tops cares: Junior League of Louisville

from TOPS Louisville: May 2022

by TOPS Magazine

special advertising section

Junior League of Louisville’s Little Black Dress Initiative

TOPS CARES:

junior league of louisville

BY KATHIE STAMPS COURTESY PHOTOS

Founded in 1921, the Junior League of Louisville (JLL) has stood the test of time for 100 years and counting. JLL is stronger than ever in its commitment of service to the community. To cite just one example, JLL awarded $200,000 to 16 other nonprofi t organizations in the community last year in honor of its centennial anniversary,

“As the Junior League of Louisville enters our second century, we are continuing our legacy of empowering women leaders in Louisville and improving our community through volunteer action and collaboration,” said Michelle Black White, president of the organization. In 2021, JLL shifted the focus of their recent outreach and projects from focusing on early childhood education to include helping youth experiencing homelessness. “We are partnering with Coalition Supporting Young Adults (Coalition for the Homeless) and other local agencies to bridge gaps in our community with the goal of providing support to atrisk youth and assist with their transition to independent living,” Michelle said.

Members of the Junior League of Louisville know that collaboration—working together— is a key to success in anything: life, business, small projects and extensive undertakings, and helping people in the community. They

often use the hashtags #BetterTogether and #JLBetterTogether. With that in mind, JLL has partnered with other organizations— Speed Art Museum, Kentucky Science Center, Susan G. Komen, Maryhurst, and Boys and Girls Haven—to improve access and quality of services to the community at large.

“In recent history, we partnered with WAVE 3 News and Jefferson County Public Education Foundation to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the children of Louisville and launched it into an independent nonprofi t,” Michelle said.

This past February, the 5th annual Little Black Dress Initiative raised $14,000 to support the mission and projects of JLL.

For fi ve consecutive days, 50 JLL members and community members wore the same black dress or outfi t, wearing a lapel sticker that said “Ask me about youth homelessness.” The event raised awareness of JLL’s focus to draw attention to the challenges for youth ages 16 to 24 experiencing homelessness. Limited resources affect daily life, so Junior League of Louisville is working hard to reduce that impact in the Louisville community through programs like “Life Skills Training.” The Little Black Dress Initiative also offered an opportunity for individuals and organizations to support the Junior League of Louisville.

“The purpose of the Junior League of Louisville is to advance women’s leadership with meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training,” Michelle said. “I joined JLL in my 20s to gain leadership opportunities and understand the needs in our community. These fi rsthand experiential opportunities helped me to serve on several local nonprofi t boards and to currently serve as the executive director of the Brightside Foundation.” 

Junior League of Louisville’s Presidents - Leigh Anne Burke Schaad (2017-19), Susan Viers (2002-2003), Jennifer Blair (2000-2001), Michlle Black White (2021 - Present), Lisa Causarano Morley (2015-2016), and Mandy Ellinger(JL Boise)

You, too, can fi nd out more about the Junior League of Louisville during two information sessions at the JLL offi ce in Distillery Commons, June 15 and July 23. To support Junior League of Louisville and its mission in the community, visit louisville.jl.org.

Junior League of Louisville’s Executive Vice Presidents - Amanda Freibert (Incoming), Courtney Carter, And Lauren Songer (Present)

Memorial Day: A Day Memorial Day: A Day of Remembrance of Remembrance

For most Americans, Memorial Day weekend is a long three day weekend to start off the summer vacation. However, Memorial Day has a much more complex meaning honoring the courageous men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifi ce for our country.

BY HEATHER FRENCH HENRY, MD COURTESY PHOTOS

Heather French Henry is a nationally renowned veterans’ advocate, designer, and author. She focuses on highlighting veteran’s stories, curating historical exhibits, and designing products for retailers and organizations nationwide. heatherfrenchhenry.com

Memorial Day, previously known as Decoration Day, originally honored those lost while fi ghting in the Civil War. However during World War I, the United States found itself embroiled in another major confl ict and the holiday then evolved to honor all American military personnel who died including all wars and eras of military service. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. The change went into effect in 1971 also declaring Memorial Day a federal holiday.

To many service members and their families, this somber day of remembrance is still honored correctly. “Memorial Day marks the occasion, when you hear the snap and pop movements of the rifl e honor guard as they hear the commands, READY, AIM, FIRE. The ultimate honor is fi ring off a 21-gun salute knowing you gave a Hero their due because they earned it,” states Cletis Evans, retired Marine who assists with the Marine Corps League Detachment 729 Rifl e Honors Guard. “Whether it’s a brother or sister veteran laying in that grave, we, as a nation, must care for that veteran…even after life.”

