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Joe Nuxhall's passion for his philanthropic work won't fade with his passing, and organizations he was been involved with will make sure of that.

Tributes to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame pitcher have happened already since he died on Nov. 15. Both the Hamilton and Fairfield chambers of commerce paid tributes to the man often called "Hamilton Joe."

In just a few weeks, the Cincinnati Reds and the Reds Hall of Fame will have tributes to Nuxhall, and the city of Hamilton will be a part of Joe Nuxhall Tribute Night, which is also City of Hamilton night, on June 10, the anniversary of the Ol' Lefthander's first major league appearance at 15 years old.

"I don't think there has ever been a testimony to an individual in my lifetime that comes close to matching the outpouring of love and respect and grief than Joe's passing in November," said Reds Community Fund Executive Director Charley Frank.

Frank's organization will fully fund the Butler County Reds Rookie Success League for its second year in 2008 at Water Works Park, which will double the amount of at-risk youth that will be taught character traits.

Next to what the Reds are planning for opening day, one of the more prominent tributes to Nuxhall will be the second annual Joe Nuxhall Hope Project fundraiser set for April 3 at Oscar's at Jungle Jim's on Ohio 4 in Fairfield.

Since it kicked off in April 2007, more than $136,000 has been donated to the Hope Project, which is the umbrella project for five of Nuxhall's dreams, said Fairfield Community Foundation Executive Director Betsy Hope. That is far from the $7 million goal in order to make the dreams self-sustaining, she said.

Each project within the Hope Project operate with their own fund, and many have been going on for years, like the scholarship.

"That's the way to best honor Joe is to make sure these things live on and happen," Hope said. "We don't know how long it will take to raise this money."

This spring, the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame will open a tribute exhibit called the "Ol' Lefthander," said Hall of Fame executive director Rick Walls.

"Joe transcends just about every part of Reds baseball," Walls said. "The impact he has had on fans, on the community, on the baseball team, on the franchise is immeasurable, and that impact we want to show in this special exhibit."

The Cincinnati Reds will honor the Nuxhall, but team spokesman Rob Butcher said plans aren't ready, and does not know when they will be, to be announced.

Kim Nuxhall has been "sworn to secrecy" about the plans, but said, "The 45,000 will witness a moment they will never forget."