♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO INSIDE LOUISVILLE -- WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK WE EXPLORE LOUISVILLE'S NON-PROFIT SCENE.

THIS CITY HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AS A MODEL COMPASSIONATE CITY.

MUCH OF THAT IS BUS OF THE MANY GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON HELPING OTHERS.

TODAY WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT TWO OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, HOW THEY HAVE DEVELOPED AND GROWN OVER THE YEARS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW THEY HAVE GIVEN BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY.

FIRST, A LOOK INSIDE THE FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE.

>> I GREW UP PRETTY MUCH IN POVERTY.

I SPENT PROBABLY MORE THAN 90% OF MY CHILDHOOD HOMELESS.

IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AT EIGHTH GRADE, I HAD MY FIRST CHILD AT THE AGE OF 14.

AND AT THAT TIME, AFTER HAVING MY CHILD, WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER I DELIVERED HIM, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SOCIAL WORKER SAYING THAT I WOULD BE PLACES OUT OF MY MOTHER TO FOSTER CARE.

SHE TESTED POSITIVE.

I WAS A TEEN MOM AND DETERMINED TO FINISH SCHOOL.

SOMETHING I WANTED.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I WAS GOING TO GET THERE.

MY DREAM WAS TO BE A LAWYER.

I WANTED TO BE A LAWYER.

SO AS LIFE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUED HAPPENING, AFTER I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, I GOOGLED HOW TO GO TO COLLEGE.

SO AFTER I ENROLLED IN SCHOOL, I STRUGGLED.

AT THAT TIME I HAD MY SECOND SON.

SO NOW I'M A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO.

AND I JUST DECIDED I WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I STARTED YOU KNOW, ATTENDING CHURCH AND STRENGTHENING MY FAITH AND MET SOMEONE AT CHURCH AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT SCHOLAR HOUSE WHO WAS A GRADUATE.

I MOVED UP THE LIST AND I ENDED UP MOVING INTO FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE.

I ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE SO I STARTED ATTENDING CLASSES AND JUST BEING HERE AND HAVING THE SUPPORT AND HAVING THE FAMILIES AND THEY JUST BASICALLY POURED INTO ME.

IT WAS DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE I NEEDED TO WORK THROUGH TO GET TO WHERE I WANTED TO BE.

BUT HAVING LIKE THE FAMILY, HAVING THE SUPPORT, HAVING THE ADVOCACY OF JUST HAVING A FAMILY ADVOCATE, DISEAK ADVOCATE AND THEY HELPED WORK THROUGH ALL OF THESE BARRIERS AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS PRETTY MUCH OR DEALING WITH AND GOING THROUGH.

I USED THIS AS THE BEST EXAMPLE THAT I USE THIS ALL THE TIME.

THIS IS THE BEST WAY I CAN EXPLAIN IT.

IS THAT I HAD THE DRIVE.

I HAD THE DETERMINATION.

EVEN AS A KID, I KNEW, OKAY, I CAN GOOGLE.

GOOGLE TOLD ME HOW TO GET TO THE NEXT STEP.

HOWEVER, IT'S JUST LIKE A BROKEN CAR IN A GARAGE.

YOU CAN HAVE THE BEST TOOLS IN THE WORLD, YOU CAN HAVE A BROKEN CAR BUT THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IS GOING TO BE THE KEY TO FIXING THAT CAR.

AND I FEEL LIKE FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE WAS THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR ME.

THEY WERE THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL TO HELP ME TO BECOME WHO I WAS DESTINED TO BE.

MY FRIEND SAID THESE WERE THE BEST YEARS OF HIS LIFE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT I WAS ABLE TO THRIVE.

WHILE HERE, MY SON, HE WENT TO BUDDY BOOK CLUB AND THE ELC, HE ATTENDED THE FOUNDATION, 2 AT THE TIME.

WHICH WAS AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION.

SO NOW HE IS THRIVING IN HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW AND HE IS STRONG ACADEMICALLY BECAUSE HIS FOUNDATION WAS STRONG AS WELL.

I GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE WITH A DEGREE IN JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION AND COMMUNICATION.

THEN I DECIDED TO ENROLL BACK INTO SCHOOL AND I WENT TO WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS LAW SCHOOL AND GRADUATED.

I WORK AS AFFILIATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR WHICH I JUST CAME BACK FROM WORKING WITH ONE OF OUR AFFILIATES TODAY, TAKING THIS PROGRAM AND HAVING IT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND SUPPORTING ALL THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SO OTHER KIDS DON'T HAVE TO GOOGLE HOW TO GO TO COLLEGE OR HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT OR MOVE OUT OF THEIR OWN COMFORT ZONE OR TO ANOTHER STATE BECAUSE THEY DON'T OFFER THAT HELP IN THEIR CITY.

SO I'M BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I CAN GO OUT AND IT'S NOT WORK TO ME MUCH IT'S PURPOSE.

SOMEBODY DID IT FOR ME.

I OWE IT TO GIVE BACK TO ALL THE OTHER MOMS AND DADS AND OTHER SINGLE PARENTS THAT WANT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I WAS IS GIVEN.

>> SARAH BRADY IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE.

WE HEARD A LITTLES BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE HAS.

TELL US ABOUT THE HISTORY.

>> YEAH, I'LL START WITH OUR MISSION.

OUR MISSION TO END THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES BY EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND YOUTH TO SUCCEED IN EDUCATION AND ACHIEVE LIFE LONG SELF SUFFICIENCY.

OUR ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1995 BY SIX ORDERS OF NUNS.

OUR CURRENT C.E.O.

CAME ON BOARD IN 2004.

AND WAS REALLY BROUGHT ON BOARD TO TAKE IT TO SCALE.

AT THAT TIME WE WERE SERVING FOUR FAMILIES WITH FOUR STAFF MEMBERS.

OBVIOUSLY NOT A SUSTAINABLE MODEL.

AND SO WE HAVE REALLY BEEN ABLE TO GROW IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS NOT JUST HERE IN LOUISVILLE BUT ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS STATE LINES AS WELL.

LAST YEAR IN 2022, WE SERVED JUST OVER 72,000 HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS 34 STATES.

>> SAY THAT AGAIN.

FOUR FAMILIES TO MORE THAN 72,000 IN 34 STATES.

SO HOW HAS THE PROGRAM BEEN ABLE TO SCALE AT THAT LEVEL?

>> A LOT OF IT IS REALLY, TRULY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO END THE CYCLE OF POVERTY BY JUST HAVING OUR HOUSING COMPONENT.

WE HAVE DEVELOPED PROGRAMS AND EXPANDED ACROSS NOT JUST LOUISVILLE AND ACROSS KENTUCKY BUT ACROSS STATE LINES TO BE ABLE TO INTERVENE SOON YEAR, EARLIER INTERACTIONS WITH PEOPLE AT RISK.

WOO ELK SAVE OUR HOUSING PROGRAM FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW IT STARTED AS A PROGRAM FOR SINGLE MOTHERS TRYING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT STILL IS.

BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YES.

SO THE SIX ORDERS OF NUNS TRADITIONALLY WERE SERVING SINGLE MOTHERS SPECIFICALLY LOOKING TO PURSUE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM.

AS OUR SOCIETY HAS EVOLVED, POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION HAS EVOLVED AS WELL.

SO WHEN CATHY, OUR CURRENT C.E.O.

CAME ON BOARD, A BIG PART OF THAT WAS BROAD THING WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS.

SO IT WASN'T JUST SINGLE MOTHERS.

IT WAS ALSO SINGLE FATHERS AND THE DIFFERENT AVENUES OF POST SECONDARY EDUCATION.

TWO-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAMS AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL AS WELL AND THEN KIND OF TRANSITIONING INTO SUPPORTING YOUNG ADULTS, THOSE WHO HAVE AGES OUT OF FOSTER CARE, REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS.