While over the years, as more and more civilians continue to water down its meaning into a three day weekend of pre-summer celebrations and retail sales, there is a place that continues to carry on the true meaning of Memorial Day, the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. Named for President Zachary Taylor, the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery is beautifully located along Brownsboro Road and was established in 1928. The cemetery has over 14,000 interments ranging from the Spanish-American War through the Persian Gulf War. It’s one of seven national cemeteries in the Commonwealth aside from the fi ve state veterans cemeteries run by the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs.

Each year the cemetery hosts a multitude of events allowing the public to honor our heroes on their sacred ground including their annual Memorial Day Service. Bill Hartley, the Assistant Director of the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery is proud of the time honored tradition. “Memorial Day is a time we come together as a community and a country to honor our fallen veterans. To show our appreciation by recognizing and thanking them for the sacrifi ces made for our great nation.”

The Zachary Taylor National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony is set for Monday, May 30 at 11:00 AM and is open to the public.

For more information on Zachary Taylor National Cemetery Memorial Day events, please visit cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/

zacharytaylor.asp.

In closing, it’s certainly understandable to be excited for the summer season. However, this Memorial Day, instead of using the improper phrase, “Happy Memorial Day,” take the time to properly honor and remember our fallen heroes by attending a Memorial Day service, it’s a great way to open up the conversation with your family about the true cost of freedom. 

Silver anniversary festivities going on throughout the year at all Morning Pointe locations!

Morning Pointe Senior Living will mark 25 years of service to seniors throughout the calendar year 2022 as the senior living, personal care and Alzheimer’s memory care company celebrates its founding in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow. What originally began as a healthcare real estate development company quickly transitioned into a mission-centered management company dedicated to changing the lives of aging residents well into their retirement years. Today, Morning Pointe Senior Living serves over 1,700 residents with 1,600 associates providing individualized care for 36 (and growing) campuses across the Southeast—all with Vital and Farrow still in the captains’ chairs, charting a path for the next 25 years and beyond. They remain one of the few entrepreneurs left in the senior living industry who are still involved in the daily operation of the company they founded. “A quarter century ago, Franklin and I cast a vision to bring a better senior living offering to complement skilled care in the Southeast, and as we look back across those years, I believe we have accomplished that vision and more,” stated Greg Vital, president of Morning Pointe. “It has been an honor to provide compassionate care wrapped in hospitality and socialization to thousands of residents throughout these 25 wonderful years.” Morning Pointe Senior Living’s 36 senior campuses in fi ve states across the Southeast focus on two niche services: assisted living or personal care in Kentucky and Alzheimer’s memory care. Innovations like a farm-to-table dining program, in-house physical and occupational therapy partnership programs, along with a patented Meaningful Day™ memory care program for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have added value to an already thriving business model. This innovation—combined with improvements in healthcare and technology—has helped Morning Pointe associates continue to effi ciently serve a growing population of seniors. The Morning Pointe team is happy to serve seniors in six cities throughout Kentucky. There are locations in Danville, Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville, Richmond and Russell. Three new locations are coming on board in the southeast to further Morning Pointe’s 25-year mission of providing a rewarding senior living experience with easily accessible clinical services to help residents make the most of every day. “It’s been an amazing journey,” said Vital. “Here’s to 25 more years of serving the greatest generation and providing a wonderful career to many healthcare associates.”

Morning Pointe invites the greater public into its yearlong anniversary celebration through a special campaign called ‘25,000 Touches.’ Through service to seniors and in the spirit of volunteerism and giving back, Morning Pointe has a goal to “touch” 25,000 community partners and volunteers throughout 2022.

along with a patented Meaningful Day™ memory care program for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia have added value to an already thriving business model. This innovation—combined with improvements in healthcare and technology—has helped Morning Pointe associates continue to effi ciently serve a growing population of seniors. The Morning Pointe team is happy to serve seniors in six cities throughout Kentucky. There are locations in Danville, Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville, Richmond and Russell. Three new locations are coming on board in the southeast to further Morning Pointe’s 25-year mission of providing a rewarding senior living experience with easily accessible clinical services to help “It’s been an amazing journey,” said Vital. “Here’s to 25 more years of serving the greatest generation and providing a wonderful career to many Morning Pointe invites the greater public into its yearlong anniversary celebration through a special campaign called ‘25,000 Touches.’ Through service to seniors and in the spirit of volunteerism and giving back, Morning Pointe has a goal to “touch” 25,000 community partners and volunteers throughout