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Some 1,200 volunteers cleaned up alleys and roadways in Shelby Park, Smoketown, Shawnee and California. Hundreds gathered at Meyzeek Middle School to build beds for JCPS school children who didn’t have one. More than 3,000 students walked for compassion through downtown Louisville as part of the international WE Day. And still others repaired bikes for refugees or landscaped area nonprofits.
Those and many other projects and deeds amounted to more than 180,000 volunteers and acts of compassion during Louisville’s sixth annual Give A Day week of service, which ended April 23.
The amount of helping and giving broke the city’s own world record of 175,000 volunteers and acts of compassion set last year in April. Mayor Greg Fischer said the creativity of compassion was impressive and inspiring.
“The beauty of this annual Week of Service is that it puts a spotlight on the compassion that we know happens in this community every single day, though we might not always see it,” Mayor Fischer said. “Every year, I learn about new things that people are doing throughout this community to help build each other up, and it’s amazing.”
The Mayor cited, for example, a small group of volunteers who gather every Sunday from spring into fall at Eastern Cemetery on Baxter Avenue, and armed with a few mowers, rakes and brooms, work to mow the grass and make once-forgotten, unseen monuments visible again.
“This little army is out there every week, and hardly anyone knows it’s happening,” said the Mayor, who stopped in to help and close out the 2017 Give A Day week on April 23. He and Dr. Barry Kerzin, one of the Dalai Lama’s two personal physicians – who was visiting for the Festival of Faiths – jumped in and mowed portions of the massive cemetery.
The numbers for Give A Day week included more than 51,000 JCPS students and teachers – often entire schools and classes – who, along with thousands more private and Catholic school students, were involved in projects ranging from writing letters to troops overseas to collecting and sorting food for the hungry to cleaning the neighborhoods around their schools.
And a record number of people – more than 17,000 – joined the Brightside & Passport Health Plan Spring Community Wide Cleanup, removing litter and debris from neighborhoods, parks and schools.
Louisville Metro Government teams also donated hours during the Week of Service. Louisville Metro Police, for example, sponsored projects in every division, and Louisville Fire helped with landscaping, beautification, cleanup and children’s activities at places like the Louisville Masonic Home and Baxter Park.
Mayor Fischer said the numbers probably exceeded 180,000, given how many acts of compassion occur that no one reports or are difficult to count, including contributions from local media and hours donated by companies, including Humana, GE, Ford, UPS, Computershare, Hogan Lovells and more.
The Mayor said he’s already hearing from citizens, organizations and companies making plans for the 2018 Give A Day event, which again will be connected with the annual Kentucky Derby Festival.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off the Kentucky Derby Festival each year, than giving back to our community and its residents,” said Mike Berry, KDF President and CEO. “With countless volunteers who help make our celebration possible, we know first-hand the importance of volunteerism, and it makes Give A Day week a perfect fit.”
Mayor Fischer stressed that the success of Give A Day would not be possible without the support and coordination of Metro United Way, which matches volunteers with needy projects and organizations through the website, www.mygiveaday.com. “At Metro United Way, uniting people with the passion and expertise to get things done around our community’s most pressing needs is at the heart of what we do,” said Theresa Reno-Weber, Metro United Way president and CEO. “All year we mobilize thousands of individuals to fight for the education, financial stability and health of every person in our community, so we’re especially proud to serve as the volunteer engine for Mayor’s Give a Day week of service.
“Behind all of our work,” she added, “there are countless individuals, nonprofit partners and private companies who get involved in big and small ways to ensure a better future for all of us and a stronger community, and we are grateful for all who help us ensure every individual, child, and family achieves their fullest potential.”
2017 Give A Day week of service — Notable Numbers:
- 52,248 – Meals packaged by volunteers at Love the Hungry
- 40,000 – Pounds of supplies donated for the Love from Louisville effort to send goods to refugees in Greece
- 30,000 – Meals donated through Kroger and Dare to Care food drive
- 20,000 – Personal hygiene kits created and distributed to JCPS and KRM, as part of WE Day
- 17,000 — Brightside volunteers who helped clean up Louisville
- 100 — Bicycles donated to and refurbished by the Pedal Power Project to provide basic transportation for new refugees to Louisville
Metro Councilmen Stuart Benson (District 20) and Robin Engel (District 22) along with the Louisville Metro Police Department’s 7th Division and the Parklands of Floyds Fork will hold the event, “Crashing the Parklands” on April 30 between Noon and 7pm. This FREE family friendly event will include a performance of Julius Caesar by the actors from Kentucky Shakespeare at 1pm followed by a live concert by the pop rock group The Louisville Crashers at 4pm.
