Churchill Downs Donates $150,000 Across 15 Nonprofits for Giving Tuesday

Dec 01, 2020 Churchill Downs Incorporated

Churchill Downs Incorporated (“CDI”) is proud to support many of Louisville’s worthy nonprofits today on Giving Tuesday, a nationwide day of giving, with multiple donations totaling $150,000. That cumulative sum is divided across 15 organizations that continue to do important work for so many across Louisville and surrounding areas.

Recipient organizations range from chapters of global nonprofits to smaller and newer startups. CDI is confident the selection of the organizations receiving donations illustrates its commitment to investing in efforts in this city that increase educational opportunities, advocate for public health, support its youth and work to advance minorities at school and the workplace.

The recipients include:

Adelante Hispanic Achievers, an organization that serves Latinx middle and high school students and their families by guiding its Achievers and parents through the educational system and ensuring they have every resource they need to succeed

Americana World Community Center, which bridges the gap from surviving to thriving for Louisville’s refugee, immigrant and underserved populations through education, family support, youth achievement and career and financial development

Boys & Girls Club of Kentuckiana, a beloved nonprofit that enables all young people, especially those who need them most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens through their out-of-school time “Club” experiences for youth ages 6-18

Change Today, Change Tomorrow, was formed in 2019 but has been particularly active in the community lately. Appealing to the needs of the Black community in multiple facets with specific focus on education and community service, Change Today, Change Tomorrow provides access to resources, education and community engagement to all African Americans in the Greater Louisville area. CDI funds will be directed to their Adopt-a-Block program, which organizes a gift initiative for residential blocks in the West End of Louisville.

Community Connections Group, an organization that works to attract, partner and coordinate resources for the community by promoting education, culture and healthy lifestyles to encourage and produce a positive change. The donation from CDI covered the cost of their turkey giveaway this season, which saw them distribute over 900 turkeys!

Evolve502, which aims to remove the persistent barriers to college education in three important ways: provide scholarships and grants, coordinate wrap-around services and facilitate systems change. They actively seek to help every JCPS student pursue the dream of college education by expanding educational opportunities and reducing systemic barriers.

Jamon Brown Foundation, which strives to impact the lives of those struggling with poverty, violence and youth homelessness, and to improve upon the education and healthy living issues that are typically prevalent in at risk areas, while influencing others to do the same. The funds received from CDI on Giving Tuesday are supporting their soon-to-be-built Diversity Empowerment Center in the West End.

Legacy Equine Academy, an organization that fosters a commitment to young people that promotes the equine industry and career-related opportunities it offers with an added educational focus on the history of African Americans in the equine industry

Louisville Central Community Center, a nonprofit community-based organization that offers a variety of programs and services in support of children and families in the West End of Louisville

Metro United Way, an important organization that actively changes lives in the community by fighting for the education, financial independence and health of every person in the seven-county region it serves, including Bullitt, Jefferson, Oldham and Shelby counties in Kentucky and Clark, Floyd and Harrison in Indiana.

Neighborhood House, a community center that serves children and families living in Portland and surrounding low-income neighborhoods with opportunities to enhance the quality of their lives and break the cycle of poverty

NuLu Diversity Empowerment Council, whose goal is to attract and assist Black-owned and other minority business startups with a business plan, entity creation and applications for funding

Project to Preserve African American Turf History (PPAATH), an initiative to provide education about the history of Black jockeys and horsemen of Thoroughbred racing

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana, a chapter of the global Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides the home and support that allows families to stay together while they focus on the healing of their sick children at a critical time. This donation in particular will support their expansion so that they can serve even more families.

Simmons College, an institution of biblical higher education dedicated to educating people in the urban context through strong academic and professional programs in order that they may become productive citizens and agents of change in society