Giving Back

By Brigid Morrissey Forty years ago, a crisis and epidemic rocked the United States and the rest of the world so hard that almost everyone was in a panic. AIDS became prevalent in the ’80s and ’90s when it is believed that the virus had spread over five continents. Several theories developed as to the spread; some have been proven wrong, like the idea that AIDS could be spread through casual contact, food, and water. Others, like AIDS being a “gay disease,” have survived the decades as a stigma surrounding the illness. Missy Vitale has [...]

I imagine you have heard about one of the most internationally known nonprofits, Habitat for Humanity. But not-so-common knowledge is that the founders of the homebuilding charity — Millard Fuller and his wife Linda — decided to cut ties with the organization after continual disagreements with new leadership. Their split with Habitat for Humanity gave birth to The Fuller Center for Housing in 2005. Built on the same philosophy, The Fuller Center offers a grassroots approach to building and renovating homes, extending its services to 16 countries and several pockets of the United States.One of [...]

By Brigid Morrissey Ever wanted to quit your day job and join the nonprofit realm? Leaving routine and a certain set of expectations comes with risk, but if anyone can succeed at making community service into a legitimate career, it’s Ann Carruthers. Ann currently serves in New Albany as the president of Prevent Child Abuse, a nonprofit created to improve child well being and develop programs to help prevent abuse and neglect. Among the long list of relevant experience on her resume are positions as a court appointed advocate with Clark and Floyd counties and [...]

By Brigid Morrissey Mitzi Wyrick assists with funding for Dreams with Wings. Photo by Patti Hartog It is dizzying trying to decide which demographic is most in need of your donations, services, and heart. It’s human nature to choose something that has directly affected us or someone we know, something that smacks us in the face. “People with disabilities often get overlooked,” says Mitzi Wyrick, attorney at Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP.Mitzi is acting chair of the board of directors at Dreams with Wings, a nonprofit that supports children and adults with intellectual and developmental [...]

By Brigid Morrissey In the Underhill family, volunteering with Maryhurst, a nonprofit organization that works with abused and neglected children, is a rite of passage. “We have been exposed to Maryhurst ever since we were little,” Channing Flaherty says. “I have always given my own money to the organization. Our grandmother, Doris Boland Jones, would drive girls to doctor appointments, or help distribute Thanksgiving meals. She even started a scholarship, which all of us contribute to now. She was a board member, and now our mother, Colleen Underhill, is a board member. It’s been ingrained [...]