A gift of $1.3 million from the Bever family of Oxford has pushed the Campaign for LifeSpan to about 75 percent of its goal of $2.2 million.

The gift, the largest single donation to date, was made in recognition of Ernst M. and Helen Ruder and daughter Anne Ruder Bever.

It was coordinated through bank trust officer Dennis G. Walsh, first vice president of First Financial Bank where Mr. Ruder was CEO and president in the 1940s and '50s.

LifeSpan Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1945 as Family Services. It provides outpatient therapy and counseling, school-based social work, credit counseling, experimental classes for children and adults, home care for older adults and guardianship programs through Butler County Probate Court.

Cynthia Stever, LifeSpan chief executive officer, said the Bevers' gift will enable LifeSpan to achieve the main objective of the campaign - to purchase and renovate a new facility to enhance its efforts to provide home care, educational and counseling services.

Also, additional campaign contributions will enable LifeSpan to initiate an endowment fund to ensure its ability to continue serving the residents of Butler, Warren and northern Hamilton counties, Stever said.

"We can now realize our dream of owning our own building, which frees more or our resources to serve our clients," she said.

The agency reached 15,000 individuals and families in Butler, Warren and northern Hamilton counties in fiscal year 2003.

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The fan drive conducted by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul exceeded its goal of 500.

Liz Carter, executive director, said when the drive ended July 20 it had collected 649 fans and 185 air conditioners. They are being distributed through St. Vincent de Paul's neighborhood parish organizations, the West End location, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority and home nurses in low-income areas.

The drive was kicked off June 6 at Coney Island with Firefighters Union Local 48 donating 100 fans and Anderson Township Fire and Rescue donating 25.

Fox 19 and an anonymous donor pledged a $19,500 cash donation toward the purchase of fans and air conditioners.

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Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.