FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Blue Grass Community Foundation Celebrates
Special events planned to thank our community for its generosity
Lexington, Ky. (February 20, 2020) – Today, Blue Grass Community Foundation celebrates the milestone of awarding $100 million in aggregate grants since its founding in 1967. Because this could not have been accomplished without the generosity of our donors and the communities we serve across Central and Appalachia Kentucky, BGCF is hosting multiple special events to celebrate and express our gratitude.
During a news conference at City Hall on Thursday morning, Mayor Linda Gorton will kick-off the Thanks $100 Million celebration with a Mayoral Proclamation commemorating the event. Blue Grass Community Foundation President/CEO Lisa Adkins and Board Chair Fran Taylor will present executives and representatives of the Urban League of Lexington, The Hearing and Speech Center, and Sayre School’s Green Team with grants in honor of the initial round of $100 grants awarded by the Community Foundation back in 1968.
BGCF is partnering with two of our corporate charitable fundholders to help us thank the community for its generosity:
Beginning at 10:30 a.m. on February 20, Blue Grass Community Foundation will give away 50 free drinks at Cup of Commonwealth and 50 free drinks at Chocolate Holler. One lucky drink recipient at each location will also receive a $1,000 BGCF Giving Card redeemable for their favorite local nonprofit.
Also beginning at 10:30 a.m. on February 20, BGCF will give away 100 free stickers at the Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall on Bryan Avenue. One lucky sticker recipient will receive a $1,000 BGCF Giving Card redeemable for their favorite local nonprofit.
A fourth $1,000 BGCF Giving Card and two tickets to the Chris Stapleton Concert for Kentucky – A Hometown State of Kind Benefit Concert will be given away in a social media promotion: like and follow @BGCFKY on Facebook and be on the lookout for a special post with details about the Giving Card contest.
BGCF will launch the website www.bgcf100million.org to share 100 stories of impact about the people, initiatives, and $100 million in grants made throughout the Community Foundation’s history.
Blue Grass Community Foundation was started in 1967 by local philanthropists C.W. & Irene Sulier. That first year, assets of Blue Grass Foundation (as it was then called) reached $5,000. Fast forward to February 2020. The Community Foundation has grown from one charitable fund to almost 700, each with its own unique charitable purpose. Charitable assets total almost $150 million, with total grants since inception of over $108 million.
Our community’s generosity has accelerated in recent years. It took 45 years to grant the first $50 million to nonprofits and scholarship recipients, but fewer than 7 years to grant the next $50 million. Over the course of the last 10 fiscal years (FY11 to FY20) BGCF has granted out $87.8M, or 81% of the total. We are confident that the Community Foundation will have an even larger impact as we move forward and continue to grow.
But, as President/CEO Lisa Adkins notes, “This is about so much more than numbers. Achieving the $100 million milestone represents progress toward our mission of increasing community generosity. It’s about impact, transformation, changed lives and the generosity of donors who make it possible. Whether it’s the environment and greenspaces, early childhood education and literacy, safer communities, more engaged neighborhoods, or arts and culture, philanthropy powers so much good in our communities.”
At the Community Foundation, we believe that one person can make a difference, but know we make the biggest impact when we invest together for our communities. If you’d like to have a greater impact on your community and the causes you love, join us. We want to partner with you. Contact us today to establish a charitable fund to reach your philanthropic goals.
About Blue Grass Community Foundation:
Blue Grass Community Foundation creates more generous, vibrant and engaged communities, by growing charitable giving throughout the Bluegrass and Appalachia Kentucky. We help individuals, businesses and nonprofits establish charitable funds and endowments while also providing leadership on key community issues. To learn more about Blue Grass Community Foundation, visit www.bgcf.org or contact President/CEO Lisa Adkins at 859.225.3343.
Media Contact: Lauren Parsons
[email protected] | 859.225.3343
Lauren Parsons
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Communications
BLUE GRASS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
499 East High Street, Suite 112
Lexington, Kentucky 40507
859.225.3343 | bgcf.org
WE’RE IN IT FOR GOOD.
Susan Straub
Director of Communications
Office of the Mayor
859.258.3111 office
859.576.2564 cell
