Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Athletic Booster’s 2024 Loveland High School Homecoming Parade will be rolling down the streets of Loveland on Thursday, September 19th, beginning at 6:30 PM.
The Grand Marshal of the 2024 Homecoming Parade is longtime Loveland resident Tori Morrison who the Boosters say, “Has tirelessly supported our students, athletes, and community over the years.”
Morrison has stepped down, but organized the Homecoming Parade for ten years. She served on the Board of the Athletic Boosters for four years in roles as Vice President and Treasurer.
“It is a big honor to be chosen as this year’s LAB Homecoming parade Grand Marshal. I have enjoyed planning the parade over the years. I have met so many great people that became my friends.”
Tori added that she has spent countless years as a team mom for all three of her children.
The parade begins at the new Loveland-Symmes Fire Department Health and Wellness Center/East Nature Preserve parking lot located at 227 East Loveland Avenue. The parade continues through Historic Downtown and along West Loveland Avenue before turning down Rich Road and ending at Loveland High School.
The Loveland Middle School and Loveland Youth program participants will exit the parade route when it reaches Phillips Park.
The annual Powder Puff football game and other Homecoming Spirit Week activities will be held at the Loveland High School stadium immediately following the parade.
The Homecoming football game will be played on Friday, September 20th, with the Loveland Tigers taking on the Turpin Spartans. Kickoff is at 7PM.
Loveland, Ohio – Three women with Loveland connections are among 20 finalists for the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center’s Upstander Awards. Out of hundreds of nominees, the finalists were selected for their “outstanding contributions to the community”.
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center was created to carry on the stories and lessons of one of the darkest chapters in human history. Rooted in this educational mission is a vision to create an entire community of upstanders — “high-minded, everyday heroes who act because they refuse to be bystanders”.
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center has announced the finalists of the 2024 Upstander Awards, which recognize individuals in the region “who use their character strengths to stand up for themselves and others — pursuing justice, both great and small, and inspiring others to do the same”.
Tori Morrison created the Ben Morrison Fund after her wonderful son Ben lost his battle with mental health. To erase the stigma of pain and struggles with mental health, Tori created the nonprofit to fight for and support others who are going through similar battles.
2) Evangeline DeVol founded NEST CLC, a non-profit that addresses educational and nutritional needs among low-income students through mobile classrooms in RVs, providing tutoring, meals, and activities. Beyond her work with NEST CLC, she serves on the board of the Varner Foundation for Kids, supports foster and kinship care families with necessary resources, and is actively involved in initiatives to tackle sex trafficking.
3) Trinity Mahan Walsh graduated from Loveland High School in 1994 and in 2018 was named the Kentucky high school counselor of year. Walsh is a Adjunct Professor at Thomas More University, Coordinator of Early Postsecondary Opportunities, Regional Advisor at Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, and Co-founder, Director at Northern Kentucky Inclusive Students in Education. Amidst the social upheavals of 2020, Elise Carter, the sole Black educator in her district, and her colleague Trinity Walsh started a groundbreaking initiative to address societal issues through education. Despite facing community backlash and legislative challenges, they founded Northern Kentucky Inclusive Students in Education (NISE), a nonprofit that conducts inclusive and critical thinking education for students and adults across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, promoting understanding and empathy.
The winners will be announced at the Upstander Awards Gala on June 2 at Union Terminal, featuring Debra Messing, an Emmy Award-winning actress, producer, and social justice & human rights advocate. Read more about her work and advocacy here.
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center exists to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. Located at Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal, HHC impacts more than 2.5 million people every year through digital and in-person events, museum tours, educational experiences, social media, and virtual content. From Australia to India, individuals from more than 25 countries and 30 states engage with our mission. For more information, visit www.holocaustandhumanity.org.
David Miller is the Managing Editor of Loveland Magazine
Listen to the emotional account as Tori Morrison tells you how she finally summed up the emotional courage to meet the man who received Ben’s liver and kidneys
by David Miller
On September 22, Tori Morrison and Kate Jackson came to the LOVELAND MAGAZINE TV studio at the Simpson Farmhouse to talk about a new initiative of the Ben Morrison Fund. Morrison is the President and Treasurer of the Fund and Jackson is a member of the Board.
