The United Way of the Coalfield hosted its first Award Celebration at Madisonville Community College on Thursday morning, honoring partners and individuals who have significantly impacted Caldwell, Hopkins, and Muhlenberg counties.
Executive Director Ashley Alexander, a Princeton resident, welcomed attendees and expressed her excitement about the United Way’s achievements over the past year.
click to download audioThe audience also heard from United Way of Kentucky Vice President Roberta Steutermann and President Kevin Middleton. Middleton discussed the United Way’s mission and impact within the commonwealth. He stated that the United Way acts as a catalyst for hope and change for families and communities.
Dr. Jay Parrent, Vice President of Madisonville Community College, reported that last year’s campaign raised nearly $106,000. With these contributions and additional resources, the United Way of the Coalfield invested $345,000 back into the communities, including Dawson Springs.
click to download audioDr. Parrent noted that, in addition to sending funds, they provided on-the-ground support by preparing hot meals for homebound families, coordinating disaster response, assisting with debris removal, and deploying volunteers to schools, food banks, and other community areas.
Dr. Ann Love of Madisonville Community College presented gold, silver, and bronze special campaign and employee group awards, along with Community Impact Awards to individuals in each county served by the United Way of the Coalfield. In Caldwell County, the award went to retired educator and former Judge-Executive Larry Curling.
click to download audioCurling shared with WPKY’s News Edge that he felt privileged to accept the award, yet he believed that many others in the county were just as worthy.
click to download audioPeyton Adams in Hopkins County and Debbie Gorham in Muhlenberg County were also honored with Community Impact Awards.
Additional speakers at the event featured Heath Duncan, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity, and Muhlenberg County Magistrate Malcolm West, both of whom discussed the impact of the December 2021 and May 2024 tornadoes. The lineup also included Savanna Garrity from The Learning Center at MCC, Madisonville Mayor Kevin Cotton, and Tanner Weir from GE Aerospace, who is also a member of the United Way’s Childcare Committee.
The Award Celebration was held at the Steve Beshear Center for Postsecondary Education building on the MCC campus.
