Story Category: Donor Stories

THE POWER OF ENDOWMENTS: INVESTING IN THE ARTS PAYS OFF IN PERPETUITY

Celebrated philanthropist Lucille Little was passionate about the arts. All told, Mrs. Little awarded over $50 million to nonprofits in Fayette, Rowan and Elliott Counties. It would be hard to find an arts organization in those communities that has not benefitted from her generosity. Mrs. Little died in 2002, but… Read More

A Profile in Giving: Building a Strong Foundation of Generosity

In addition to building homes, James and Martha Monroe build communities. In 2006, when James and Martha were in their early twenties and had been married for a year, they launched James Monroe Homes. For the first several years while the company was getting started, James received no salary from… Read More

Why I Give

In 2003 a friend gave me a book that changed my life — although not in a way that anyone noticed or maybe that even I noticed at the time. The book was Tracy Kidder’s “Mountains Beyond Mountains,” an account of how one person was trying to alter the way… Read More

It All Started With Three Sheets of Paper

By Scotty Patrick, Magoffin County Community Foundation chair   I grew up in Magoffin County and learned a lot in my early years there. My teachers taught us the three Rs and the importance of respecting each other. My education extended beyond the classroom as I realized how those around… Read More

Giving is an Outlaw State of Mind for the Stapleton Family

Kentucky native and one of the country’s most respected and beloved musicians, Chris Stapleton has received numerous awards for his work: eight Grammys, seven Academy of Country Music awards, 14 Country Music Association awards and five Billboard music awards, just to name a few. His songs appeal to music fans… Read More

Santa Claus opens Santa CAUSE Donner-Advised Fund

It isn’t often that Blue Grass Community Foundation (BGCF) makes a public announcement about a new charitable fund. But when the fund is established by the most generous person on the planet, it is a newsworthy event. Kris Kringle (aka Pere Noel, St. Nicholas, Pelznickel, Sinterklaas and, most famously, Santa… Read More

Giving Is All in the Family for the Salomons

Art Salomon has worn a lot of hats at Blue Grass Community Foundation over the past 25 years: board member, board chair, finance and audit committee chair, fundholder, Legacy Society member, donor, advocate. “I was looking for that one cause I could believe in,” says Art, “and Blue Grass… Read More

Living and Giving Off the Grid

Chris Schimmoeller and Joel Dufour may live off the grid, but they are integrally connected to their community. “I grew up without a telephone, television or running water. We heated with wood and hauled our water up the hill from a spring. But I had love, the outdoors and lots… Read More