ADAPTING TO THE POPULATIONS AND GIFL THEM DIFFERENT PATHWAYS AND DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO FIT WHO THEY ARE.

>> SO WHO DOES COME TO YOU THEN?

AND WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE?

>> WE SERVE ANYONE NOW.

THROUGH A LOT OF OUR DIFFERENT WORK THAT WE ARE DOING ACROSS THE STATE, PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS WITH OUR DIVISION, KCTCS PROGRAM, "KENTUCKY HEALTH" CORPS PROGRAM AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR HOUSING COMPONENT, IT IS THOSE SINGLE PARENTS, SINGLE MOTHERS, FATHERS, YOUNG ADULTS.

ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING TO BETTER THEIR LIFE, GET CONNECTED TO RESOURCES, NAVIGATE THE POSTSECONDARY REALM AND FAFSA AND REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS AND EVEN IF THEY JUST NEED SUPPORT IN NAF GATING WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

CAREER COACHES UTILIZE A PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE, FIGURING OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO BE.

>> SO HOW DO THOSE PEOPLE GET IN TOUCH AND GET IN TOUCH?

WHAT IS YOUR OUTREACH TO REACH THOSE PEOPLE.

>> OUR OUTREACH IS THROUGH PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE SERVING AND CONNECTING THEM OUR STAFF AND OUR TRIGGER RESPONSE CENTER WHERE THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT OUR PROGRAMMING AND GETTING INTAKES DONE AND ALL OF THOSE SORTS OF THINGS BUT IT ALSO IS JUST WE HAVE SUCH A PRESENCE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY HERE.

A LOT OF OUR REFERRALS FOR OUR HOUSING COMPONENT IS THROUGH OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES.

WE MAY NOT SPECIFICALLY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU BUT LET'S LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS AND AS WE DO THE SAME FOR OTHER RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE ARE WORKING WITH A WOMAN WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, CONNECTING HER TO THE CENTER FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

>> IT IS SORT OF A VERY CONNECTED COMMUNITY OF NON-PROFITS HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

TALK ABOUT HOW LOUISVILLE ITSELF IS A PLACE THAT IS COMMITTED TO GIVING BACK AND HELPING PEOPLE?

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT TEAM.

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT, WE SAY IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

SO IT MAY NOT JUST BE THE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE GETTING FOR OR WE ARE GIVING FOR HOUSING BUT IT'S ALSO, AGAIN, THE COLLEGES IN THE AREA, IT IS OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES LIKE THE CAREER CENTER WHO HELPS DO FAFSA THROUGH KCAC, BUT ALSO YHDP DOING YOUNG ADULT WORK AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT, AGAIN, WORK TOGETHER TO REALLY HELP TARGET, AGAIN, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.

THOSE UNDERSERVED, UNDERREPRESENTED INDIVIDUALS.

>> AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE TOO, WHO IT'S SO HARD TO NAVIGATE SOMETIMES THE SYSTEM.

THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES OUT THERE BUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO OR WHO TO TALK TO, WHO TO CALL AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU ALL DO.

>> EXACTLY.

OUR TRIGGER RESPONSE CENTER IS PART OF THE DIVISION THAT IS CROSSING STATE LINES.

AND THAT IS A KEY OF THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER, LIKE CALL IN.

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE HOW TO-- IF YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BENEFITS OR HOW TO NAVIGATE HOW TO APPLY FOR SNAP BENEFITS, OUR TEAM IS TRAINED AND ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW ELIGIBLE, HAVE NEVER BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS BEFORE, AND IT'S A NEW PROCESS.

IT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT IS INTIMIDATING AS WELL.

SO OUR TEAM THERE IS TO HELP THEM LIFT THE LOAD.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE COMMUNITY.

TALK MORE ABOUT THE STATEWIDE IMPACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE?

