Ohio Valley Voices
news & updates
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Silence to Speech Groundbreaking |
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Construction is underway
at Ohio Valley Voices!
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It’s been a little over a month since Ohio Valley Voices broke ground on our campus expansion project, and construction is humming along at an impressive clip. How thrilling to see our Silence to Speech vision become a reality!
Even as the renovation and expansion continues at full speed, OVV remains committed to delivering the highest quality early intervention services to our children. Our staff is working tirelessly to ensure that learning occurs with minimal disruptions, and the children are proving to be remarkably adaptable.
We extend our sincerest thanks to all our families, supporters, and volunteers for their flexibility during this exciting but unpredictable time. We couldn't do what we do without you!
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Host a Silence to Speech fundraising
party—and have a massive impact!
To date, OVV has raised over $30,000 toward our Silence to Speech campaign goal through private fundraising parties.
If you would like to support the Silence to Speech campaign, please consider hosting your own fundraising party. By doing so, you can have an impact on current and future generations of OVV learners and ensure the campaign's success.
Thank you in advance for your interest!
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Click below to learn more and
donate to Silence to Speech!
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Student Spotlight - Emmaline Pomeroy |
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Emmaline Pomeroy is a friend to all. Enrolled in OVV’s Exploring Center, she spends her day with Miss Melissa and Miss Selina and her Listening and Spoken Language Provider (LSLP), Miss Ren. Her parents, Blair and Matt Pomeroy, describe her as sassy and sweet all in one. “She loves all things that sparkle and is extremely girly,” Blair says. “She’s outgoing, extroverted, and loves to be the leader of the group.”
Emmaline passed her newborn hearing screening, but after her first birthday Matt and Blair had a gut feeling something was wrong. “She wasn’t hearing us as well as she used to and seemed to be regressing in her language and communication development,” Blair explains. In the fall of 2019, Emmaline’s grandmother told Matt and Blair about “a wonderful school for children who are deaf and hard of hearing called Ohio Valley Voices.” They took a tour and, Blair says, “We were amazed! We met the other students who were not only kind and welcoming, but they were speaking in full sentences!” The tour offered a glimpse of what Emmaline’s life could be, one with friends that understood her and a community that could teach her how to listen and speak. “We saw a future where we could hear our daughter’s voice, and she could hear ours..." (read more)
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Have an impact now! Sign up to be an OVV monthly donor! |
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2022 LOVVE Amplified Fashion Show |
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Don't miss the OVV Fashion Show
on Thursday, September 29th!
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LOVVE Amplified Fashion Show
Thursday, September 29th
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Fowling Warehouse
2940 Highland Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45212
General Admission - $80
VIP - $100
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The 2022 LOVVE Amplified Fashion Show is less than three weeks away. Buy tickets now to experience this hip, high energy event to benefit the children of Ohio Valley Voices.
Get there early to enjoy these crowd favorites:
- Community Quilt
- Food by the Bite
- Partner Vendors
- Silent Auction
- Split the Pot
- Raffles
Then stick around for the main event—a dazzling fashion show featuring trend-setting styles by UC DAAP students.
We'll see you on the runway!
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Click below to buy
Fashion Show tickets now!
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Supporter Spotlight - Matt Peffly |
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Matt Peffly has been a part of the Ohio Valley Voices family for nearly twenty years. As the parent of an OVV alumni, he understands firsthand the profound impact its services have on children and families. And as an OVV volunteer, committee member, and former board member, he shares his passion for the program to anyone who will listen.
The Pefflys first learned of Ohio Valley Voices in 2003 upon discovering that their daughter Jasmine had hearing loss, a startling revelation that left Matt and his wife Sandra reeling and looking for answers. Matt admits that he knew nothing about cochlear implants at the time nor was he aware of OVV.
Jasmine entered Ohio Valley Voices that same year and immediately took to the program. For Jasmine, OVV offered not only a rigorous education program but also a welcoming space in which to have fun, build character, and form lasting bonds.
“Jazzie started in 2003 as an eighteen-month-old and left after kindergarten in 2008,” Matt says. “She loved attending OVV. She didn’t realize it at the time, but she learned so much, which was all done through play. It was intense, yes, but it never felt like work. It was always fun. Plus, she met her best friend Sophie there. They remain close to this day..." (read more)
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Betty Jean Prescott Tribute |
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Ohio Valley Voices Honors
Betty Jean Prescott (1933-2022)
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A Tribute by OVV Executive Director Maria Sentelik |
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Betty was a big supporter of Ohio Valley Voices. She volunteered for nine years at the front desk, completing projects for both the administrative and teaching staff. Our children and employees were always happy to see her when she visited. Emily Johnson, our Executive Administrator, and Ruth Lamphier, our Audiology Aide, spent a lot of time with Betty and cherished every moment.
