Category: Projects

  • Restore Walking Trail at Valley View Education Center

    Restore Walking Trail at Valley View Education Center

    Installed in 2014 in honor of community leader Nelson Kelley, this walking trail has benefitted students at Elizabethtown Independent Schools’ Panther Place Afterschool Program and the nearby Haycraft Neighborhood. Erosion has taken a toll on the trail, and with a donation of $10,000 could be restored and maintained as part of Elizabethtown’s growing network of outdoor recreation opportunities. Volunteers would be mobilized to complete construction with the expertise of trail planners and funding for supplies.

  • Born Learning Academics

    Born Learning Academics

    Born Learning Academics

    Born Learning Academies use proven tips, tools and resources to help families take a more active role in preparing their children ages 0-5 for kindergarten. Through a series of six free workshops held in local schools, a Born Learning Academy provides families and caregivers with practical, user-friendly ideas to turn everyday activities into learning moments. Programs include a family-friendly meal, prizes, and fun hands-on activities.  Each workshop is led by trained professionals—usually teachers, principals or other education staff—and focuses on topics including Building Your Child’s Language Skills, Nutrition and Health, How Children Learn, and Routines and Learning on the Go. There are no income restrictions to qualify for the program, as we believe all children should have the opportunity to develop school-readiness skills regardless of their family circumstances. A gift of $7,500 will allow LaRue County to operate a Born Learning Academy for a year.

  • United Way

    United Way

    Provide Coaching and Job Readiness Training to Remove Employment Barriers

    Did you know that 40% of working-age adults in Hardin County are unemployed, yet our region is experiencing increasing demand for nonprofit services and a shortage of entry-level workers? United Way of Central Kentucky is bringing our community together to bridge the gap between those in need and the hundreds of job opportunities available in our region. Our Way to Work program takes poverty personally with a research based, one-on-one approach for moving families to self-sufficiency through employment. Change does not happen alone, and poverty is expensive as it hinders the growth of our local economy while employers face a shortage of reliable entry-level workers. In addition to this cost, research shows that job seekers who are chronically unemployed or underemployed face multiple barriers which may include health, childcare, and transportation challenges. Through our collaborative network, Way to Work will connect local businesses to prospective employees who have completed a background check, drug test, Job Readiness Workshop, and are receiving wraparound support from partner agencies. An investment of $10,000 will provide 2 Way to Work Members with personalized coaching and coordinated services for a year. Together we can find a better way to address the complex issue of poverty.

  • Mission Hope For Kids

    Mission Hope For Kids

    Provide Transportation to Mission Hope for Kids Afterschool Program

    Mission Hope for Kids partners with parents and educators to identify at-risk children who would benefit from additional academic, emotional and spiritual support after school hours.  Adult and youth mentors provide homework help, literacy programs, computer labs, nutritious meals and faith enrichment to 185 Hardin County students.  Research by the Afterschool Alliance shows that 45% of all participants involved in afterschool programs improved their reading grades and 41% improved their math grades. At-risk children face unique and complex challenges like hunger, stressed social environments, negative peer pressure and limited access to resources.  Transportation is often a barrier for families given the lack of public transportation in Hardin County.  To ensure that transportation never hinders a student’s ability to attend, Mission Hope volunteers provide transportation to and from the program.  An investment of $10,000 will be combined with that of private donations to purchase a new 15-passenger van.