>> SO OUR WORKS DIVISION HAVE EXPANDED AND GOING BACK TO THE UPSTREAM WORK AND UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE TO MEET PEOPLE SOONER.

THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE FLOURISHED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH KCTCS, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM HERE IN KENTUCKY TO NOT JUST BE ABLE TO TARGET STUDENTS WHO MAY BE AT RISK BUT TO JUST ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

OUR TRIGGER RESPONSE CENTER HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS.

ALL 16 HERE ACROSS THE STATE.

AND REALLY BEING ABLE TO INTERACT WITH STUDENTS AND WHEN WE ARE MAKING CALLS FOR THE COLLEGES, IT'S NOT AS FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE.

WE ARE CALLING ON BEHALF-OF-THE-JEFER COMMUNITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE, ELIZABETH TOWN COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE BECAUSE WE WANT TO FEEL AS IF WE ARE AN EXTENSION OF, NOT A THIRD PARTY.

WE WANT STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO DEEPEN THEIR RELATIONSHIP THEY HAVE WITH THEIR COLLEGE.

WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESS.

WITH HAVE SEEN WITHDRAWAL RATES DECREASE AND ENROLLMENT NUMBERS INCREASE.

IT HAS BEEN A TRUE IMPACTFUL PARTNERSHIP FOR BOTH FAMILY SCHOLAR HOUSE AND KCTCS.

>> LITSZ TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THOSE SUCCESS STORIES?

I KNOW HAVE YOU PROBABLY HUNDREDS.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY SUCCESS STORIES AND I KNOW YOU HEARD FROM MARIA.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE LIKE MARIA.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE STUDENT WHO IS IN ELIZABETH TOWN WHO HAS A CAR BUT DOESN'T HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ANYONE TO TEACH HER HOW TO DRIVE.

US UTILIZING OUR RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO GET HER DRIVING LESSONS AND IT'S OUR EMERGENCY FUND THAT IS KEEPING CHILDREN IN CHILD CARE WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO APPLY FOR 3 Cs AND CONNECTING TO GETTING BOOKS FOR STUDENTS, AND VARIOUS DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

SMALL THINGS THAT USUALLY COST LESS THAN $250 THAT TRULY HAVE SUCH AN IMPACT ON A STUDENT AND ON A FAMILY.

>> SHIRLEY'S WAY IS ANOTHER LOUISVILLE HOMEGROWN ORGANIZATION THAT IS FOCUSED ON HELPING FAMILIES OR DEALING WITH CANCER.

BUT INSTEAD OF RAISING MONEY TO FIND A CURE OR PROVIDE SCREENINGS, SHIRLEY'S WAY HELPS FAMILIES WITH THOSE UNTOLD PARTS OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

HELPING WITH RENT OR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, UTILITIES, GROCERIES, THE EVERYDAY EXPENSES THAT CAN REALLY PILE UP WHEN CANCER INVADES A FAMILY.

FOUNDER MIKE MULROONEY HAS TAKEN FUNDRAISING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL WITH CHARITABLE GAMING.

THEY HAVE USED RAFFLES, GAMING MACHINES AND MUCH MORE ALL TO GIVE BACK MORE THAN $2 MILLION TO THIS COMMUNITY.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> AFTER MY AUNT PATTY PASSED AWAY, YOU KNOW, I FELT LIKE I WANTED TO DO MORE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE QUEEN OF HEARTS WAS REALLY BIG WHEN IS I GOT INVOLVED AND I STARTED DOING STUFF, REALLY ENJOYING IT BECAUSE I SAW THE ENTIRE SOUTH END OF LOUISVILLE IN ONE NIGHT.

I ENJOY SEEING PEOPLE, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND YOU KNOW, JUST BEING AROUND ALL OF THIS AND, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTANT NEED TO GIVE BACK AND, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT'S WHEN YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE, LIKE I DO.

I HAVE SEEN THE EFFECTS OF WHAT SHIRLEY'S WAY CAN DO.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY HELPED OUT.

