Account Manager, Rueff Signs
SJ Supporter
Volunteering at St. Joe’s is a wonderful way to support some of our community’s most resilient members — children who have overcome incredible odds. But for me, the connection is even deeper: St. Joe’s is in my blood.
I am a fourth-generation volunteer. My mother has quilted for the Sewing Society for 22 years, and my father volunteered for years alongside her. My grandfather has been a fixture here for as long as I can remember, even serving on the Board of Directors. Some of my favorite early memories are of riding around town with him to put up St. Joe’s Picnic signs. Both of my great-grandparents were dedicated volunteers as well.
St. Joe’s has been a part of my life since the day I was born. By continuing this legacy, I’m not just giving back; I’m honoring a family tradition that I hope to one day pass down to my own children.
What continues to amaze me about St. Joe’s is how this organization is deeply embedded into the fabric of this community. You meet people throughout your life and there always seems a connection to St. Joe’s.
I hope my volunteer work inspires greater awareness and engagement with this remarkable organization. By sharing my experiences and encouraging others to participate, I aim to help create a lasting culture of community involvement and support, ensuring that future generations benefit from the resources this organization provides.
When you volunteer here, you’re joining a 177-year legacy of success. You aren’t just filing hours; you are part of a proven system that helps children transition to stability.
SJ Supporter
Laura Fallon, Director of Operations for Inspire Brands, Inc. and a loyal volunteer, speaks on their behalf.
What surprised me most about St. Joe’s is how clear it is that you genuinely care about your children. It’s not just a job. You form relationships with these kids, you protect them, you build bonds, and you help them feel safe and secure while finding them the help they need. That’s one of the main reasons we want to give you as much as we possibly can—because we know you put it to good use and you truly care about your kids.
I want kids and families to know where that money comes from. Even though it’s just an Arby’s restaurant, we try to make sure people understand that for every dollar we raise, about 75 cents goes toward a local charity. I think that’s very impactful, and it helps people see they’re giving directly to you and your children.
I always worry that I’m going to retire at some point, and I hope the people that I have working for me continue to raise charity for the community — not even just financially, but physically, showing up when there is a need. That’s the legacy I hope lives on.
I think the missing piece for a lot of people is that they don’t really see where their money is going. So, I always tell them to ‘go visit.’ It’s a well‑established charity that gets things done. It’s been around a long time, and it’s grown and changed even in the short time we’ve been giving.
It’s been really cool to see where the money has gone and what our part has been in that.
SJCH Sewing Society
My family had been involved with the Picnic and donated to St Joe’s. I was somewhat aware of St Joe’s mission, but I really didn’t learn more of the details of St Joe’s until I became a volunteer. A good friend of my mother’s was very active in the Sewing Society so, I had heard about St Joe’s and the Sewing Society and some of their work through her.
I’ve been blessed in my life with stuff, and I believe it’s important to give back to the community, and where better to donate than to the young folks who are the adults of tomorrow?
I’ve been impressed with the quality of employees here and their dedication to St. Joe’s and to the St. Joe’s mission.
For the generation of children who are being treated at St Joe’s, I hope it makes for a better and more comfortable life for them.
For anyone unsure about getting involved, I’d say that St. Joe’s makes a lasting difference in our community by improving children’s lives through its residential program, Child Development Center, and foster care program.
SJ Supporter
Watching the children arrive at art class with big smiles on their faces, eagerly telling me they couldn’t wait to come, never fails to warm my heart.
As Whitney Houston sang, “Teach them well and let them lead the way.” I’ve also been inspired by this beautiful thought: “When you make a difference in a child’s life, you make a difference in your own.”
My deepest hope is that through art and our time together, I can help these children feel safe, loved, and supported as they build a brighter future for themselves.
Time is one of our most precious gifts. Why not invest some of ours to help shape a child’s future? Your support — whether through volunteering, donations, or simply spreading the word — can create ripples of positive change that last a lifetime.
Charitable Solutions Officer, Baird Trust
SJ Supporter
Kate started at St. Joe’s as the Volunteer Coordinator.
The first time I had lunch with the kids (as an employee), I knew St. Joe’s was special. Knowing the residents’ trauma histories, they have no reason to trust adults, but I could see the children who had been there for more than a few weeks were much different than the kids who were brand new. You could tell from their demeanor, language, and actions that they were in a place where they felt safe and could (finally) put down their guard and start building safe and healthy relationships with the direct-care staff and additional St. Joe’s employees like me.
I know the likely trajectory for children in the child welfare system who don’t get the therapeutic support needed to heal from their traumatic childhoods. They often end up homeless, suffering from addiction and mental health issues, in jail or prison.