In addition to the FREE play and concert, TARC Shuttles will be available to bring people to the park from Fern Creek High School between the hours of 1pm and 6pm at no charge. Representatives from the public safety community as well as other community groups will host information booths at the event. A number of food vendors have been confirmed for persons interested in purchasing food or drinks.
Those planning to attend are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. Alcohol is prohibited at this free family event as well as the Parklands. For more information on this event please contact Angela Webster at 502-574-3465.
“You can’t do everything, but you can do something.” That phrase served as the theme for today’s Child Abuse Awareness Summit in Northern Kentucky. Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky (CHNK) hosted the event in collaboration with three other child welfare organizations: DCCH Center for Children and Families (Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky), Holly Hill Children’s Services (California, Kentucky), and St. Joseph Orphanage (Cincinnati, Ohio).
The summit marked the close of National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and started discussions about how the tri-state area plans to address and meet the needs of increasing numbers of youth in out-of-home care in the Commonwealth.
“This is a remarkable example of how much can be accomplished when people come together with a common purpose,” remarked Kentucky First Lady Glenna Bevin. “These children need our help and I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than helping children. You are literally changing lives and saving the lives of children.”
Friday’s summit was a call to action for the community to share adoption and foster care program reform initiatives to address the increasing number of youth in the child welfare system. One simple way to help is through CHNK’s Duffle Shuffle Challenge, which encourages the wider community to donate new duffle bags that will be given to youth in out-of-home care; many times, these youth must use trash bags for their belongings as they move from foster home to foster home.
“We heard the plea. We’re cutting through the red tape and mobilizing people to do something of goodwill,” said CHNK Chief Executive Officer Rick Wurth. “I am really excited that we have four Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati child welfare organizations coming together cooperatively to respond to this need. The new sense of collaboration is amazing.”
Summit organizers say the idea for today’s gathering came from last month’s Open Hearts/Open Homes summit that Governor Bevin and the First Lady hosted in Frankfort. That event launched the administration’s efforts to transform Kentucky’s foster care and adoption services into model programs for the entire nation.
Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson told the crowd of more than 100 today that everyone has a role to play.
“It really takes all of us – social workers, other government experts, family, neighbors – to keep kids out of harm’s way,” Glisson said. “We commend our community partners who have come up with such an innovative approach to support our state’s children. While everyone cannot be a foster or adoptive parent, there is a role for everyone to play in addressing this crisis.”
Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky takes a family-centered, holistic approach to behavioral health and substance use treatment for youth experiencing abuse, neglect, addiction, or other trauma. CHNK’s menu of services, offered by 120 healthcare professionals across three locations, includes community-based services, intensive outpatient services, and residential treatment. Accredited by the national Council on Accreditation, CHNK has served the Northern Kentucky community and Commonwealth of Kentucky for over 135 years. For more information on CHNK go to: https://www.chnk.org/.
First Lady Bevin and Secretary Glisson also visited Covington’s Homeward Bound Shelter, which is a 24-hour emergency shelter that provides a safe environment and residential treatment services for runaway, homeless, abused, neglected and dependent youth. They had the opportunity to speak with several youth who have received assistance from the center.
“It was so moving to hear from these young people,” First Lady Bevin continued. “Some of them have faced a long road to recovery from where they started, but supports like this center have helped them grow stronger, every step of their journey. They are truly inspirational.”
Learn more about the Homeward Bound Shelter and the mission of the Brighton Center at http://brightoncenter.com/.
Governor Matt Bevin has proclaimed April “Child Abuse Prevention Month in Kentucky.” In his proclamation, Governor Bevin wrote that “effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among state and local government agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community.” Read the full proclamation at http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/execjournalimages/2017-PROC-249092.pdf.