>> SOMETIMES WE WILL BE HERE AND THERE WAS ONE TONIGHT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, AND SHE WAS-- THEY HAD GIVEN HER SHIRLEY'S WAY HAD GIVEN HER A CHECK FOR $500.

AND IT JUST MEANT SO MUCH TO HER AND JUST THE JOY THAT IT BRINGS, AND, YOU KNOW, QUALITY SOMETIMES I MEAN JUST REALLY, REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.

>> OUR MONEY ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE ARE FUNDED BY YOUR $10 DONATIONS OR $1 DONATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

$1, $SO, SMALL BUSINESSES $100.

RAFFLES.

WE ARE THE KING AND QUEEN OF RAFFLES IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT DIMENSION.

BUT YOUR MONEY IS ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK , WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE.

WE ARE MISSING A HUGE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

PEOPLE GET SICK AND WE DONATE TO RESEARCH, WHICH IS AGAIN FANTASTIC.

BUT THERE IS THIS MIDDLE GROUND THAT WE ARE COMPLETELY FORGETTING.

AND THAT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK NEED HELP.

>> YEP.

>> THEY CAN'T WORK WHEN THEY'RE GOING THROUGH TREATMENTS.

THEY'RE TOO SICK.

AND WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO TRY AND HELP TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

AND TO ME, SHIRLEY'S WAY IS THE ANSWER.

NOW WE SAY WELCOME TO MIKE MULROONEY, FOUNDER OF SHIRLEY'S WAY.

HE ALSO GOES BY CHIEF CANCER HATER.

WHICH I LIKE THAT TITLE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO TELL US ABOUT SHIRLEY'S WAY.

AND IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR MOM.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

RIGHT BEFORE MY MOM PASSED, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAME BY TO VISIT BEFORE SHE DIED.

AS SHE IS LAYING THERE, PEOPLE WOULD START TALKING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UNCLE JESSE DIED FROM CANCER AND BEFORE HE DIED HE ALMOST LOST HIS HOME, OR AUNT SALLY HAS HAD CANCER AND CAN'T AFFORD HER BILL.

IT DAWNED ON ME.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WAS HAPPENING.

I ALWAYS HAD INSURANCE, EVEN NOW TODAY, IF HAVE YOU INSURANCE, IT'S DIFFICULT TO PAY THESE BILLS.

BUT WHAT I FOUND OUT IS WHEN PEOPLE ARE SICK WITH CANCER, THE TREATMENTS ARE SO BAD, OFTEN THEY CAN'T WORK.

AND IF YOU CAN'T WORK, YOU CAN'T PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF.

AND I WAS SHOCKED THAT THAT HAPPENS IN TODAY'S WORLD.

SO WHEN MOM DIED, I KISSED HER ON THE FOREHEAD AND I PROMISED HER WE WOULD DO SOMETHING BUT I WASN'T SURE WHAT THAT WOULD BE.

SO I THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A WEEK OR SO.

AT THE TIME I WAS DOING A LOT OF RUNNING AND IT WAS THE TRIPLE CROWN OF LOUISVILLE THAT FOLLOWING WEEK.

I WASN'T GOING TO DO IT.

I ENDED UP GOING.

TWO FRIENDS OF MINE PRINTED SOME SHIRTS UP THAT SAID CANCER STARTS AND STANDING AT THE START LINE BEFORE IT STARTED.

WE HAD A MOMENT, IT WAS EMOTIONAL.

DOO UNDERGRADUATE THAT RUN IT HIT ME.

I KEPT HEARING ALL THESE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK THAT COULDN'T AFFORD BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE.

I DECIDED THEN THAT I WAS GOING TO START A NON-PROFIT TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE SICK WITH CANCER.

THAT'S OW IT STARTED.

IT'S CRAZY HOW IT MORPHED INTO WHAT WE ARE NOW.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT NOW, TOO.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE WITH CANCER CANCER RESEARCH, ALL OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS, BUT THIS IS KIND OF THAT OUTER CIRCLE OF THAT.

