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Prestigious annual event held in-person for the first time since 2019
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 17, 2023) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander recognized volunteerism and service contributions across the commonwealth at the 27th annual Governor’s Service Awards. This year’s award ceremony – consisting of 10 individual awards and nine group awards – was held at Mellwood Art Center in Louisville.
“These prestigious awards honor Kentucky individuals, national service members, groups, nonprofits and businesses for extraordinary service to their communities and the positive impact they are having on our commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “Congratulations to the class of 2022 Governor’s Service Awards recipients. Thank you for your selfless work and service to the people of Kentucky.”
Serve Kentucky, an agency within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, coordinates the annual awards, for which the previous two ceremonies were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the event has made a return to in-person, Serve Kentucky extended an invitation to the class of 2020 and 2021 winners as well, making this year’s celebration even more special.
“It’s great to be a part of this joyous occasion as we lift up all of the wonderful contributions that these award winners have made in their communities,” said Secretary Friedlander. “If there is one thing we have learned from the past couple years, it’s that whatever impacts anyone in the community impacts us all. Congratulations to the award recipients and thank you to the many volunteers across the state for making a difference.”
“It’s our honor to lift up volunteers – such as these award winners – who have given so much to their communities,” said Joe Bringardner, executive director of Serve Kentucky. “This ceremony gives us the opportunity to celebrate the patriotic community spirit that volunteers and national service members demonstrate all year long.”
In addition to coordinating the Governor’s Service Awards, Serve Kentucky currently administers 23 AmeriCorps program grants with more than $14 million in federal grant funds along with supporting other community service programs across the commonwealth.
State Service Commissions oversee the annual grant competition that awards funding to AmeriCorps State programs, determine social needs in their states, set policy and program priorities, provide training and assistance, support national days of service and promote service and volunteering.
For more information about the Governor’s Service Awards, Kentucky’s AmeriCorps programs or volunteerism, visit: serve.ky.gov.
A list of honorees and their hometowns follows.
Governor’s Service Award Recipients
Lifetime Achievement Awards
- Active: Robert J. Baumann – Lexington/Fayette County
Dr. Baumann has worked in the field of child neurology in Kentucky for 50 years. He was key in establishing the Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs’ (OCSHCN) network of regional medical clinics in Eastern Kentucky. Since the 1970s, Dr. Baumann has been providing top-notch care for children with neurological disorders in these clinics and was the first director of the Regional Neurology Clinics. As professor and section chief of child neurology at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Baumann continues to provide care to children at the OCSHCN neurology clinics. In 2021, he received the Brumback Lifetime Achievement Award from the Child Neurology Society. He has served on numerous national boards and committees, including the National Institute of Health. In addition to these roles, he has authored 76 publications in medical literature.
- Posthumous: Mary Gay Bridgforth – Versailles/Woodford County
Mary Gay Bridgforth was well-known for her commitment to the protection and preservation of the Pisgah Historic District in Woodford County. Her leadership in the Pisgah Community Historic Association helped ensure that the buildings, structures, sites and landscapes – the physical evidence of historic events and an active rural agricultural community from 1784 into the 21st century – have remained and will continue to remain. She was a part of these preservation efforts for more than 20 years and tirelessly volunteered to keep the historic association engaged, informed and vibrant.
Volunteer Service Awards
- Adult: Rawleigh Richardson Sr. – Louisville/Jefferson County
Richardson is the president of Louisville Society of Human Resource Management (LSHRM), the largest SHRM chapter in the state. While president, the organization won its first Pinnacle Award and was very active in addressing the turbulent times of 2020. He volunteered with the Chestnut Street YMCA’s Black Achievers program for more than 15 years from 2004-2019. During those years, he impacted more than 450 young high school students by providing focus and a clear vision for what could be possible in a business career. He also serves as a board member with Wesley House in greater Louisville.
- Adult: Jeff Callaway and Ethan Almighty – Jeffersonville/Clark County
Ethan Almighty – a Presa Canario, Spanish breed of large dog – was found starving and abandoned. Callaway, now Ethan’s human, stayed at his side, giving him everything he needed until the gentle giant got back on his paws. They have since raised thousands of dollars with Ethan’s own brand of dog treats. That money is used to care for animals who find themselves in a fight like Ethan’s. They have walked the halls of the state Capitol to explain the need for more legislation and more attention when it comes to the abuse and neglect of animals.
- Senior: Joseph Jacobi – Louisville/Jefferson County
Dr. Jacobi is a dentist by trade. In 2015, he co-founded the Louisville Dental Society Free Smiles Clinic and the program’s continued growth has led to more than $800,000 in donated dental care. Additionally, his more than 40 years of volunteer humanitarian highlights include being a volunteer dentist in Tanzania, Guatemala, Caribbean, Central America, South America, and on Navy ships in the Philippines, Colombia, and Dominica; assisting and leading trips focused on clean water, traveling to India, the Amazon Rainforest, Puerto Rico, and most recently, Ukraine; and he donated a patent for a portable water purifier to WaterStep, a charity that responds worldwide to critical needs for safe water.