Call your local police or the cabinet’s child abuse hotline at 877-KYSAFE1 – 877-597-2331 – to report suspected abuse. Callers remain anonymous.
Perfect weather conditions enabled 22 balloons to take off in the U.S. Bank Great Balloon Rush Hour Race this morning. This is the thirteenth year for the drive-time race event, which was added to the Festival’s BalloonFest schedule in 2005. The competition got underway just after 7 AM at Bowman Field, as light wind took the balloons north west into West Louisville.
The 21 “Hound” balloons took off from Bowman Field in “chase” of the “Hare” – U.S. Bank balloon, piloted by Scott McClinton. McClinton flew for about an hour before landing in Shawnee Park near a construction zone. 6 of the pilots made a measurable toss of their bag of Kentucky bluegrass seed near the target, a giant vinyl U.S. Bank “X.”
With another race still on the docket for the weekend, the overall winner will be chosen based on a points system. As of this morning’s race, the Zaxby’s balloon, piloted by Nick Donner, is the front runner. Donner came within 19 feet, 10 inches of the target laid out by race sponsor and hare balloon U.S. Bank.
Pilots picked their positions for tonight’s U.S. Bank Great Balloon Glow at the BalloonFest Position Draw Luncheon held this afternoon. The Glow is scheduled for tonight at 9 p.m. at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Derby Festival Officials are monitoring the weather closely for the event. The final event on the U.S. Bank Great BalloonFest schedule is the U.S. Bank Great Balloon Race at 7 a.m. tomorrow.
Also at today’s luncheon, 15 pilots competed in an indoor target toss to choose a winning charity from Thursday’s U.S. Bank Great Balloon Charity Race (because the race was cancelled Thursday morning). Pilot Dan Hoehler with the Sunnyside of Louisville balloon by SoIN won the competition for the American Red Cross. American Red Cross will be presented a $1,000 check from the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation.
Last night’s U.S. Bank Great Balloon Glimmer was a hit at the Waterfront! Conditions drew a crowd of thousands to the Great Lawn. 19 balloons participated in the annual ‘mini-glow’ at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville.
Since the first Great Balloon Race was held in 1973, the Derby Festival’s balloon events have been considered among the best in the country by pilots from all around the world. BalloonFest attractions are annually among the most popular family-friendly events on the Derby Festival schedule.
The Kentucky Derby Festival Great BalloonFest is sponsored by U.S. Bank with Contributing Sponsor V.G Reed & Sons. Q103.1 is the Media Sponsor of the Great Balloon Glimmer. 99.7 DJX is Media Sponsor of the Rush Hour Race and Great Balloon Race. 106.9 PLAY is Media Sponsor of the Great Balloon Glow. WLKY TV is the TV broadcast partner for the Glow.
Interapt LLC, a tech development startup focusing on business innovation services and workforce development, will establish a new Louisville headquarters with a nearly $3.7 million investment and create 250 full-time jobs over the coming years, Mayor Greg Fischer and Gov. Matt Bevin announced yesterday.
“Louisville is seeing growth like never before in our tech sector right now. Interapt’s expansion is confirmation that we have created an environment where entrepreneurs, innovators and makers can thrive,” said the Mayor. “I look forward to seeing the continued growth of our trained IT workforce and applaud the company on its move to the Portland neighborhood in west Louisville.”
Photo: Interapt
For its new office, Interapt will renovate a 22,000 square-foot manufacturing and warehousing facility at 1226 Rowan St. in the city’s Portland neighborhood near downtown. The new headquarters will include dedicated space for community-focused workforce development and technology training programs.
Interapt develops mobile, web and high-tech wearable applications that help businesses improve their processes, communication and bottom line. Customers include Baptist Healthcare, Eurofins, Humana, Kindred Healthcare, YUM! Brands, General Electric and many others.
“Interapt has dedicated itself to creating a pipeline of highly qualified software developers in Kentucky, and their work is catching the attention of a national tech industry,” said Gov. Bevin “The tremendous work of founder and CEO Ankur Gopal, and his team, serves to further establish Kentucky as a premier location for high-tech businesses. With its new corporate office, Interapt will invest in both its own future and that of the commonwealth’s tech industry, and we are thankful for their continued commitment to Kentucky.”
