Giving Back

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 [...]

By Brigid Morrissey The Healing Place, wouldn’t be able to function without volunteers like Dr. Tina Simpson. In 2015 she began volunteering as a physician in the women’s clinic, and as the first gynecologist to volunteer at The Healing Place, set a plan in motion that resulted in a gynecology clinic. Her impact has led to measurable results, but Tina advocates for the women who have graduated from the program and stay to help other women making the same lifestyle choices. “I have been so impressed with the women in recovery teaching women in recovery,” [...]

By Brigid MorrisseyThe stark contrast between her corporate IT career and her volunteer work in social services hasn’t fazed Micki Thomas. Upon retirement from her position with Yum! Brands, Micki has beautifully transitioned into helping fellow community members who are going through transitions themselves. Five years ago, a tour through the facilities of Volunteers of America, or a “journey” as the employees like to call it, spurred her into action and began a relationship that has affected many lives.As a consultant and interior designer within the organization, Micki volunteers most of her 10-15 hours a [...]

By Megan S. WillmanFamily Scholar House helps single mothers find stability and teaches them life skills. Jasmine Wilkins, one of the FHS participants, is with her daughter Brooklyn. In 2011, Kate Brackett selected Family Scholar House (FSH) as part of her Master in Social Work internship from Murray State University. A Louisville native, she thought it would be fun to spend the semester close to home while she worked to complete her degree. Kate didn’t expect to fall in love with Family Scholar House, but that’s exactly what happened. Today, Kate serves as the director of [...]

By Megan Schreiber Willman A Home of the Innocents volunteer plays with one of the residents. As I drove onto the Home of the Innocents’ sprawling campus at 1100 East Market Street in Louisville, I admit I was surprised by its size. I had heard about this agency in bits of conversation over the years but I had no idea about the range of services they provided. When I expressed this to Julie Spry, volunteer services manager for Home of the Innocents, she smiled and explained my reaction is a common one. “I hear that a [...]

By Megan S. WillmanEach signature Hope Scarves bow is tied by a volunteer. I never cease to be amazed by the strength of others and the ways in which one person can start a movement toward positive change. Lara MacGregor is one of those people. She has stage IV metastatic breast cancer and is also the founder of Hope Scarves, a non-profit organization that has touched cancer patients in our community and around the world.When Lara started treatment after her first diagnosis in 2007, a woman she didn’t know sent her a box of beautiful head [...]