(FRANKFORT, Ky.—) Kentucky Nonprofit Network, the state association of nonprofit organizations, presented eight member organizations, twenty-two legislators and seven government officials with awards as part of its 12th annual Kentucky Nonprofit Day at the Capitol in Frankfort on February 14. The annual event provides nonprofit organizations statewide with the opportunity to meet legislators and support Kentucky Nonprofit Network’s advocacy program to advance the sector.
The awards presented include the Nonprofit Voice Awards, recognizing KNN members for their demonstrated excellence in public policy during the 2016 General Assembly, and the Nonprofit Advocacy Partner Awards, recognizing legislators and government officials for their support of the members’ efforts.
Colon Cancer Prevention Project of Louisville received a Nonprofit Voice Award for House Bill 115, which expanded screening eligibility for uninsured Kentuckians deemed at high risk for the disease. Reps. Tom Burch and Mary Lou Marzian, both of Louisville and Sen. Ralph Alvarado of Winchester were presented the Nonprofit Advocacy Partner award for their sponsorship of the bill.
Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs of Frankfort was recognized for Senate Bill 63, legislation that addressed a backlog of 3,000 untested rape kits and enforces tighter deadlines for processing kits moving forward. Sens. Denise Harper Angel, Julie Raque Adams, Perry Clark and Morgan McGarvey, all of Louisville; Sen. Danny Carroll of Paducah and Sen. Whitney Westerfield of Hopkinsville were recognized for their support.
Kentucky CASA Network of Louisville, an association of 20 local CASA programs, was recognized for successful efforts to secure funding to expand the CASA program in more Kentucky counties. Prior to this appropriation, Kentucky was one of only seven states that did not provide funding for CASA programs, despite being regulated in the Kentucky Revised Statutes for over 30 years. Legislators recognized by Kentucky CASA Network included Sens. Whitney Westerfield, Hopkinsville; Julie Raque Adams, Louisville; Wil Schroeder, Wilder; Danny Carroll, Paducah and Reps. Jody Richards, Bowling Green; Kevin Sinnette, Ashland; Sannie Overly, Paris; and Tim Moore, Elizabethtown.
The all volunteer-led Lactation Improvement Network of Kentucky in Lexington, the state’s breastfeeding coalition, received a Nonprofit Voice Award for successful passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 9, which recognized the importance of removing barriers to breastfeeding. Receiving the Nonprofit Advocacy Partner Award for their work with LINK were Sens. Reggie Thomas, Lexington; Ralph Alvarado, Winchester; and Tom Buford, Nicholasville.
Kentucky Nonprofit Network recognized members of the Government Nonprofit Contracting Task Force, an effort created in 2015 to explore solutions to streamline difficulties in government and nonprofit contracts. The legislation, HCR 89, was co-sponsored by Reps. Addia Wuchner of Florence and Arnold Simpson of Covington – both received Nonprofit Advocacy Partner awards for their service. Also recognized were task force co-chairs, Sen. Max Wise of Campbellsville and Rep. Russ Meyer of Nicholasville; Rep. Dennis Horlander of Louisville; and Sens. Stephen West of Paris, Danny Carroll of Paducah and Denise Harper Angel of Louisville.
The cabinet members of the task force recognized were Judy Piazza, legislative liaison with the Finance and Administration Cabinet; Tim Feeley, deputy secretary with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Samantha Davis, legislative liaison Transportation Cabinet; Robin Kinney, associate commissioner Department of Education; Andrew English, general counsel with Justice and Public Safety Cabinet; Mardi Montgomery, director for policy, Education & Workforce Development Cabinet and Norman Arflack, commissioner, Department of Veterans Affairs.
Nonprofit executives serving on the task force receiving a Nonprofit Voice Award were Cyndee Burton, Matthew 25 AIDS Services of Henderson; Rob Jones, Audubon Area Community Services of Owensboro; Mots Bishnoi, Mountain Comprehensive Care Center of Prestonsburg; and Michelle Sanborn, Children’s Alliance of Frankfort.
Sen. Max Wise of Campbellsville spoke at the Rally to promote Senate Bill 149, which establishes a Government Nonprofit Contracting Advisory Commission to continue efforts to streamline nonprofit contracts with state government to save both time and money.
Partnering with Kentucky Nonprofit Network to host Kentucky Nonprofit Day at the Capitol were the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky, Opportunity for Work and Learning, New Horizons Housing Development Corp., MG Coaching and Consulting, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and the Gene Duffy Foundation. The event was sponsored by AT&T Kentucky.
Kentucky Nonprofit Network is the state association of nonprofit organizations working to strengthen and advance Kentucky’s nonprofit community. Celebrating fifteen years of service to the sector, KNN provides nonprofit organizations with a unified public policy voice, professional development opportunities and resources, and member benefits.