St. Joe’s has the history to show the long-term impact of its services. Its residential and therapeutic foster care services help these children heal and unlearn unsafe behaviors so they can be successful in a forever home.
Director of Community Development & Repair, Habitat for Humanity
SJ Supporter
Both of our parents modeled the value of donating time, talent and treasure. We’ve also had good experiences with other volunteers and St. Joe’s staff, so that helps keep us coming back.
The kids! Aren’t they the answer to every question?
There are generations of volunteers and donors. It seems like the whole city turns out for St. Joe’s on Picnic weekend – and the generous corporate support makes you feel good, too.
It is awesome to be part of something much bigger than us. We like giving to something that has been doing good for over 175 years, and we hope our contributions today enable St. Joe’s to continue until it is no longer needed.
We want our donations to help St. Joe’s continue evolving to meet the needs of families, just as it has evolved over the generations.
Listen to the stories of people who grew up here and return to Picnic every year to support it. They return because someone cared for them. They return to support the kids who need St. Joe’s now.
Or come to Picnic and see the families that have saved their change all year, show up with a Ziplock [bag] of savings, and spend it for a day of fun to support the kids.
Chief Executive Officer, MPC Promotions, LLC
SJ Board Member
Seeing firsthand how St. Joe’s supports its clients was incredibly inspiring — it made the impact of our efforts tangible and real.
Also, being involved with the SJ@Play campaign was meaningful to me because I know how crucial physical activity is for supporting mental health.
Witnessing the positive effects these initiatives have on individuals reinforced for me that our support is making a difference.
I had no idea how robust and comprehensive their support for the community really is. Learning about all the different ways St. Joe’s helps people has been both eye-opening and inspiring.
Every contribution matters. Whether it’s volunteering your time, making a donation, or helping to spread the word on social media, each action makes a difference. You don’t have to do it all — just doing something, no matter how small it seems, helps support the important work being done. Your involvement can have a real and lasting impact.
Director of Brand, Advertising, Customer and Digital Communications at LG&E and KU
SJ Board Member
Some of my earliest memories of St. Joe’s go all the way back to attending the annual picnic as a kid and teenager, so the organization has always had a special place in my heart.
When my wife and I were touring child development centers after our first child was born, St. Joe’s immediately rose to the top of our list, because of its philosophy and how intentionally that philosophy is put into practice every day.
While my oldest was finishing up at the Child Development Center and my youngest was still there, I had the opportunity to join the board and start learning more about the full scope of services St. Joe’s provides.
LG&E, where I’ve worked for nearly 25 years and now serve as Director of Communications, has long supported St. Joe’s, and seeing leaders I respected — including my former manager, Chris Whelan — serve on the board motivated me to want to get more involved too.
Before joining the board, I didn’t fully appreciate how intense and complex the needs are for kids in residential treatment or foster care, or how much of the work centers on mental health and trauma recovery, not just providing a safe place to stay.
Pickup Field Specialist,
Kroger
SJ Supporter
I was five years old when our family friends ran a [St. Joe’s] booth for their church and helping there quickly became the highlight of my summer. Staying for Mass on the grass at midnight felt magical.
Later, I understood its deeper purpose. Seeing the crowds come together for the same mission of supporting the kids at St. Joe’s showed me the power of this community. But seeing the kids at the Picnic — laughing, playing, and just being kids — was the defining moment.
Watching alumni return with so much pride and gratitude reinforces that what we do matters. Now that I help run the Kroger booth, it’s more personal.
Two of my [Picnic] volunteers once lived at St. Joe’s, and their appreciation for their time there is truly moving.
I get to see the impact up close — from the school on campus to the cottages where so much care and pride go into every room. The therapies offered on campus are remarkable with helping kids heal, grow, and truly find happiness.
I know the work being done at St. Joe’s changes lives, and I want to be part of making that difference for every child who walks through their doors.
Attorney,
Morgan Pottinger McGarvey
SJ Supporter
I remember in 2015 attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new cottages. They were a fabulous improvement over the apartments in the legacy building that the kids had previously been living in.
I also remember doing the “ice bucket challenge” on the steps of St. Joe’s with Grace Akers, St. Joe’s CEO, to raise money for the organization.
We had a great time, and it reminds me of how many people are working together to help the kids that St. Joe’s cares for. We do so much better when we work together with a positive purpose.
The kids need help. Always have, and, unfortunately, always will. But the helping makes a difference, and it is what St. Joseph, and our Lord tell us we should do. Besides, I have found that it makes my life better, too.
I hope that the children we care for can live better lives and have hope for the future. I also want my contributions to inspire future generations to continue helping.
You’ll be working with a great organization, fabulous people, and an important mission. You will find that your involvement helps kids who need it, but it will also help you have a positive purpose, develop fabulous relationships, and create wonderful memories.