IT'S NOT ONLY THE PERSON WHO IS OBVIOUSLY AFFECTED BY CANCER AND THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES OUT THERE AND CONTINUE TO BE, BUT IT'S THE OUTER QUILL OF THAT, REALLY, THE FAMILIES AFFECTED.

IT'S THE EVERYDAY, GETTING THEIR LAWN MOWED, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY THINGS THAT IS THE REAL LIFE STRUGGLE.

>> IT REALLY IS.

AND, AGAIN, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS A PROBLEM.

WE WEREN'T RICH BY NO MEANS BUT WE WEREN'T POOR.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT BUT WE ALWAYS HAD INSURANCE AND LIKE I SAID EVEN IN TODAY'S WORLD, INSURANCE CAN BE A NIGHTMARE.

THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO MILK YOU THROUGH CO-PAYS AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN BEFORE THEY EVEN PAY ANYTHING.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE STICK SICK CAN CANCER, THEY HAVE TO PAY A THOUSAND TO 2,000 OF CO-PAY UP FRONT BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN HAVE THEIR TREATMENTS.

AND IT'S JUST DISHEARTENING.

WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD THAT ARE TRYING TO DECIDE BETWEEN FOOD OR THEIR MEDICATION.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE NOW THAT ARE DECIDING FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILY AND NOT GO INTO DEBT OVER CANCER TREATMENTS.

IT'S SAD.

IT'S A SAD THING RIGHT NOW.

>> IT IS AND I KNOW YOU HEAR ALL OF THOSE STORIES.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT MODEL.

HOW PEOPLE SUSPECT GET THIS HELP FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION.

>> RIGHT NOW ALL THE HOSPITALS KNOW ABOUT US.

SO IF THEY HAVE A PATIENT THAT IS IN NEED AND WE'VE ASKED THE NURSES AND THE PATIENT ADVOCATES TO SEND US THE ONES IN EXTREME NEED.

SO IT COMES FROM THEM.

WE USED TO HAVE THE FORMS ON OUR WEBSITE.

BUT WE WERE GETTING ALL KINDS OF CRAZY THINGS THAT HAD NOTHING DO WITH CANCER, YOU KNOW, I STOMPED MY TOE LAST WEEK AND I CAN'T WORK.

CAN YOU PAY MY MORTGAGE PAYMENT.

IT WAS RIDICULOUS.

SO WE FINALLY HAD TO SAY UNLESS IT'S SOMEBODY WE PERSONALLY KNOW, IT'S GOT TO COME FROM THE HOSPITALS SO THE PATIENT ADVOCATES AT THE HOSPITAL, THE NURSES, THEY KNOW ABOUT US.

OUR FORMS ARE SIMPLE.

BASICALLY IT'S STATING THAT YOU ARE UNDER CARE AT THE HOSPITAL AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SUE US AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO USE YOUR NAME AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

HIPPA RULES.

IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

WE TRY TO MINIMIZE THE RED TAPE AND IF THEY SEND IT OVER, WE TYPICALLY WILL PAY THE BILL DIRECTLY.

WE DON'T HAND PEOPLE THE MONEY BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HEADACHE THEY HAVE AT THAT TIME IS TAKEN CARE OF.

SO MARY WILL HOP ONLINE AND MAKE THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT, THE UNILATERALS PAYMENT, I'VE I'VE UTILITIES PAYMENT, WHATEVER IT IS THEY NEED.

A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEIR CAR, IF THEY LIVE OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE, IN THESE COUNTIES, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO LOUISVILLE THREE AND FOUR TIMES A WEEK FOR TREATMENT.

SO THE NURSES HAVE TO SUBMIT THAT PAPERWORK FOR US.

>> OKAY.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THIS HAS EVOLVED.

YOU HAVE GIVEN AWAY $600,000.

>> THIS YEAR, YEAH.

>> THIS PAST YEAR.

