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The work of more than 450 retired and senior volunteers in the Louisville area will be honored at a special event on Tues., Oct. 29. The Louisville Metro Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) annual recognition event will take place at The Olmsted, 3701 Frankfort Ave., from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The theme will be centered on “Fall & Halloween.”
As part of the city’s Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS), RSVP connects persons age 55 and over with their choice of over 40 public service and non-profit locations, including American Red Cross, Hosparus Health, Senior Nutrition Centers, Dare to Care, Community Ministries and the Robley Rex VA Medical Center.
RSVP members will be joined by volunteer site representatives, Senior Corps Advisory Council members and RCS staff.
“Through their volunteerism, these senior citizens are making a real and positive difference in their communities and demonstrate every day how our city is compassionate and resilient,” said Eric Friedlander, director of Louisville Metro RCS. “We look forward to this event so we take time to applaud all these volunteers who share their time and talents.”
During this year’s celebration, 51 RSVP volunteers who reached their dedicated, volunteer service milestones of five to 25 years will receive special recognition. Also featured will be a salute to the 85 veterans who serve as RSVPs. Other honors include acknowledging two RSVP members who received the Jayne Thomas Grassroots Volunteerism Award from the National Community Action Partnership Annual Convening this past August. Another 27 RSVP volunteers were honored last month at the University of Louisville Trager Institute’s Gold Standard Optimal Aging Award Luncheon for being 85 years of age and older and continuing their volunteerism.
Stephon Dingle, WLKY 32 News anchor, will serve as the master of ceremonies.
“RSVP volunteers generously give their energy, skills and caring dedication toward providing over 75,000 hours annually resulting in more than $1.2 million in savings/service impact for their agencies. This celebration is their public ‘thank you’. Everyone with RSVP makes a difference in this community touching lives daily,” said RSVP Program Coordinator, Chris Clements.
RSVP is federally sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), and this year’s event sponsors include UofL Trager Institute and AARP Kentucky.
For more information on RSVP activities or to learn how to become a volunteer, call (502) 574-1530 or visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/retired-and-senior-volunteer-program-rsvp.
The work of more than 600 retired and senior volunteers in the Louisville area will be honored at a special event on Wed., Nov. 7. The Louisville Metro Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) annual recognition event will take place at Churchill Downs’ Millionaire’s Row (6th Floor), 700 Central Ave. from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The theme is “Everyone’s a Millionaire with RSVP.”
As part of the city’s Office of Resilience and Community Services, RSVP connects persons age 55 and over with their choice of some 60 public service and non-profit locations, including American Red Cross, Senior Nutrition Centers, Dare to Care, Community Ministries and the Robley Rex VA Medical Center.
RSVP members will be joined by volunteer site representatives, Senior Corps Advisory Council members and RCS staff. Mayor Greg Fischer will serve as the keynote speaker followed by congratulatory remarks from Gena Redmon-Harris, director of Resilience and Community Services.
“Through their volunteerism these senior citizens are making a real and positive difference in their communities,” said Mayor Fischer. “I am proud to join with the Louisville Metro Retired and Senior Volunteer Program to recognize those who give their time to better the lives of others.”
The Rev. Ron Loughry, Executive Director of Fern Creek/Highview United Ministries, and winner of the 2015 ElderServe’s “Champion for Aging” is serving as the master of ceremonies for the third year in a row. He will also be recognized for his years of service to RSVP and the community as a whole as he will be retiring at the end of this year.
During this year’s celebration, 41 RSVP volunteers who reached their dedicated, volunteer service milestones of five to 30 years will receive special recognition. Also featured will be a VA Salute and Recognition to acknowledge all veterans who serve as RSVPs. One special honoree, Guy Dorsey, a World War II veteran, is being recognized for 25 years of volunteerism in the community and has some 30 family members from all over the United States coming to be with him for the event. In addition, following the buffet meal and speaker presentations, the volunteers will enjoy full access to Churchill Downs and a day at the races.
“RSVP volunteers generously give their energy, skills and caring dedication toward providing over 75,000 hours annually resulting in more than $1.5 million in savings/service impact for their agencies. This celebration is their public ‘thank you’. Everyone is a millionaire with RSVP.” said RSVP Program Coordinator, Christopher Clements.
RSVP is federally sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), and this year’s event sponsors include Passport Health Plan, ResCare, and AARP.
For more information on RSVP activities or to learn how to become a volunteer, call (502) 574-1530 or visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/retired-and-senior-volunteer-program-rsvp.
The LIHEAP Program that helps low income residents of Jefferson County with their utility bills begins on Nov. 5, 2018.
LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federally funded, income-based program that provides financial help to low-income households in meeting the costs of heating their home. The LIHEAP Subsidy Component is a one-time assistance benefit, which is paid directly to the heating vendor. The LIHEAP Subsidy Component begins Monday, Nov. 5 and will operate through Dec. 14, 2018, or until funding is depleted, whichever comes first.
