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2026 Programs Supported By UWCK

UWCK provides funding and support to a range of local programs and organizations that address the needs of residents in Hardin, Meade, LaRue, Breckinridge and Grayson counties in the areas of health, education and financial stability. Each applicant is vetted by all members of the Community Investment Team, a committee that includes donors and volunteers who live and work in the community and ultimately make a funding recommendation to UWCK’s Board of Directors.

A total of $400,000 will be distributed to 10 organizations throughout UWCK’s five-county service region. These investments focus on key areas of need, such as access to food and shelter, promoting financial stability, strengthening families and bolstering access to justice. 

The Full List of the 2026 Funded Partners included:

  • CASA of the Heartland
  • Grayson County Alliance
  • Grayson County Ministerial Association
  • Helping Hand of Hope
  • Legal Aid Society
  • New Hope Life
  • Shepherd’s Pie Food Pantry
  • The Salvation Army of Elizabethtown
  • Warm Blessings Community Kitchen

Apart from these allocated funds, UWCK extends its support to partners through various other initiatives. These include engaging volunteers in activities such as the annual Day of Action, supporting Hardin County Schools’ 21st Century Program, providing emergency funding when needed and offering assistance through the Mini-Grants Program, which backs ongoing community projects and initiatives that may lie beyond the scope of UWCK’s conventional funding structure.

EDUCATION IMPACT

United Way of Central Kentucky recognizes that investing in quality education is imperative to the future of our community.  

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In 2021, United Way of Central Kentucky invested $260,465 toward organizations, schools systems and initiatives that help ensure every child gets a strong start in life, teenagers have the tools to learn and grow, and young adults thrive in the job market.

SUCCESS STORIES

In April 2026, United Way of Central Kentucky partnered with co-op students from the Altec Greater Heights Committee and community partners, including Pennington Properties, to transform the outdoor space at Project L.E.A.R.N., Inc. in Elizabethtown.Through this project, volunteers installed a custom concrete pathway, picnic tables, bench swings, a custom mural and three sensory tables designed to create a more engaging, wheelchair-accessible environment for clients. The project also included landscaping improvements such as new garden planters, fresh mulch and flowers.Project L.E.A.R.N. provides a day program for adults with intellectual disabilities, offering meaningful opportunities to learn, grow and connect with others beyond high school. The organization also hosts a two-week summer program for middle and high school students with intellectual disabilities, helping them build confidence and community.

Here is what Ann Borders, President of Project LEARN, had to say about the project:

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of Project L.E.A.R.N., Inc., we want to express our appreciation to United Way of Central Kentucky for your assistance in facilitating the project at the rear of our building in conjunction with Altec and Pennington Properties! We are so very grateful for the beautiful mural and the new swings and picnic tables! Our clients are excited and happy with this bright and cheery space, and they are really enjoying the sensory tables. It was a pleasure working with all of you to get this project off the ground and it is just perfect! We are so thankful for the help, both physical and financial, provided by your organization.”

HEALTH/BASIC NEEDS IMPACT

United Way of Central Kentucky is committed to ensuring community members in need of basic services and healthcare are provided with crucial resources that address issues such as providing healthcare for the uninsured, providing support for victims of sexual or domestic assault, providing meals for those who are food insecure and more. These services are critical to ensuring vulnerable populations can get back on track toward self-sustainability. In 2021, United Way of Central Kentucky invested  $442,500 toward the following community partners:

SUCCESS STORIES

-Now that the weather has cooled off a little, our therapists have been able to use the Healing Garden with more consistency. It has become a safe haven for children receiving both forensic interviews and undergoing therapy. Our therapists who specialize in trauma recovery will use a variety of techniques to make their clients feel comfortable. This Healing Garden gives them another outlet to do that in a peaceful and calming atmosphere. – Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services: receiving $40,000 to provide forensic medical exams and counseling services to children who have suffered sexual abuse.

-Earlier this year, a disabled veteran and her 17-year-old son came to SpringHaven from Breckinridge County with no transportation. After being here only a short period of time, we realized how determined she was to be self-sufficient. She bought a car for just $800, which we were able to help repair. She then got a job on Fort Knox and applied for a veteran’s voucher through the Kentucky Housing Corporation. Once approved for an apartment, SpringHaven helped this client turn on her utilities, pay her deposit, and secure food. With a new job and transportation, her son was also able to return to Breckinridge County where he will finish out his senior year of high school. – SpringHaven Domestic Violence Shelter: receiving $60,000 to provide safety, advocacy, and basic needs services to survivors of domestic violence as they regain their independence.

FINANCIAL STABILITY IMPACT

A good job means fulfillment for not just an individual, but for their family, neighborhood and community. United Way of Central Kentucky recognizes the importance of workforce development, and works to provide funding for programs that help community members build skills and attain the education needed to retain and advance in a good job. In 2021, United Way invested $176,760 toward regional financial stability and workforce development programs, which have included: 

  • Hardin County SKILLS U
  • Breckinridge County Schools
  • Cloverport Independent Schools