>> 2023.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

AND OVER TIME, YOU HAVE GIVEN OVER MORE THAN $2 MILLION TO FAMILIES.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF LG & E PAYMENTS, MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, YEAH, WE HAVE.

$2.2 MILLION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SINCE MOM DIED AND FOUR IS GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE YEAR.

BUT YEAH, IT'S SAD.

IT REALLY IS AND IT'S TRUE NEED.

IT'S NOT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM.

AND YOU ARE GOING HAVE THOSE IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE BUT IT'S TRUE NEED.

IT'S HEART WRENCHING WHEN YOU HEAR THESE STORIES.

>> SO HOW DO YOU IT IS VERY INTERESTING TO ME.

CHARITABLE GAMING IS YOUR BREAD AND BUTTER.

>> IT IS.

>> AND YOU ALL HAVE GAMING MACHINES NOW IN 14?

>> 14 LOCATIONS.

>> AND YOU AROUND LOUISVILLE.

TELL US WHAT THAT IS ALL ABOUT.

HOW THAT EVOLVED AND HOW THAT WORKS?

>> WE HAD A BIG RAFFLE OUT IN THE SOUTH END A FEW YEARS AGO AND A GUY CAME IN.

WE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE EVERY WEEK, THE RAFFLE GOT TO ABOUT $800,000.

AND THE PERSON THAT WON, WON HALF OF THAT.

SO ANYWAY, HE KEPT COMING AND TELLING ME ABOUT THESE GAMING MACHINES AND I KEPT BLOWING HIM OFF BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT HIM.

HAVE YOU TO BE CAREFUL THE CHARACTERS YOU DEAL WITH IN THE WORLD THESE DAYS.

HE KEPT COMING AND KEPT COMING.

I LOOKED FURTHER INTO IT AND FOUND UT THAT THESE MACHINES, THEY'RE ELECTRONIC PULL TAB MACHINES.

AND THEY'RE VERY POPULAR AT VFW POSTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOBODY HAS REALLY TAKEN IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

SO THAT'S KIND WHAT HAVE WE DID.

WE BROUGHT IN SOME MACHINES NEXT TO VALLEY STATION AND PEOPLE WOULD COME IN AND GET THEM SOME DRINKS OR FOOD AND WALK OVER AND PLAY OUR MACHINES.

WELL THAT'S REALLY MORPHED INTO SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

BECAUSE OTHER LOCATIONS HIVE I'VE I MEAN WE ARE A COMPLEMENT TO THE BUSINESS IF YOU ARE IN THE BAR OR RESTAURANT BUSINESS.

PEOPLE WILL COME AND PLAY OUR MACHINES AND WHILE THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE PURCHASING PRODUCTS.

IT'S TURNED INTO A PHENOMENAL MONEY MAKER FOR WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

WE GET CALLS EVERY WEEK OF PEOPLE THAT WANT SOME OF OUR MACHINES IN THEIR LOCAL BUSINESS AND WE ARE GOING TO BE GIVING AWAY AT LEAST 100,000 OR MORE NEXT MONTH TO FAMILIES THAT ARE SICK WITH CANCER.

IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

IT STARTED AS SHIRLEY'S LITTLE ANGELS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> AND IT'S GIVING BACK TO KIDS.

>> YEAH, SO SINCE SHIRLEY'S WAY CHARITABLE GAMING HAS GROWN LIKE IT IS, WE ARE CREATING PILLARS.

WE STILL HAVE OUR CANCER PATIENTS THAT WE HELP, KIDS AND MAYBE ANIMALS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO WE ARE BRANCHING OUT.

WE ARE TRYING TO FULL FULFILL THE NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT NOBODY HAS BEEN DOING.

PEOPLE HAVE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD FOR YEARS OVER FINANCING AND COVERING NEED IN SCHOOLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WHERE SHIRLEY'S LITTLE ANGELS CAME FROM, WHEN I WAS A KID, I WANTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL.

I COULDN'T PLAY FOOTBALL.