Residents wishing to apply must schedule an appointment utilizing the automated appointment system. The appointment system is currently open and is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Appointments can be scheduled by phone by calling 502-991-8391 or online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.
Applicants must be Louisville Metro/Jefferson County residents with a household income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For the Subsidy Component of LIHEAP, residents can apply regardless of the status of their utility bills. Applicants must also provide the following documentation.
- Proof of all household income for the preceding month (Food Stamp award letter, Social Security Award letter, pay stubs, etc. or proof of $0 income. Note: Zero Income forms are available at the Office of Resilience and Community Services office at 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Suite 201 or by clicking here.
- Proof of Social Security number for each member of the household.
- Most current heating bill; or statement from your landlord if heating expenses are included in your rent; or statement from your utility company if you participate in a pre-pay electric program. Please bring the account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric.
LIHEAP applications will be completed at the time of the appointment at one of the six locations listed below.
- Northwest Neighborhood Place/Academy at Shawnee, 4018 W Market St., 40212
- South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 40215
- Neighborhood Place Ujima/Duvalle Education Center, 3610 Bohne Ave., 40211
- Neighborhood Place/Bridges of Hope, 1411 Algonquin Pkwy., 40210
- Newburg Community Center/East, 4810 Exeter Ave, 40218
- Southwest Government Center/Dixie Highway location. 7219 Dixie Highway, 40258
Individuals who are unable to apply for this program in person may send a representative on their behalf with a note including the applicant’s signature and phone number. Residents who are homebound and who are unable to send a representative may call 502/780-7937.
Callers who require more information can contact MetroCall 311 by simply dialing 311 or (502) 574-5000, email metro.call@louisvilleky.gov, visit the website’s On Line Customer Service or Live Chat at http://www.louisvilleky.gov/metrocall, tweet @LouMetro311, or download the free Mobile 311 app from the website. Residents can also call Metro United Way’s 2-1-1 help referral service.
LIHEAP is made possible by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is a pass through grant from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which contracts with Community Action Agencies across the state. Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS) serves as the administering agency of the Louisville Metro Community Action Agency. For more information about RCS, visit our website: http://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/community-services or call 574-1157 or Community Action Kentucky at (800) 456-3452.
Louisville’s fifth Financial Empowerment Summit will bring together local and national speakers, community leaders, service providers, and nonprofits and financial institutions eager to help individuals and families improve their financial well-being.
The Summit — presented by Metro United Way and Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services — will take place on Wed., March 7, from 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Bellarmine University, 2001 Newburg Road in the Amelia Brown Frazier Hall. More than 100 attendees are anticipated. They will participate in activities and workshops geared to build on their personal finances so they can better understand and secure their own financial success, and better assist with the financial success of their clients.
Registration can be made through March 1 on-line at https://www.cnpe.org/event/financial-empowerment-summit-building-financial-resilience-tips-strategies-across-lifespan/.
The $25 registration fee includes a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, all workshops, door prizes and giveaways.
The goal of financial empowerment is to help people make informed financial choices and to make progress toward their financial goals. This includes expanding financial literacy and education opportunities so people learn how to reduce debt and manage their budgets, build credit, and plan and save for long-term goals.
Mayor Greg Fischer and Theresa Reno-Weber, president and CEO of Metro United Way, will jointly open the day sharing their support for Louisville’s community-wide financial empowerment efforts; and to encourage the strengthening of partnerships to meet the needs of our residents.
“Louisville’s financial empowerment movement continues to gain momentum because of many of the individuals and agencies who will be represented at this summit”, said Fischer. “I thank each and every one of them for working together to turn challenges into possibilities, and for seeking new and innovative ways to help all residents find the long-term path to economic stability.”
Theresa Reno-Weber agrees, and notes the synergies present: “Over the course of the last five years, our collective efforts in the financial empowerment space keep growing because of the steadfast commitment of individuals from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. This is a great example of our community coming together and Living United so that people can achieve their fullest potential.”
Keynote speakers at the Summit include:
- Desmond Brown, Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Financial Empowerment at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), will provide an overview about the field of financial coaching and how it fits within the overall work of the CFPB.
- Eric Friedlander, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Louisville, and Erik Cole, Chief Resilience Officer for the City of Nashville, will discuss how Louisville and Nashville are building resilience with the growing social, economic, and physical challenges of the 21st century.
A variety of workshops will be offered at the event around local resources and initiatives related to financial stability and resilience.
Also highlighted at the summit are lessons learned from the 79 individuals representing 29 organizations who took part in the 2017 Personal Finance Empowerment Series (PFES). The series aimed to provide social service frontline staff with personal finance workshops to enable them to become more secure in their own financial situation. The PFES series and the Financial Empowerment Summit are made possible by a grant from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation through a partnership with United Way Worldwide. Local partners include Louisville Metro Resilience and Community Services and Metro United Way, with support from Apprisen, Louisville Urban League, Bellarmine University, AARP, the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions and Fulton180 Coaching, Consulting and Training Projects and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
