P&G, Reds, Zoo & Kroger select Roselawn for 'Community Makeover'

P&G, the Cincinnati Reds, the Reds Community Fund, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and Kroger have selected the Cincinnati neighborhood of Roselawn for the 2018 Community Makeover.
The annual project will focus on New Prospect Baptist Church and the Summit Center and will include four primary areas of work on the former Jewish Community Center site in Roselawn: 
• Building a new baseball/softball field including infield, fencing, dugouts and bleachers
• Refurbishing the outdoor recreation areas and green spaces 
• Upgrading indoor spaces including the teen center, kitchen and technology center 
• Rebuilding the campground and amphitheater along the Mill Creek
Preliminary work on the project has already begun and will culminate on Thursday, Aug. 2 when more than 400 volunteers from project partners and the community will join Reds Community Fund staff and board members for the day-long volunteer project. 
Project partners include: P&G, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Kroger, Interact For Health, GE, Cincinnati ToolBank and OneSource. New Prospect Baptist Church is also contributing funding, resources and volunteers to the project. 
"Partnering with these iconic Cincinnati businesses and organizations for the makeover project will allow the New Prospect Baptist Church and Summit Center to expand our presence as a community center for Roselawn and the surrounding communities," said Rev. Damon Lynch III, New Prospect pastor. "For us, church is community and our vision is to engage and grow our village."
The investments in the Roselawn project will provide significant and sustainable impact, including reducing operating costs and energy usage and investing in the long-term development of the community and its residents. 
"Cincinnati has been P&G's home for 180 years, and we've always been proud to help care for our neighbors and nurture our communities," said Kristine Decker, NA Dish Care Brand Director. "We are excited to partner with the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, and other local organizations to help our neighbors in Roselawn create improved spaces and new resources for the people in their community." 
The goal of the annual project is to make a transformative and sustainable impact on an urban neighborhood and its residents while strengthening local youth baseball and softball programs. 
"We look for projects that feature youth baseball and where all the partners and the hundreds of volunteers come together to bring the project to life," said Phil Castellini, Cincinnati Reds President and COO. "Restoring the former community center and grounds aligns with our mission and we're grateful to P&G and all the partners for the incredible support of the Community Makeover."
New Prospect Baptist Church and the Summit Center are located at 1580 Summit Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45237.
The project will include support from hundreds of corporate and community volunteers but there is a need for donations and in-kind contributions. To donate, please contact the Reds Community Fund at CommunityMakeover@reds.com or 513-765-7231.
 
P&G and the Reds Community Fund have partnered for the Community Makeover since 2010 with the Cincinnati Zoo joining the partnership in 2013 bringing a wealth of experience in horticulture, sustainable design and maintenance to the projects. Cincinnati Children's and Interact For Health became a part of the collaboration in 2013 and Kroger increased its participation in 2017 to become a title partner.
Past Community Makeover projects:
• 2017: Evanston - Hoffman school, Hoffman ballfields and Wayne Lurix Memorial Nature Playscape
• 2016: Lower Price Hill - Evans Field and playground, Community Gardens and Joe Williams Family Center
• 2015: West End - Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, Sands School playground and Dyer ballfields
• 2014: South Cumminsville - Wayne ballfields and Millvale Recreation Center
• 2013: Avondale - Gabriel's Place, Hirsch Recreation Center and Hirsch ballfields
• 2012: Cheviot - Memorial Fields, historic grandstand and Cheviot Memorial Fieldhouse 
• 2011: North College Hill - High school field and community center plus youth field in Winton Place
• 2010: Winton Place - Brandon Phillips Field and P&G Field