president, United Way of Greater Cincinnati. "That's why we're encouraging Bengals fans here in Greater Cincinnati to lend a hand and get personally involved in the community."

Along with the Bengals players and coaches, the Marvin Lewis Community Fund teamed up with employees of Cincinnati Bell, Best Buy, Convergys and Home Depot who volunteered their time to construct this facility. Other corporate partners helping with this year's Hometown Huddle included Landscape Associates, Coke, Outback Steakhouse, Baker Concrete, Graphic Information Systems, Croswell Bus Lines, Distinctive signs, Ohio Casualty Group, McDaniel's Photography and Trophy Awards.

For more information about United Way or to volunteer in your community, contact United Way of Greater Cincinnati by logging on to www.uwgc.org or call United Way 211 (dial 2-1-1). For more information about the Marvin Lewis Community Fund, log on to www.marvinlewis.org. For more information about Cicninnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, go to www.cincinnatichildrens.org.