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Hopkinsville, KY - On Wednesday, June 29, the Jennie Stuart Health Foundation held a reception to dedicate a Caring Cradle, donated by the Disney family of Clarksville, Tennessee. Foundation Executive Director Tracey Clark opened the dedication by thanking Kelsey and Nick Disney for their generous gift to the Obstetrics floor of Jennie Stuart Medical Center.

Using cooling mechanisms, a Caring Cradle allows grieving parents extra time with their baby following a stillbirth. Having experienced comfort previously provided by a Caring Cradle during their own difficult loss, Kelsey and Nick set out to provide this special equipment for families who experience similar heartache. They engaged friends and family through various fundraisers to raise money that would allow them to donate a Caring Cradle to a hospital that currently did not have one.

"I’m so grateful to be able to make this donation in honor of our daughter, Bella River, who was stillborn on August 30, 2020," Kelsey Disney shared. "I hope that it can be of comfort to other grieving families as much as it was to us during our time of need." During the dedication, a plaque that is permanently displayed on the Caring Cradle was presented in memory of Bella River Disney.

Among those assembled for the dedication were hospital administration, Obstetrics floor staff, Foundation staff, a JSMC Trustee and Foundation Board representative, and members of the Disney Family. Janice Johnson, director of JSH Family Services, shared her gratitude for this special gift on behalf of her team.

"Thank you for your kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness," Johnson said. "This is something that will be utilized by moms that have a loss and will give them the opportunity to spend more time with their baby, bond with their baby, hold their baby and make memories that will last a lifetime."

"This gift is a stellar example of how caring individuals can impact and expand services we provide through our community hospital," Clark added. "Bella’s Cradle will impact lives in such a special way for years to come."

If you are interested in learning how to support Jennie Stuart Health through the Foundation, please visit www.JennieStuartHealth.org/Foundation or call 270.887.0181. There are many donor options available, and JSHF would be happy to help you identify the best way to give according to your interests.

About Jennie Stuart Health Foundation: Formed in 2018, Jennie Stuart Health Foundation is a philanthropic subsidiary of Jennie Stuart Health. The Foundation is a designated 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and all contributions are tax-deductible. Administrative expenses for the Foundation are provided by Jennie Stuart Health, so donors can feel confident that 100% of their contributions will directly support community care and service expansion.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 20, 2022) Leadership Kentucky announced today the 51 members of the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2022.

Leadership Kentucky’s flagship program consists of seven, three-day sessions, where participants gather to gain insight on the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its challenges and opportunities. Throughout the sessions, class members will meet with many of Kentucky’s current leaders and explore the state’s opportunities and resources. Participants will have the opportunity to form lifelong connections and visit communities.

The June through December program will bring the class across the state: Berea in June, Pikeville in July, Bowling Green in August, Louisville in September, Murray/Western Kentucky in October, Lexington/Frankfort in November, and Northern Kentucky in December. The sessions cover topics ranging from business and economic development, arts and tourism, natural resources and the environment, education, healthcare, diversity, and social issues, agriculture, and government.

This year’s class includes 51 participants from across the state representing a variety of public and private sectors. Leadership Kentucky congratulates the following members:

1. Scott Alvey — Woodford County — Kentucky Historical Society
2. James Ayers — Martin County — First State Bank
3. Erich Blackburn — Pike County — Pikeville Medical Center, Inc.
4. Pedro Bryant — Jefferson County —Republic Bank & Trust
5. Michelle Buerger — Fayette County — City National Bank
6. Beverly Chester-Burton — Jefferson County — City of Shively
7. Joe Chillo — Kenton County — Thomas More University
8. Amanda Clark — Boyd County — Kentucky Power
9. Tracey Clark — Christian County — Jennie Stuart Health Foundation
10. Cindy Clouse — Pulaski County — Somerset Community College
11. Lee Emmons — McCracken County — West Kentucky Community and Technical College
12. Jennifer Evans — Jefferson County — Norton Healthcare
13. Jeff Garrison — Montgomery County — Thoroughbred Engineering
14. Logan Germann — Boyle County — The Logan Company
15. Marty Gibson — Boyle County — Farmers National Bank
16. Trevor Graves — Fayette County — Stites & Harbison, PLLC
17. Rachel Harb — Marion County — Maker’s Mark
18. Julie Nelson Harris — Pulaski County — City of Somerset
19. Whayne Herriford — Campbell County — Whayne Herriford, MS, LPCC-S
20. Courtney Hixon — Calloway County — Murray State University
21. Mark Hogg — Jefferson County — WaterStep
22. Brian Hutchinson — Rowan County — Community Ventures Corporation
23. Scott Keadle — Jefferson County — JLL/ / Brown-Forman
24. Kyle Kelly — Owen County — Kentucky Farm Bureau
25. Tiffany Koller — Jefferson County — LG&E and KU Services
26. Byron Largen — Oldham County — MCM CPAs & Advisors
27. Maegan Mansfield — McCracken County — Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing
28. Cindy McCarty — Floyd County — East Kentucky Network, LLC d/b/a Appalachian Wireless
29. Chris Melton — Jefferson County — Wyatt, Tarrant, & Combs, LLP
30. Joe Middleton — Barren County — Ambulance Service Corporation, Inc. (dba: Barren-Metcalfe EMS)
31. LaKisha Miller — Kenton County — Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
32. Dannie Moore — Madison County — Eastern Kentucky University
33. Tracy Naylor — Daviess County — Owensboro Health
34. Amy Neighbors — Metcalfe County — Retired from Metcalfe Health Care Center
35. John Nelson — Rowan County — Morehead State University
36. Christina Perkins — Owen County — Owen Electric Cooperative
37. Mark Polston — Fayette County — WSP USA Inc.
38. Kelly Pullen — Jefferson County — Aetna Better Health of Kentucky
39. Shannon Rickett — Jefferson County — University of Louisville
40. Talley Russell — Jefferson County — Humana
41. Lindsey Sanson — Warren County — American Bank & Trust
42. Mary Singer — Scott County — MAP Group Companies
43. Jill Smith — Fayette County —University of Kentucky
44. Kevin Smith — Laurel County — Law Office of Kevin R. Smith
45. Rick W. Smith, Sr. — Franklin County — Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education
46. Amanda Tyler — Bullitt County — Beam Suntory
47. Ryan Watts — Franklin County — Kentucky Oil and Gas Association
48. Kim Webb — Kenton County — Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky
49. Jason Wessel — Boone County — St. Elizabeth Healthcare
50. Elizabeth Whitehouse — Woodford County — The Council of State Governments
51. John Yanes — Laurel County — CHI-Saint Joseph Health

Nominations and applications for the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2023 will be available online at leadershipky.org in October. The Leadership Kentucky Foundation offers four unique programs: Leadership Kentucky, Elevate Kentucky (for young professionals), BRIGHT Kentucky (for Eastern Kentuckians), and New Executives to Kentucky, (for senior-level executives who have lived in the state for less than two years). For more information, please visit leadershipky.org.

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