- Youth: Arianna and Lorenzo Martinelli – Louisville/Jefferson County
Arianna and Lorenzo Martinelli created Tandem – a nonprofit that facilitates weekly 30-minute virtual conversations between senior citizens and high school students, building impactful intergenerational mentorship-based relationships. During the calls they share meaningful stories, learn about different generational issues, and create consistent, long-lasting friendships. Since June of 2021, Tandem has had more than 15 pairs meeting for more than 600 calls adding up to at least 300 hours of connection between generations. They have piloted three programs and continue to improve Tandem through collecting feedback through end-of-call forms and monthly focus groups.
- Youth: Andrew Nichols – Edgewood/Kenton County Andrew, an Eagle Scout and a wildlife animal lover, has made a point to dedicate hundreds of hours to public education and conservation of our wildlife natural resources. In 2022, he earned the Congressional Award Gold Medal (U.S. Congress’ highest honor for youth) by completing 435 hours of volunteer service. His Eagle service project, Eastern Bluebird Kenton County Parks Trail Update, involved building new birdhouses to replace damaged ones, and relocating and/or repairing others. Under his leadership, 20 volunteers worked for a total of 171 hours. Volunteers evaluated 90 nesting sites at six locations, built 20 new replacement birdhouses, refurbished 49 nesting sites at five locations and added one new nesting site. He has volunteered by teaching about wildlife animals at the Cincinnati Zoo. He also attended a National Student Leadership Conference Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Veteran: Jeremy Harrell – Shelbyville/Shelby County
Harrell is a U.S. Army Combat Veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Global War on Terrorism. In 2017, he founded Veteran’s Club Inc., which is a nonprofit that assists thousands of veterans in healing from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, substance abuse and assists homeless veterans with housing and programs to get them back on their feet. He volunteers on the board of advisors for Thrivent Financial, Department of Veterans Affairs Whole Health Steering Committee, and Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Summit Planning Committee. Additionally, he partners with Louisville Metro Corrections in running their new Operation VALOR incarcerated veteran rehabilitation program and serves with Southeast Christian Church in Louisville.
Business Service Awards
- Entrepreneur/Partnership: Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Co. – Louisville/Jefferson County
Dawn Urrutia and her team at Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Co. played a huge part in Jefferson County Public Schools receiving funding to open a Family Resource Center. The team collected and donated more than 400 books for the preschoolers at McFerran Early Childhood and have helped other schools, groups, and individuals find books they love at no cost to them. Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Co. has a section in the store where any child can get a free book. It also offers a reading program for children to earn sweet treats, in addition to working with the community to collect books for schools and other organizations through the Pies with a Purpose program. Georgia’s Sweet Potato Pie Co. also runs a children’s clothing drive, Story Time at Georgia’s, and is launching a new dining space with a goal of being a gathering place for the community.
- Small: Stuttgart Motors – Lexington/Fayette County
For a 16-year-old, one of the biggest milestones to accomplish is to get a driver’s permit and start planning on how to obtain a vehicle. Kentucky’s foster youth are no different but have more obstacles to overcome. Stuttgart Motors hosted an event for Kentucky’s older adolescents and young adults on obtaining a driver’s license, used vehicle and how to maintain the vehicle. Foster youth who participated in the event can bring their oil change voucher to Stuttgart Motors and enter the garage to learn how to change the oil on their own vehicle.
- Mid-size: Dutch’s Chevrolet – Mt. Sterling/Montgomery County
Dutch’s Chevrolet believed in a vision to remove transportation barriers for current and former foster youth. They have shown an unwavering commitment toward the Wheels to the World program, which purchases used vehicles for qualified youth. Dutch’s Chevrolet continually makes this a memorable moment, rolling out the red carpet for each and every youth presented a vehicle through the program. Dutch’s Chevrolet has gone above and beyond to serve not only the foster youth of the Northeastern Region, but the entire state of Kentucky.
- Large: Tempur Sealy International Inc. – Lexington/Fayette County
Since 2011, the Tempur Sealy Foundation has donated over 200,000 beds to charity. More than 50 of those beds have gone to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass. Twice, Tempur Sealy has provided the entire Ronald McDonald House with luxury beds. They have also donated more than $250,000 to the charity and the families it serves. Tempur Sealy will soon be providing the mattresses for the newly remodeled Sleep Rooms at University of Kentucky’s Children’s Hospital in addition to having funded a $2 million pediatric sleep center at the hospital. The Tempur Sealy Foundation and members from its executive team have also stepped up in a big way to help our neighbors in Eastern Kentucky by committing $100,000 to help rebuild after the devastation from flooding and mudslides.