The fund was established after Morrison lost her son Ben and his battle with his hidden mental health problems. Ben took his life by suicide in 2021. To honor Ben and help erase the stigma of pain and struggles with mental health, the fund was established to fight for others and fight against that stigma to help make sure no one feels alone.
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“Ben’s continuing legacy will not be one of loss, but as a lifesaver through organ donation, as a loyal friend and stalwart teammate and a man of deep compassion for others. His legacy will go on through the Ben Morrison Fund and through those of us who serve that cause and carry him with us to take care to light the way out of darkness for others and spark hope to always continue your story.”
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The Ben Morrison Memorial Fund is committed to providing scholarships to graduating seniors from Loveland High School. They are dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental health struggles, opening conversations, and offering lifelines to help save the lives of young people in crisis.
The Ben Morrison Memorial Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
In this interview, my guests will tell you about Ben and the life of giving and kindness he led, most of it not obvious to his mother Tori. She tells how “onery” Ben could be, typical of teenagers not allowing parents to know their true selves.
Tori tells you that when Ben got his driver’s license she encouraged him to sign up to be an organ donor and asked him if he would. Ben would never answer her, his cantankerous nature was a tease. Tori and Ben’s father never knew he had signed the form until in the hospital after Ben took his life they asked them if it would be OK to harvest some of Ben’s organs. Realizing then that to their surprise Ben wanted that too, without hesitation they agreed.
Listen as Tori reveals for the first time how the donor process works and how she became emotionally strong enough to agree to meet the man who received Ben’s liver and kidneys.
Tori has now determined, because of the suggestion by Kate, that the current Loveland High School students don’t know what attributes Ben had that so enamored his class and teammates to him, and Ben’s Way would be a good vehicle to keep his legacy alive.
• Ben spoke up for others.
• He was unselfish.
• A leader, and protector.
• A young person who led by example and modeled hard work and resilience.
• Ben treated others with acceptance, kindness, and encouragement.
These attributes were revealed to them through the applications and actual words of the students who applied for the 21 scholarships the fund has awarded. Kate tells a story about being inspired after witnessing a young student one day that reminded her of Ben in the kind way he was treating a “special needs” child. Kate says, “Well number one, this is something Ben would do, and number two, this child should be recognized for doing something so positive in a world that’s not always so positive.” The child had done something, Ben’s way.
Watch Tori and Kate tell you how Ben’s Way will transform life and lives at Loveland High School.
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Ben may have been one of those unrecognized/uncounted victims of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Covid was hard for Ben, as for all those seniors. He didn’t get his final lacrosse season, prom, graduation, or grad parties, and life changed in so many ways. He didn’t know what his next chapter should be. But later that year, he decided to become a Firefighter and go to community college. He didn’t get to start those chapters. For some reason we will never know, maybe a bad day, a moment of self-doubt, an offhand comment that cut too deep, some inner turmoil or unspoken conflict, our Ben, a boy who never expressed depression nor showed signs of any form of struggle with mental illness, was suddenly and without explanation gone from our lives forever.
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Kate Jackson was a football “Team Mom” and her son was a teammate of Ben when they played for Loveland High School. Ben also competed in lacrosse. Jackson said, “Ben was an important part of my son’s life and an important part of my life and Tori became likewise an important part of my life.”
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Become a Ben’s Way Sponsor
As a sponsor of Ben’s Way, you will help us bring this initiative to more schools. Students that are chosen will receive a $25 gift card.
if you would like to sponsor Ben’s Way at a school, or you would like to bring Ben’s Way to your school, please send an email to BensWayInitiative@gmail.com
On Saturday, September 29 Cappy’s Wine and Spirits is hosting a fundraiser for the Ben Morrison Fund featuring the Chuckies in Love band playing the “ultimate throwback tunes, bringing you the iconic sounds of the 70s & 80s”.
Watch Chuckies in Love…
Become a Ben’s Way Sponsor
As a sponsor of Ben’s Way, you will help us bring this initiative to more schools. Students that are chosen will receive a $25 gift card.
if you would like to sponsor Ben’s Way at a school, or you would like to bring Ben’s Way to your school, please send an email to BensWayInitiative@gmail.com
Loveland, Ohio – “Don’t be afraid to put yourself first sometimes and get the help you need if it’s needed,” mental health advocate, Elly Steinbrunner said when asked what encouraging message, she wanted to send to those struggling with their mental health.
