Source: Kentucky Standard
By Kacie Goode
May 11, 2019
Several Kentucky nonprofit organizations will be raising funds through an online campaign Tuesday, including groups that operate locally.
May 14 is the annual Kentucky Gives Day, a 24-hour statewide online giving event during which community members can donate to support projects for registered nonprofits and charities. In Nelson County, participating groups include the Kentucky Railway Museum, Barktown Rescue, the Nelson County Schools Community Support Foundation and the Stephen Foster Drama Association. Those interested in donating can go to kygives.org.
Nelson County Foundation sets high goal for early literacy
One of the more ambitious goals of the Kentucky Gives Day comes from the Nelson County Schools Community Support Foundation, which is using the online donation day to kick off its fundraiser to expand the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Nelson County.
The foundation looks to eventually cover the fees for all children in the county birth to age 5 to receive an age-appropriate book in the mail each month. The program comes at no cost to the families, but rather the Foundation will be responsible for providing the roughly $25 per child per year cost of enrolling in the program. If the goal is met, every Nelson County child of qualifying age — regardless of which school district they live in — will be able to participate in the program.
Brooke Whitlow, interim director of the Foundation, said while the overall goal is to raise $75,000 to cover the cost of every child, they aim to raise enough on Tuesday to pay for 500 children in the community, which would be $12,500. Helping work toward that goal will be Flaget Memorial Hospital, which has agreed to match donations up to $6,500.
Barktown seeks security upgrade
Barktown Rescue in Boston is taking part in Kentucky Gives Day with the goal of raising money to upgrade the facility’s security system.
Additionally, the rescue would like to repair the air conditioning in its transport van, which is also used by the Nelson County Humane Society, as well as add enrichment and medical equipment, and cover the cost of vaccinations and microchips as donations allow.
The rescue’s fundraising goal is $10,000. Barktown was established in 2009 and is housed in the old Boston Elementary School.
KRM aims to repair locomotive
The Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven prides itself on offering railway history, but the upkeep of equipment can be expensive.
During this year’s Kentucky Gives Day, the museum is looking to raise funds to support repairs to a boiler and other mechanical parts for its L&N 152. The historic locomotive was taken out of service in September 2011 for boiler issues, but if those repairs are made, the 152 could potentially operate again.
Drama wanting to landscape renovated amphitheater
As the Stephen Foster Drama Association nears the completion of an extensive rebuild of its J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre, Tuesday’s day of giving could help cover costs to “beautify” the space.
The drama is looking to raise about $1,500 through Tuesday’s event to pay for landscaping and the material for the stage floor.
The space will be used as soon as this month, planned for a graduation ceremony, and the 61st season of the Stephen Foster series kicks off June 8.
In addition to groups located in the county, a number of other nonprofits that impact the area, such as Feeding America — Kentucky’s Heartland and Bernheim Forest, will also take part in Tuesday’s event. Among the dozens of regional nonprofits registered this year are animal shelters, clinics, church groups, schools, children and family service organizations. A full list of participating organizations can be found at kygives.org.
Kentucky Gives Day is hosted by the Kentucky Nonprofit Network and is sponsored locally by the Central Kentucky Community Foundation.
“Last year through Ky. Gives Day, local nonprofits raised over $114,000 in only 24 hours,” CKCF President and CEO Davette B. Swiney said in a press release. “We look forward to continuing to help those in our region connect with the causes they care about in 2019.”
The campaign will begin at midnight on May 14 and continue until 11:59 p.m. Donors can go online to browse charities and nonprofits and to make their contributions.
Media sponsors for the event are The Kentucky Standard, The News-Enterprise and Quicksie 98.3 FM. Prizes will also be awarded throughout the day by the Kentucky Nonprofit Network as an incentive to donors and CKCF will award prizes to participating organizations.