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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Governor Beshear Creates Kentucky Commission on Philanthropy
Cites critical need for public-private partnerships
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Recognizing the need to find innovative solutions to Kentucky’s challenges, Gov. Steve Beshear today signed an Executive Order creating the Kentucky Commission on Philanthropy.
The governor is asking private philanthropic foundations to come together to address the funding needs of Kentucky’s public priorities. He has encouraged the group to plan and implement a strategic partnership, aligning public and private resources to collectively focus on the state’s most challenging issues.
“State government can’t meet the demand for all the services required by the people of Kentucky, not under the current economic conditions,” said Gov. Beshear. “We need partners now more than ever, and we must continue to find ways to be responsive to Kentucky families and move the state forward. The time is right to join forces in an unprecedented effort for the greater good of the commonwealth.”
The philanthropic sector in Kentucky – including nearly 850 foundations – collectively gives away over $120 million each year. The Commission on Philanthropy will ask private foundations to consider rallying around common goals, adopting common strategic approaches and employing high-quality programs that will have significant, long-term impact.
The commission will initially focus on early childhood education and child health. As part of its mission, the group will hold a Summit on Philanthropy in June 2009, to engage Kentucky’s philanthropic interests in dialogue about issues facing the state’s youngest citizens. The goal would be to leverage private resources for the public good and to foster public-private partnerships for the long-term future of Kentucky’s children.
“One of my greatest priorities as governor is to ensure every child a healthy start in life,” said the governor. “I commend the members of this commission who have agreed to join me in what is not only a moral obligation, but an economic necessity for Kentucky to compete in the global market.”
Members of the commission include:
- Judith G. Clabes, Scripps Howard Foundation, Paris – chair
- Rodney Berry, Public Life Foundation, Owensboro
- Helen M. Carroll, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing NA, Erlanger
- Ann Coffey, Women 4 Women Foundation, Louisville
- Sandra Davis, Davis on the Highlands, Springfield
- Scott Davis, Raymond B. Preston Family Foundation, Henderson
- Laura Douglas, Eon-US Foundation, Louisville
- William Engle, E.O. Robinson Mountain Fund, Hazard
- Sandra Frazier, Tandem Public Relations, Louisville
- Penny Friedman, InterAct for Change Kentucky, Cincinnati
- Kelly Gilbert, Fidelity Investments, Covington
- Billy Harper, Harper Industries, Paducah
- Wade Houston, Houston-Johnson, Inc., Louisville
- Charles Johnson, Houston-Johnson, Inc., Louisville
- Bryan Lummus, Alliance Resource Partners, Lexington
- Tim Maloney, Haile/USBank Foundation, Cincinnati
- Jamal Mashburn, Lexington
- Carolyn B. May, Community Foundation of Hazard-Perry County, Lexington
- Anne Nash, Bluegrass Community Foundation, Lexington
- Nick Nicholson, Keeneland, Lexington
- Mike Philipps, Scripps Howard Foundation, Cincinnati
- Angela Thomas, Spray Foundation, Lexington
- Alan Turbyfill, Wilderness Trace Community Foundation, Danville
- Tony Watkins, Community Foundation of West Kentucky, Paducah
- Laura Williams, Knight Foundation, Lexington
- Mary Whitten Wiseman, Tri-State Community, Inc., Ashland
- Susan Zepeda, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Louisville
- Wilbert L. Ziegler, R.C. Durr Foundation, Covington
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