Not only was Betty generous with her time, she was also incredibly giving. She used her impeccable decorating skills to make the audiology suite beautiful and welcoming for all the staff, students, and families who would enter that space.
Betty had a sense of humor too. All Ohio Valley Voices staff members who had a volunteer project completed by Betty know that laminating was her specialty. Betty bought a new laminator for OVV and jokingly said that we should name it “Betty Jean.” From that point on, we have named our laminators “Betty Jean II” and so on.
The OVV community will miss Betty very much. She supported our teachers, administrators, audiologists, and board of trustees, and most importantly she supported our children. To honor the memory of our dear friend Betty, OVV has chosen to name a room after her—the Betty Jean Learning Room.
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Give our kids fun and useful tools through OVV's Amazon Wishlist! |
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Staff Spotlight - Selina Kissell |
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As Ohio Valley Voices’ resident Montessori Instructor, Selina Kissell draws on her unique background and infectious enthusiasm to make every moment in the program—even the challenging ones—an opportunity for growth, play, and adventure.
Selina was born in South Carolina and moved to Ohio as a kid. During her college years at Bluffton University, she majored in Social Work and Psychology with a minor in Peace and Conflict Resolution. This distinctive combination of interests served her well while studying abroad in Northern Ireland.
“My placement at The Corrymeela Community offered me the opportunity to work with individuals and communities suffering from violence and polarization in the Northern Irish Conflict,” she explains. “I worked specifically to organize collaborative group retreats to reunify the children of Protestant and Catholic families who lived during the Troubles and foster peaceful alternatives and inspire resiliency.”
Following her time in Ireland, Selina received a Montessori education certification from the North American Montessori Center. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Social Work, a degree she plans to use to one day develop a well-rounded social work practice... (read more)
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Our children are getting back into the swing
of things with loads of fun, educational activities including learning how to read, taking care of baby dolls, and finding their location on a map.
And they're making lots of new friends too!
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New Employee Announcement |
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Our family got a lot bigger this year.
Please join us in welcoming these awesome,
talented folks to Ohio Valley Voices!
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Kaylan Anderson
Position: Learning Center Aide
Hometown: Hodgenville, KY
Favorite Food: Popcorn
Pet: Chocolate labrador named Jo (also responds to "Gremlin")
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Brooke Chaney
Position: Listening and Spoken Language Provider
Hometown: Milford, OH
Favorite Food: Coffee
Pet: 2 dogs!
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Grace Driscoll
Position: Social Media and Marketing Assistant & Toddler Aide
Hometown: Loveland, OH
Favorite Food: Pasta
Pet: 2 dogs named Ferguson & Bradley
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Ren Ferris
Position: Listening and Spoken Language Provider (EC)
Hometown: Loveland, OH
Favorite Food: Pickles!
Pet: No pets, but I have a plant named Rodrigo!
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Natalie Heller
Position: Listening and Spoken Language Provider (EC)
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Favorite Food: Skyline
Pet: 2 rescue beagle-mixes named Stella & Bonnie
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Sarah Hogan
Position: Learning Center Teacher
Hometown: Whittier, California
Favorite Food: Strawberries or Costa Rican cuisine
Pet: 2 dogs named Lucy & Daisy, 1 leopard gecko named Leila
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Allison Kinross
Position: Listening and Spoken Language Provider (LC)
Hometown: Maineville, OH
Favorite Food: Skyline
Pet: Dog
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Brooke Leo
Position: Listening and Spoken Language Provider (DC)
Hometown: Landen, Ohio
Favorite Food: Graeter's ice cream
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Rachel Liles
Position: Audiologist
Hometown: Loveland, OH
Favorite Food: Mac and Cheese
Pet: A cat named Ralphie & a dog named Watson
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Julia Scherler
Position: Listening and Spoken Language Provider (DC)
Hometown: Medina, OH
Favorite Food: Pizza
Pet: No pets
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Valerie Feldmeyer
Position: Discovery Center Teacher
Hometown: Maineville, OH
Favorite food: Fettuccine alfredo
Pet: 2 dogs, Daisy and Ruby
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Special Thanks to These Partners: |
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Team Lach Sibcy Cline
(Patrick Lach and Kristie Morris)
Dr. Beatrice Lampkin
Cincinnati Bell
Loth Inc.
Marathon Health
Poppins Health
DMJ RE Consulting
and Marketing, LLC
(Shannon Crutchfield)
Frank and Becky Hicks
Jim Huff
Jacqueline Sweeney
Robert Lach
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The Barbara S. and Richard G. Hoefinghoff Family Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Dr. Nancy Creaghead
Thornton-Keith Family
Charitable Gift Fund
White Castle Systems, Inc.
HORAN
Barb Molloy
Anjali Narayanan
Tony and Angie Sottile
General Electric Employees'
Community Service Fund
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