Leadership Paducah class donates $111k to Lifeline.

By Derek Operle, Paducah Sun, 7/2/2021

On a momentous Thursday morning at the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Power in Partnership breakfast, the graduating Leadership Paducah Class 34 announced the results of its collaborative fundraising project — a record-breaking $111,220 donation to Paducah’s Lifeline Recovery Center — during a gathering at the Paducah-McCracken County Convention & Expo Center.

The 40-member class worked together over the course of the last year, through a pandemic, to benefit the area addiction recovery nonprofit. “

Despite a pandemic and despite a challenging year for businesses and individuals, we asked and (people) stepped up for Lifeline,” said JoAnna Harper, one of the class’s treasurers, before the presentation. Her fellow treasurer, Cody Walls, spoke about why the class chose Lifeline when COVID19 highlighted so many organizations needing support during the pandemic.

Ribbon-cutting for Hunt Hall, a new men’s dormitory on Lifeline’s campus.

“It was a tough decision as 2020 brought to light so many needs,” he said. “After a thorough process, the class took a vote and chose Lifeline Recovery Center as we were moved by the stories of its residents who have overcome life-controlling addictions and the need for more housing to provide more services.”

The funds raised will help Lifeline furnish a second men’s dormitory — they completed the construction of the first last year and the second one is expected to be finished soon — with beds and equipment and aid in the acquisition of vehicles to transport residents.

A small portion of the total amount raised by Class 34 will also go to the Leadership Paducah Alumni Association to provide scholarships and professional development opportunities for developing leaders in the community. Lifeline board Chairman Steve Powless was moved by the occasion, calling the group “a special class.”

“Class 34 has certainly faced obstacles and unprecedented times like no other class before since the program’s inception. I don’t know how you stack any odds up any higher than what this class faced and then to go out and raise a record-breaking amount,” Powless said. “It’s just beyond incredible.

“(They’re) not only providing a gift that helps people today but (they’re) potentially having a generational effect because if you can stop addiction at some level then you stop it going forward so you’re actually addressing a much broader and a much greater need than anyone really realizes.”

Most of Class 34 attended a ribbon-cutting at Lifeline’s dormitory site later that morning, where Ashley Miller, Lifeline’s executive director, was extremely appreciative of the class’s efforts to help cover the costs of the dormitories, which have accounted for an investment of around $800,000 for the nonprofit (80% of which has been raised by the community).

“Lifeline is making a difference in the lives of men and women seeking treatment and Leadership Paducah has made a difference in Lifeline with this gift, which will furnish the second men’s dormitory and provide transportation for all of our clients to get to their job and volunteer sites,” she said.

The ribbon-cutting also served as a dedication ceremony, where both dormitories were named after invaluable contributors to Lifeline’s cause: Kenny Hunt and Terrye Peeler.

“Addiction is raging, with Kentucky in the nation’s top 10 for addiction and overdoses,” Miller said. “Everyone knows the pain it causes, so we are dedicated to fighting this disease.” Miller points to the hiring of a fundraising consultant in early 2020 as being instrumental, particularly with the impact of COVID-19 on the center’s in-person services.

The center’s largest fundraiser, its annual banquet, was a concern since in the past it normally brought in approximately $65,000 to $75,000, and would have to be virtual. “We are operating 2021 with a million-dollar budget, so whenever you’re talking about losing a potential $75,000, that’s a big portion,” she said. “We were hearing about all these virtual events, but we’d never performed one. Nobody on the staff, none of us had.” Working with their consultant, a fundraising strategy was developed that included, among other things, seeking donations that would be matched dollar-for-dollar.

The nonprofit organization relies on charitable donations for more than 75% of its budget. “We budgeted, honestly, about $20,000 (for the event), thinking if we could scrape that up it will be a success,” she said. “We ended up raising $92,000 off of the virtual banquet. That was a big key to how successful we were.”

A month after the banquet, the organization had its annual golf outing at Paxton Golf Course, with safety protocols. The event raised more than $30,000, doubling its normal golf outing revenue. “It’s been quite interesting to see the community support, even in the midst of a pandemic,” Miller said.

Following the construction of a men’s dormitory last year, Lifeline is building a new dorm this year that will house 30 men, expected to be operational this summer.

Miller credits the staff and volunteers with making the transition to providing virtual training via Zoom. A large donation from Computer Services Inc. at the end of 2019 of projectors and laptops helped connect facilitators conducting classes with clients.

“I never want to look like I’m taking the credit, because we have an amazing team, I couldn’t be more proud of them,” she said. “Whenever the pandemic hit, everybody was uncertain. Clients were uncertain about what was going to happen, but because of their (staff and volunteers) ability to lead in the right direction, they were able to ease the anxiety.

“It (COVID) really added a lot of stress, but it has also showed that God’s really out in front of us and he’s been good to us,” Miller said.