In 2016, Interapt collaborated with multiple for- and nonprofit organizations to develop a technology workforce training initiative. That initiative includes TechHire Eastern Kentucky (TEKY), which has successfully re-trained under-employed individuals in the Appalachia region.
Gopal, who founded Interapt in 2009, said he hopes the company’s growth inspires the next generation of Kentuckians to start their own entrepreneurial journey, and that other global technology companies take notice and consider Kentucky when expanding their businesses.
“This is an exciting milestone for Interapt. Our team has worked very hard to establish ourselves in the global technology industry and help create technology skills across the Commonwealth. We are proud that our work is changing many people’s lives and creating new opportunities for people to embark on fruitful technology careers,” said Gopal. “I appreciate Kentucky’s support and commitment to Interapt’s growth, and look forward to our team making continued impact throughout my home state.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in April preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $2 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
Additionally, KEDFA approved Interapt for up to $75,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.
For more information on Interapt, visit www.interapt.com
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Photo: KY Education and Workforce Development
Unemployment rates dropped in 55 Kentucky counties between March 2016 and March 2017, rose in 53 and stayed the same in 12 counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 3.5 percent. It was followed by Oldham and Shelby counties, 3.7 percent each; Fayette County, 3.9 percent; Scott County, 4 percent; Spencer and Warren counties, 4.1 percent each; Jessamine County, 4.2 percent; and Allen, Boone, Campbell and Henry counties, 4.3 percent each.
Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 18.9 percent. It was followed by Elliott County, 11.6 percent; Leslie County, 11.5 percent; Knott and Harlan counties, 11 percent each; Letcher County, 10.9 percent; Menifee County, 10.7 percent; Carter County, 10.6 percent; Breathitt County, 10.4 percent; and Lawrence, Lewis and Wolfe counties, 10.3 percent each.
In contrast to the monthly national and state data, unemployment statistics for counties are not seasonally adjusted. The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 5.4 percent for March 2017, and 4.6 percent for the nation.
Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted because of the small sample size for each county. The data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.
Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at www.kylmi.ky.gov.
On Friday afternoon, Jeffersontown High School students will put project-based learning to the test when they compete in a series of solar go-kart races as part of the school’s Solar Challenge—highlighting the value of real-world, project-based learning in the classroom.
Through a partnership with Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL), the Ford Louisville Assembly Plant (LAP), the Solar Energy Solutions company and the City of Jeffersontown, all Jeffersontown High School sophomores, juniors and seniors had a specific role this school year while working in teams to design and build solar go-karts. Students will drive the go-karts in timed races during Friday’s race-day celebration at the school campus, which will also feature student exhibits and a car show showcasing cars of the past, present and future.
“We know that the abilities to create, innovate and solve challenging problems are all important skills for our students to develop and learn, because we know how essential those skills are in today’s workforce,” said Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Director of College & Career Readiness Christy Rogers. “That’s why these kinds of hands-on, project-based learning experiences are so beneficial to our students, as are the powerful community partnerships we have with companies, like Ford, that help make them a success.”
Jeffersontown High is one of the district’s career-theme schools for engineering (manufacturing and construction), where students may earn an industry certification while earning a high school diploma. Students at Jeffersontown High invest time developing marketable skills in high-demand areas such as computer-aided design (CAD), advanced manufacturing, industrial maintenance technology (IMT), machine tool technology, engineering and welding.
Designated a Powered by Ford Academy in 2013, Jeffersontown High and its students benefit from unique opportunities to work with Ford Motor Company employees. Over the past four years, Ford LAP employees have invested time partnering with the school to host field trips, provide job shadow opportunities, hire students for internships and partner with teachers to develop unique lessons involving real-world challenges. Additionally, the Ford Motor Company Fund sponsored the purchase of the materials for the solar panel go-karts.
Throughout the school year, Jeffersontown engineering students served as project managers for the Solar Challenge; students studying computer-aided design created prints for the go-karts; advanced manufacturing and IMT students installed the solar panels; machine tool technology and welding students completed the fabrication; and English, math and science students helped with technical writing, ratios and energy calculations. Freshman students built solar car models on their own to help guide their interest in one of the many career programs offered at Jeffersontown.