On my latest episode of “Table of Discussions” I invited Gina Marek, creator of the Fave Five App, Tori Morrison, who started a non-profit called the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund, and Elly Steinbrunner, a former member of the Loveland Hope Squad to my table to talk about Mental Health Awareness Month.
During the episode, Gina and Tori talk about how losing their sons to suicide encouraged them to advocate and educate those in the community about mental health. In this Loveland Magazine TV interview, both Gina and Tori offers advice about suicide prevention, eliminating the stigma of depression, and mental illness. Since the conception of the Fave Five app and the Ben Morrison Memorial Fund, Gina and Tori have been able to provide a wealth of information for parents, caregivers, and peers.
Elly, who recently graduated from Loveland High School, shared her perspective on why mental health struggles are climbing so rapidly among her generation and how being a member of the Loveland High School Hope Squad allowed her to not only help so many young people, but also educate her peers about mental health.
Join me, Gina Marek, Tori Morrison, and Elly Steinbrunner as we talk about Mental Health Awareness on my latest episode of “Table of Discussions! Watch as these three impactful women offer life-saving tips to those families and youth struggling with the mental health crisis.
“It’s totally free, no-nonsense, and took less than three minutes to start adding my trusted friends who I would want to contact if I needed help. The people in my life who I would trust with my life,” Loveland Magazine Managing Editor David Miller said after downloading Gina Marek’s My Fave Five app to his iPhone.The Ben Morrison Fund
The Ben Morrison Memorial Fund is committed to providing scholarships to graduating seniors from Loveland High School. We are dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental health struggles, opening conversations, and offering lifelines to help save lives of young people in crisis.
The Ben Morrison Memorial Fund is at 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Fed id 86-2896878.
The HOPE Squad program is a school-based peer support team that partners with local mental health agencies. Peers select students who are trustworthy and caring individuals to join the Hope Squad. Squad members are trained to watch for at-risk students, provide friendship, identify suicide-warning signs, and seek help from adults.
HOPE Squad members are NOT taught to act as counselors but are educated on recognizing suicide warning signs and how to properly and respectfully report concerns to an adult. Once invited to be a HOPE Squad member, students must get a permission form signed by their parents and go through training.
Goal:
Hope Squads seek to reduce self-destructive behavior and youth suicide by training, building, and creating change in schools and communities.
Objectives:
Train:
Hope Squads will train students and staff in schools to recognize suicide-warning signs and act upon those warnings to break the code of silence.
Hope Squads will train students and staff to identify adolescents with undetected, untreated, or emerging mental disorders.
Build:
Hope Squads will build positive relationships among peers and faculty in schools to facilitate acceptance for students seeking help.
Hope Squads will build strong relationships with local mental health agencies and communities while educating students, parents, and school staff about available community mental health resources.
Change:
Hope Squads will work to change the school culture regarding suicide by reducing stigmas about suicide and mental health.
Hope Squads will work to change community perceptions of mental health by creating awareness about suicide and the tools available to prevent suicide.
Columnist Cassie Mattia is a resident of Historic Downtown Loveland and the Public Relations Coordinator at Butler County Board of DD. Cassie was awarded the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance 2021 Young Business Professional of the Year. She is the President and Publisher of Loveland Magazine.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland, Ohio non-profit “Ben Morrison Fund” and Tori Morrison have announced the date of the 2023 2nd Annual Ben’s Birthday Bash will be February 19th, 2023.
The Ben Morrison Fund was recently honored by the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance as their “Hometown Hero”.
The event will take place at the Fowling Warehouse and will feature tournament-style fowling, BBQ provided by JD’s Meat Shack, and the auctioning of the fan-favorite “Liquor Trove.”
All proceeds will go directly to helping young people struggling with mental health crises, normalizing conversations about mental health, and building hope. Every year the Ben Morrison Fund gives scholarships to graduating Loveland seniors and works to erase the stigma of mental health struggles in honor and in the memory of their son Ben.
“We are so grateful for the support we receive to strengthen our efforts to help erase the stigma of mental health struggles and to help those struggling to move forward,” says Tori Morrison, President of the Ben Morrison Fund and Ben’s mom. “This event is particularly special to me as it celebrates Ben’s life as well as his lasting legacy of helping others. It’s a lot of fun, we hope you will come join us!”