I THOUGHT MY MOM DIDN'T WANT ME TOO.

COME TO FIND OUT, I COULDN'T PLAY BECAUSE MY MOM AND DAD DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THE EQUIPMENT.

A FRIEND OF MINE WAS VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH THE COACH AT WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL AT THE TIME, MY EIGHTH GRADE YEAR, HE DONATED THE EQUIPMENT TO HELP ME PLAY.

I NEVER FORGET THAT.

I ALWAYS SAID IF I EVER DID ANYTHING, IT WAS GOING TO INCLUDE KIDS BUT YOU I DON'T UNDERSTAND THERE ARE KIDS NOT JUST SPORTS BUT THERE ARE KIDS THAT, THEIR LIVES CAN BE CHANGED GO THEY'RE TAKEN OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SPORTS, MUSIC, ARTS, YOU THOUGH, THEIR LIVES CAN CHANGE AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT PROBLEM.

NOT TO MENTION THERE ARE KIDS GOING HOME EVERY DAY THAT ARE HUNGRY.

SO WE ARE KIND OF LOOKING INTO TACKLING THAT ISSUE.

MY WIFE WAS A TEACHER.

A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WAS A TEACHER AND SHE TOLD ME A STORY ONE TIME OF A STRAIGHT A KID NEVER GOT IN TROUBLE, RIGHT BEFORE SUMMER BREAK LOST HIS MIND, THROWING A FIT, CRYING, WOULDN'T GET ON THE BUS AND FINALLY TOLD THEM, WHEN I GET ON THAT BUS, THERE IS NO FOOD AT HOME AND HE WAS GOING OUT ON SUMMER BREAK.

SO WE'VE GOT TO FIX SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND IF ITS SHIRLEY'S WAY CHARITABLE GAMING, IS THE ONE TO FUND IT AND FIX IT, THEN WE ARE HAPPY DO THAT.

>> YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS.

THIS IS SINCE 2014?

>> YEAH, MOM DIED IN 13.

WE APPLIED FOR NON-PROFIT STATUS AND DIDN'T GET IT UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF 14.

YEAH.

>> YOU SAY NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE YOUR BIGGEST YEAR YET.

TELL US WHAT YOU'VE GOT IN STORE.

>> YEAH, SO BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY AND STATE KEEP WORKING WITH US, WE WILL HAVE ABOUT 24 LOCATIONS AND WE ARE GOING TO FUND, LIKE I SAID, THE THINGS THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAS NEEDED FUNDING FOR YEARS.

YOU KNOW, SO MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DOING THINGS AND NOBODY REALLY DOES IT.

AND/OR THEY'LL WRITE A CHECK TO A BIG MAJOR ORGANIZATION AND NOT FOLLOW UP TO SEE IF THE MONEY MADE IT DOWN TO THE PEOPLE WHO TRULY NEED IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS.

SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GOTTEN SO BIG THAT THEY'LL TAKE IN MONEY AND YEAH, WE'LL GET TO IT LATER.

THESE ARE IMMEDIATE NEEDS.

YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE THE STORIES THAT TEACHERS HAVE SENT ME AROUND KIDS THAT ARE HUNGRY DURING THE DAY AND GO HUNGRY AT NIGHT.

SO WE HEAR THESE STORIES ALL THE TIME.

SO 2024, IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE.

WE ARE JUST GOING TO WALK AROUND AND FIND PLACES AND IT'S GOING TO BE VERY EFFICIENT AND IT'S GOING TO BE TRUE NEED BUT WE ARE GOING TO START FUND THINGS HERE IN LOUISVILLE THAT HAVE NEEDED IT.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT'S WEIRD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT POWER TO CHANGE SOMEBODY'S LIFE.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE A LOT OF LIVES IN 2024.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ONLINE.

YOU CAN VISIT KET.ORG/INSIDELOUISVILLE PLUS, IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE FROM BEHIND THE SCENES - CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN FOLLOW AND SHARE AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

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