Friday, November 16, 2001
Bengals backing Starfire
By Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Believe it or not, the Cincinnati Bengals actually have a quarterback who's been a winner for years.
She is Janice Porter Forte, a volunteer with Starfire Council of Greater Cincinnati, who was chosen by a Bengals' panel as a “Community Quarterback,” an honor given to a person who has done outstanding volunteer work. All NFL teams participate in the program.
Mrs. Forte was chosen from a list of 10 finalists by a panel selected by the Bengals at a luncheon held at Paul Brown Stadium last week.
She received a $10,000 check, payable to Starfire.
She has been a volunteer for Starfire for 20 years.
“This is a great honor for the organization,” said Lynn Thesing, executive director of Starfire. “She is involved in every aspect of the organization, from working with the members to serving on the board of trustees. This is what our organization needs.”
Mrs. Forte has been on the Starfire board of trustees for 17 years.
The Bengals will submit her nomination to the NFL's national “Community Quarterback” contest, making Starfire eligible to receive $25,000.
Starfire is a nonprofit organization that provides social and service outings for people with disabilities. Its 400 members attend 1,000 outings a year. Starfire is funded by United Way and the Charles H. Dater Foundation.
“It is an honor to win the award and be a part of an organization that allows people with disabilities to show their capabilities to the community,” Mrs. Forte said. “I am getting a lot out of volunteering for the organization. I feel honored to be a part of Starfire.”
Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Monday-Friday and Sundays. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are committing random acts of kindness that are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at (513) 768-8362; at ahoward@enquirer.com; or by fax at (513) 768-8340.
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Bengals backing Starfire