Ben’s Birthday Bash will take place February 19th from noon until 3 PM at the Fowling Warehouse in Cincinnati. $20 Tickets can be purchased in advance at benmorrisonfund.org or at the door. Participation in the tournament is $5. Lunch will be provided.
“We are so grateful for our sponsors, volunteers, and our incredible community for their continuous support as we work to make a lasting difference in helping young people continue their story,” said Stacey Lund, Vice President of the Ben Morrison Fund.
To learn more about the Ben Morrison Fund or to donate, visit benmorrisonfund.org. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Loveland, Ohio – This year’s Loveland High School Homecoming Parade will be on Thursday, October 6.
The Homecoming Game will be Friday, October 7 against the Little Miami Panthers. The Tigers are on a 3-game winning streak and now 3-4 (3-3). The visiting Panthers are 2-5 (1-5).
The Loveland Athletic Boosters Homecoming Parade, celebrating Loveland High Schools Homecoming is a Loveland tradition. The Parade starts at the Moose Lodge Hall on East Loveland Avenue and proceeds to West Loveland Avenue, to Rich Road, and ends at Loveland High School.
The annual Powder Puff football game will be held at Tiger Stadium immediately following the parade. The school is at #1 Tiger Trail.
The Grand Marshal this year is Jeff Williams. Jeff was president of Loveland Athletic Boosters for over 10 years. Parade organizer Tori Morrison said, “He was instrumental in getting funding for our first turf field and building our Athletic Fitness Center which is used by athletes in grades 7-12. I can’t think of a better or more deserving person to serve as our Grand Marshal.”
A 2009 Loveland Magazine file photo of Jeff Williams doing his thing. raising money for a turf field at Loveland High School. Williams pulled off the installation fundraising during a recession.
Loveland, Ohio – This year’s Loveland High School Homecoming Parade will be on Thursday, October 6.
The Homecoming Game will be Friday, October 7 against the Little Miami Panthers.
The Loveland Athletic Boosters Homecoming Parade, celebrating Loveland High Schools Homecoming is a Loveland tradition. The Parade starts at the Moose Lodge Hall on East Loveland Avenue and proceeds to West Loveland Avenue, to Rich Road, and ends at Loveland High School.
The annual Powder Puff football game will be held at Tiger Stadium immediately following the parade. The school is at #1 Tiger Trail.
The Grand Marshal this year is Jeff Williams. Jeff was president of Loveland Athletic Boosters for over 10 years. Parade organizer Tori Morrison said, “He was instrumental in getting funding for our first turf field and building our Athletic Fitness Center which is used by athletes in grades 7-12. I can’t think of a better or more deserving person to serve as our Grand Marshal.”
A 2009 Loveland Magazine file photo of Jeff Williams doing his thing. raising money for a turf field at Loveland High School. Williams pulled off the installation fundraising during a recession.
Loveland, Ohio – Loveland has always been known as a community that gives back, and ALWAYS takes care of the youth. Over the past few months many have been fighting for the Loveland School levy because, without the appropriate funds, Tiger student-athletes have to “pay-to-play.”
Recently two Loveland School levies failed, leaving both Tiger student-athletes and their parents at a stand-still. Now those Tigers wanting to participate in a sport will have to pay $310. This did not sit well with Loveland Tiger advocate, Tori Morrison, so with the approval of the Loveland Athletic Booster Board she created a Facebook group that would help those athletes that could not afford to pay the sports fees.
“With the recent failure of two school levies, we knew that Pay to Play fees would be increasing this year,” Morrison explained, “In anticipation of that, the Athletic Boosters decided that we needed some way to help the athletes to continue to play. We feel that no tiger should be left out. Fees were previously $105 for all sports except football and lacrosse which were $155. Now all sports will be paying $310 per sport.”
Morrison attended Loveland Schools from 2nd through 6th grade before she moved with her family to New Richmond where she eventually met her husband and moved back to Loveland when her oldest child entered into 3rd grade.
“We have had three children graduate from Loveland schools – Ashlei (03), Chelsei (10), and Ben (20). My kids have been involved in soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, football, lacrosse, yearbook, drama, and choir,” Morrison said, “Over the years I have been a team mom for various sports and most recently organized and planned the Homecoming Parade for the last six years. When my son graduated I decided I was ready to become involved in a different way and decided to run for the Loveland Athletic Booster Board.”