Group Volunteer Service Awards
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Southwest Family Resource and Youth Service Centers Coordinators – Louisville/Jefferson County
The Southwest Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (FRYSC) Coordinators Carla Cosby, Kristie Joyce, Amy Medley, Jackie Johnson, Nicole Joyner and Marcus Howard collaborate with their schools, families and community stakeholders to provide quality programming for the Southwest Louisville community. Focusing on increased family engagement, social emotional learning, educational support and food resources, FRYSC has hosted a welcome event for Kindergarten Ready Fest and a Middle School Transition Night. The event offered a professional development session in collaboration with Campbellsville University open to elementary teachers in Jefferson County Public Schools, set up dog therapy support in schools and collaborated with Dare-to-Care to open a school pantry at Layne Elementary. These FRYSC coordinators are truly grassroot advocates for their communities.
- Youth: Boyd County High School Key Club – Ashland/Boyd County
The Boyd County High School (BCHS) Key Club created the Key to Sweet Dreams Campaign, which pairs each bed built during the Build-a-Bed event with the necessities to establish a good nighttime routine and ensure a good night’s rest, building on the idea that a good night’s sleep has a direct impact on a child’s social, behavioral and educational success. The Key Club partnered with many community organizations and credit unions and donations rolled in for a total value of more than $26,000. Children also received a new twin size bed and mattress from other partner organizations. All 68 BCHS Key Club members participated in this project and worked countless hours providing the means for 150 children to have a comfortable place to rest their head at night.
Nonprofit Service Award
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Alpha Delta Pi Beta Psi Chapter at the University of Kentucky – Lexington/Fayette County
Year over year, the members of Alpha Delta Pi have elevated the awareness and scope of Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Charities’ work across the University of Kentucky campus, increasing student involvement and helping volunteer programs grow. Members spend hundreds of hours each year at the RMH facility cooking, cleaning and assisting in day-to-day operations. Last year alone, the Beta Psi Chapter raised more than $26,000 in support of keeping families close to their sick children and in total have given more than $453,000. Their creed speaks of “building your footsteps as you go through sunshine and storm.” They consistently bring the sunshine to people who are going through some of the darkest times of their lives.
Faith-Based Service Award
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – Statewide
Following the devastating flooding in Eastern Kentucky, regional leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout Kentucky and beyond led nearly 3,000 volunteers to bring relief to survivors: delivering food, water, cleaning supplies and hygiene kits. Spearheading a “Helping Hands” initiative, congregation volunteers from every part of the commonwealth joined the effort, responding to work orders generated from the Crisis Clean Up Hotline. More than 2,782 volunteers served 65,872 hours in recovery efforts across two weekends – resulting in 867 homes being cleaned and ready for the next step of rebuilding. The work of restoring homes will continue, but as member volunteers learned, the work of restoring hope is just as important.
National Service Awards
- AmeriCorps Alumni: Taban Herrington – Frankfort/Franklin County
As an AmeriCorps alum, Herrington is deeply familiar with the ways that National Service Programs can serve communities in times of disaster. When Kentucky hospitals were grappling with the surge of COVID-19 and critically low staffing levels, Herrington reached out to AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) for help. As a result, hospitals got critical assistance and staff were supported and able to focus on their primary jobs. More than 30,000 individuals were assisted through their efforts. Many NCCC members had their first exposure to the public health world and are now applying to medical schools, public health programs and pursuing careers in other hospital administration capacities. Not only did Herrington’s work contribute to the immediate assistance of hospitals during the pandemic, but she has also contributed to jumpstarting future public health careers as well.
- AmeriCorps Program: Homes for All AmeriCorps – Statewide
Homes for All collaborates with 31 nonprofits across Kentucky to host AmeriCorps State and VISTA members, who provide hands-on services to Kentuckians to help them find, access, or maintain their housing and provide capacity building services to housing related nonprofits. Homes for All AmeriCorps members have mobilized over 1,500 volunteers, served more than 6,000 individuals and secured housing for over 2,000 of those individuals. Homes for All members are working to make their communities safer, smarter, and healthier through their every-day service throughout Kentucky.
- AmeriCorps Seniors Member: David Lilly – Owenton/Owen County
Lilly is a member of the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, an AmeriCorps Seniors program. He has selflessly served Owen County for decades, donating hundreds of hours of service each month. Lilly volunteers to manage a faith-based food pantry, belongs to the Rotary Club, serves as a volunteer firefighter, is a deacon at his church, is a member of the Owen County Drug Coalition and serves on the Owen County Water Board. David espouses his gratitude for the opportunity to serve others; he is an excellent example of a Kentuckian serving and leading his community.
Photos of the winners may be viewed and downloaded here.
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Information on how the state is working to improve the lives and health of our people is available at CHFS.ky.gov. Follow the cabinet on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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