In its largest investment since forming in 2018, the Brown Forman Foundation is donating $50 million to West Louisville organizations.
The money from the charitable arm of Brown-Forman Corp. will span 10 years and benefit programs meant to advance educational opportunities from early childhood through adult learning.
“Brown-Forman and the Brown-Forman Foundation aspire to have a transformative impact in the community we’ve called home for more than 150 years,” said Lawson Whiting, the CEO of Brown Forman Corp. and the director of the Brown-Forman Foundation, in a statement. “We believe that quality education, from cradle to career, is critical to lifelong success and helps ensure a brighter future for generations to come. Today’s announcement is another step on that journey and our commitment to positive, long-term change here in Louisville.”
Here are the other organizations Brown-Forman foundation is giving to and what the money will go toward, according to a press release:
AMPED
“AMPED will receive $5 million to expand Out of School Time (OST) program offerings. AMPED will work with community partners aiming to provide support for youth, including social-emotional programming that centers on mentorship and music.”
This Chickasaw-based organization currently provides a free music program for kids, free technology training for adults and a Black business incubator.
Louisville Central Community Center
“The Louisville Central Community Center will receive $10 million to support its Mini-Versity Child Development Program, which provides health and education equity for families of infants and preschoolers. The funds will create better access to quality early education services, helping children start school with the necessary social, emotional, and academic skills to be successful.”
LCCC is headquartered in the Russell neighborhood and has been helping children and families since 1948.
Louisville Urban League
“The Louisville Urban League’s education programs will receive $5 million to provide opportunities for families that directly address the achievement gap that adversely affects Black and Brown students through critical programming that focuses on increasing access and removing barriers.”
The Louisville Urban League has been helping Louisville’s under-served and minority populations for over 100 years.
Simmons College of Kentucky
Louisville’s HBCU, Simmons College of Kentucky “will receive $10 million to further develop a teacher education program that prepares licensed secondary school teachers and addresses the racial inequities in the local and regional public schools.”
The West End School
The West End School will receive $10 million for its boys boarding school in Chickasaw. The school will also receive an extra $10 million to create “equitable opportunities” for girls, too, with details to soon follow.
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