Parent Profile

PARENT PROFILE Travis Owsley

Travis Owsley is the Life Enrichment Director at Cedarhurst of Owensboro, a basketball Coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College, and the founder Beverly’s Hearty Slice, a local nonprofit that gives back to the community and people in need. He and wife, Lexie Owsley, have a 2-year-old daughter named Noni.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

Growing up we didn’t have it easy. I watched my parents struggle to make ends meet. We did the best we could with what we had. I remember boiling water on the stove to take wash ups. I remember standing in the line at Daniel Pitino shelter to eat and standing in the line at the Help Office to get assistance to keep our lights on and pay the rent.

I was out of my household at the age of 10. I lived in a group home for about a year. My bother and I had to pick clothes out of a box to wear and I didn’t have shoes, so I wore football cleats to school. Two different families (one in Chicago and one in Owensboro) took me in until I graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School and earned a full ride to play college basketball at Georgia South Western University. I ended up transferring to Kentucky Wesleyan College and played 2 years there and received my Bachelors Degree. I am the first in my family to attend college.

WHY DID YOU START BEVERLY’S HEARTY SLICE?

My mother, Beverly Owsley, was the kindest and strongest woman you would’ve ever met. She did the best she could to make sure we didn’t go without. My mother would see a random friend walking down the street and literally invite them over for a meal or send them home with a plate. She basically raised some of my friends as much as they were at our house spending the night and eating. My mother passed away in 2018 with diabetes complications.

In honor of her memory, I started a community event called Beverly’s Hearty Slice that feeds people in need every two weeks. Our mission is to help get kids off the streets, create more diversity in our neighborhood and inspire the youth.

Since 2020, we have grown to three different feeding sites in Owensboro. With the help and support of our community, we are now a 501 c3 Nonprofit. We understand how tough it is for families during the holidays, so we now host a big Thanksgiving event that supplies families with meals and a Christmas event that helps provide presents for kids. We had our first “Back to School Bash” this year, which provided over 300 back packs and school supplies for the kids. Any way we can help and give back — that’s what we’ll do!

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART ABOUT BEING A PARENT?

Keeping our kid safe, healthy and providing for her daily and future needs. I had a rough up bringing so I think I put more pressure on myself trying to do everything right instead of enjoying all the beautiful moments. If there was anything I would like my daughter to learn from us it would be that nothing is given — you have to earn it, always have a good character, treat people right, have manners and always be grateful.

WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU CAN OFFER OTHER PARENTS?

Communicate everything, make sure your kid feels loved every day, put your kid first in every situation, enjoy every moment, be present, don’t ever argue in front of your kids, watch your language. Everything else will take care of itself.

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