2005 Year In Review

The Foundation approved 48 grants in the calendar year 2005 totaling $18,737,169. Fifty-eight percent of all grants were awarded to non-profit organizations in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Fifteen percent of all grants awarded were for construction or renovation projects and 21% were awarded for college scholarship endowment. Percentage break out by program area was Civic Affairs – 24.5%, Health - 31%, Education - 30%, Human Services - 12%, and Culture & Humanities - 4%. Reflected in the 2006 figure was the second of three $5 million grants payable to the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center which was approved in 2004.

There was an increase in human services activities as the Foundation responded to two significant natural disaster relief efforts. The Red Cross received funding for aid for the victims of the Asian tsunami disasters. The Foundation also awarded grants totaling $1 million toward the emergency relief efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region. The Red Cross’ portion of that gift was $750,000 while the Salvation Army received $250,000 for its work in the area. Human services grants were also awarded to support the efforts of Gilda’s Club and Day Spring. Additionally, the Foundation’s gift to Metro United Way increased to $1 million this year.

In higher education, the trend for endowment support continued. Of the five James Graham Brown Scholarship Endowment funds, Bellarmine University, Centre College, Kentucky Wesleyan College and Thomas More College requested and received significant contributions to increase those funds.

The largest grant made in 2005 was $3 million for the acquisition of land to create a ring of parkland around the Louisville metropolitan area. The grant was used to purchase property along a 26-mile stretch with a long term goal of 100 miles of park property surrounding the city. Known as the City of Parks initiative, the Louisville Olmsted Parks Conservancy, a partner in the project, received the funds during 2005. The Foundation also continued its support of merged government with a third grant to the Community Foundation of Louisville toward Phase III of the Greater Louisville Project.