Morrison says that the newly created Facebook Group “Loveland Athletic Boosters” is focusing on raising money for the student-athletes that may not be able to afford the pay-to-play fees.
“We want to share information and we encourage everyone to spread the word,” Morrison said, “The more people that join the group the more Tigers we can help! We want everyone to get a chance to play regardless of their financial situation. It’s going to be really tough for some families to pay the now $310 pay to play fee. Some athletes won’t be able to play at all and others will be forced to pick one sport where they used to be able to play two or three.” Many, many families have more than one child that will want to participate in a sport.
Thus far Morrison told us that the entire Loveland Athletic Boosters (LAB) Board is behind the fundraising efforts including, President Jeff Williams, Vice President Rich Myklebust, Treasurer Stephanie Bashardoust, and Secretary Stacey Lund. Soon LAB will be offering Business Memberships which would be a first for the Board.
I asked Morrison if the new Facebook Group would be holding any fundraising events and she said they are ALWAYS searching for new ideas and ways to raise money. The LAB’s do in fact have some awesome events planned that they hope will bring in a lot of funds for Tiger Student-Athletes.
Learn more about theannual Golf Outing on July 27 at O’Bannon Creek Golf Club.
“Our annual Golf Outing is July 27 at O’Bannon Creek Golf Club.
The Membership drive kicks off on July 1 and fall student-athletes will be selling discount cards that will be good at local restaurants and businesses,” Morrison said, “We will also be having like we do every year in January our Tiger Ball. One hundred percent of the money from these events will go towards helping our student-athletes with fees, gear, and anything else they need.”
Loveland, Ohio– In announcing that Sam David will be the Grand Marshal of the 2018 Loveland High School Homecoming Parade, Loveland Athletic Boosters’ Parade Coordinator Tori Morrison said, “As you know Sam has done a lot for our schools and community and we look forward to honoring him.”
The Parade is on Thursday, September 13 at 6:30 PM. The Homecoming game will be on Friday, September 14 at 7 PM vs the Withrow Tigers.
Grand Marshal Sam David has lived in Loveland since 2009 and had two kids graduate from Loveland High School.
Booster President Jeff Williams said, “Sam David has been the most generous person I know in dealing with the community and the students of Loveland. Sam has donated hundreds of hours to our community in volunteer hours and also personal investments over the years. Sam is all about Loveland.”
David began working for Larosas at the age of 16 and became General Manager of the Loveland store in 1985. In 1989 he became one of the owners. Since then he has joined his brother in owning six locations. He is on the Little Miami River Chamber Alliance Board of Directors.
Upon hearing about the choice of Grand Marshal, Loveland School Superintendent Amy Crouse said, “Sam is a great choice. He genuinely cares about the whole Tiger experience for our students and staff. He is one of our biggest cheerleaders both academically and in sports.”
David will be honored at halftime of the Homecoming Game with this statement:
He has served the Loveland Athletic Boosters as Director of Banner Sales, and more recently spent four years as 2nd Vice President. He has mentored countless kids over the years and is always willing to give of his time. He is currently a part of the Building Tiger Nation Committee.
Over the years he has made many donations to Loveland athletics and other activities. He and Michelle Petit are major donors to both the Tiger Turf and the Fitness Center. We as a community cannot thank Sam enough for all he has done and continues to do.
Please join us in honoring Sam David who is accompanied by his granddaughter Charli Jo.
The Parade starts at the Moose Lodge Hall on East Loveland Avenue, continues on West Loveland Avenue, to Rich Road, and ends at #1 Tiger Trail at Loveland High School. The annual Powder Puff football game will be held at Tiger Stadium immediately following the parade.
“Sam works for the betterment of the Tiger experience for all students. He treats all students with kindness and respect,” said Loveland High School Principal Peggy Johnson.
Jarvis Global is an investment advisory firm in Symmes Township, Ohio which offers private portfolio management and retirement services to high net worth individuals.
Loveland, Ohio – The Loveland Athletic Booster’s 2024 Loveland High School Homecoming Parade will be rolling down the streets of Loveland on Thursday, September 19th, beginning at 6:30 PM. 
![[VIDEO INTERVIEW] Ben’s Way a new initiative of the Ben Morrison Fund](https://lovelandmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/bens-way-feature.jpg)
Loveland Hope Squad
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by Cassie Mattia
Click Here To Sign Up Now! to be a Memember of the Loveland Athletic Boosters
