Four UK Entities to Benefit from GoodGiving Guide Challenge

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 19, 2014) — The GoodGiving Guide Challenge, a campaign started nearly four years ago by Smiley Pete Publishing and the Blue Grass Community Foundation, is looking to raise $2 million this year to support 155 nonprofit organizations in the Bluegrass. Just last year, the GoodGiving Guide Challenge raised $1,671,958 for 107 nonprofit organizations. As part of the fundraising drive, four University of Kentucky organizations will be recipients of the Commonwealth's generosity.

Founded on the ideas of informing the community of the work local nonprofit organizations do, the fundraising program's goal is "to partner with individuals, businesses and nonprofits to grow charitable giving that makes our community a better place to live, learn, work and play," said Lisa Adkins, CEO and president of Blue Grass Community Foundation

Participating for its fourth year in the fundraising event is the Art Museum at UK. Part of the UK College of Fine Arts, the museum strives to promote understanding and appreciation of art to enhance quality of life for the people of Kentucky through collecting, exhibiting, preserving and interpreting outstanding works of visual art from all cultures. The museum, located in the Singletary Center for the Arts, at the corner of Rose Street and Euclid Avenue, is home to a collection of more than 4,500 objects, including American and European paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and sculpture. The Art Museum at UK presents both special exhibitions and shows of work from their permanent collection.

The UK Markey Cancer Foundation has returned to the drive for its second time. The mission of the foundation is to reduce cancer mortality in Kentucky and beyond by supporting innovative cancer research and treatments, education, community engagement, state-of-the-art facilities and compassionate patient care at the Markey Cancer Center. In its 35-year history, the UK Markey Cancer Foundation has raised more than $75 million to improve cancer care in the Bluegrass region and beyond.

WUKY, UK's public radio station, has returned for its second year as part of the fundraising event as well. The station is Central Kentucky’s source for in-depth news and new music. Operating the largest radio newsroom in Lexington, WUKY has won many Associated Press Kentucky awards, two Edward R. Murrow awards and an award from the Society for Professional Journalists. 

Joining the drive for their first time is the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass (CDCB). The organization was one of the organizations to win the Quick Start Endowment Challenge, which awards the first 10 organizations that earn $7,500 with a $75,000 endowment grant. CDCB is dedicated to ensuring that children with special needs reach their full potential. Their preschools and child care programs cater to the needs of both children with special needs and those without.

In addition to the UK organizations listed above, several university affiliated organizations like OperaLex, Shoulder to Shoulder Global and The Makenna Foundation are participating this year. OperaLex, formerly known as the Lexington Opera Society, is an organization that is dedicated to promoting UK Opera Theatre. Shoulder to Shoulder Global, an organization that seeks to help improve the health and well-being of impoverished communities globally, works with the Provost Office and the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Dentistry, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Public Health. The Makenna Foundation partners with the Kentucky Children's Hospital to help children with life-threatening trauma and illness. They have also created the Makenna Davis Pediatric Emergency Center, which is one of the only dedicated 24-hour children's emergency rooms.

Donating to the GoodGiving Guide Challenge can earn givers some prizes based on the amount that they give. Donors giving $50-$2,500 donations will get to choose prizes from barrel of options.

The GoodGiving Guide Challenge will take donations through Dec. 12. For additional information and a list of all of the participating organizations, visit www.bggives.org. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu