When former Cincinnati Vice Mayor David Crowley attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in West End, he'd quietly help children at the church's school who needed clothes or school supplies.
When Crowley died of cancer in 2011 at age 73, his nieces started the charity Mr. Crowley's Kids in his honor to continue help to families associated with the church.
As the 10-year anniversary of Crowley's passing approached this year, Crowley's grandson, Brennan Crowley, set out to reinvigorate the charity. He enlisted his former college roommate, Ike Nierman. Then they told everyone they knew that if they raised $10,000, they would compete in a triathlon and split the proceeds between charities near to their hearts.
Brennan Crowley's portion would go to Mr. Crowley's Kids.
Nierman's portion would go to ELJ Foundation, which was started in honor of his mother Elizabeth L. Joksimovic, who died of cancer.
"I always used to say my grandpa knew a million people," said Brennan Crowley, 23, of East Walnut Hills. "He would stop and talk to everyone. He could touch every stranger he ever met and make their lives better. It was his coolest trait. It’s inspirational. "
Crowley had thought $10,000 was an impossible goal.
But friends and family surprised them with a total donated of nearly $14,000.
So Crowley and Nierman competed in the Island Lake Triathlon in Brighton Michigan on June 5.
St. Joseph church leaders used the money for a summer camp.
“David Crowley’s legacy of service was an inspiration to so many and his commitment to those in need was unwavering,” said Councilman Chris Seelbach, a former staffer in David Crowley's vice mayor office. “To see his grandson continuing that tradition by raising money for the children of St Joseph’s in the West End is a reminder that David is still improving lives today.”
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