Giving Back

By Brigid Morrissey"Some people look for their love match through online dating sites or speed dating, but ElderServe is matching aging adults with volunteers to be their friendly companions and offer support."Lynn Cross, who’s been volunteering in the program for over three years, commits about four hours each month engaging with Beatrice, her 93-year-old pal. “Beatrice is amazing. She’s determined, she’s funny, and she inspires me daily.” After moving to Louisville in 2012 with her husband and two young sons, Lynn’s passion since childhood for the elderly ignited her action to join ElderServe. “I used [...]

By Marie Bradby Giving Back: The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana “It’s important for people to give back to the community where they live, where their kids go to school, and where they earn their living,” says Linda Speed, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana.The need gap in the community is filled by nonprofits, she says.“We did a community needs assessment in 2015 for Clark and Floyd counties. The highest priority is addressing the health and wellness of people, particularly the needs of the homeless and mental health needs as it [...]

By Marie Bradby “The betterment of our community is not just for our lifetime, we have to make sure there is continuity for the community for the rest of time,” says Susie Stewart about why she serves and gives to nonprofits in her community.“Setting up an endowed (permanent) fund through the Community Foundation ensures that continuity,” says Susie, 60, a pilates teacher. In 2013, Susie and her husband set up the Michael and Susie Stewart Enrichment Fund through the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI). She is past chairperson of the CFSI and continues to [...]

By Marie BradbyDr. Karen Cost had just given a lecture to dermatology students at the University of Louisville when the chief of the department — Dr. Maurice Fliegelman — came up to her and told her that she should get involved in the community. “We need to get you on the board of Metro United Way (MUW),” she remembers him saying.It was 1978 and Karen had just arrived in Louisville from Ohio to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship in microbiology and immunology at UofL.Thirty-nine years later, Karen is still involved as a board member of the [...]

By Marie BradbyOn the last Sunday in September, Paula Schoenhoff and many of her family members were breaking bread in Iroquois Park with more than 1,000 Louisvillians — immigrants, African-Americans, Hispanics, whites, Asians, etc., at a giant potluck to connect the community called "The Big Table."“We encouraged people to sit with people they didn’t know,” says Paula, 54, who wants to make the world a better place for everyone through experiential education. So she helped organize and fund this first-time event. “Our goal was to have all the diversity of Louisville be represented, and I [...]

By Brigid MorrisseyAccountability is a word that is learned as you age into more and more responsibility. It’s a word often associated with jobs and sports, coinciding with the ability to perform. It’s a word that, until the prospective residents enroll at Family Scholar House, might not be fully understood.Although there are certain requirements eligible women have to meet to live in FSH housing — maintain a certain GPA, partake in community service, hold a part-time job, and attend personal development classes — all of them are actively choosing to rise above their current circumstances [...]