Giving Back Guide 2026
- Information VOICE_TRIBUNE
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
By: VOICE-TRIBUNE • Sponsored
Whether it’s through volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness, supporting local organizations plays a vital role in building a stronger, more connected Louisville. From food banks and shelters to mentorship programs and environmental initiatives, there are countless ways to get involved and make a positive impact. By supporting these organizations, you’re not just contributing to a cause—you’re helping to shape the future of your community, one small act at a time. Here are a few incredible local groups you can support to make a real difference.
Historic Locust Grove serves as a cultural generator that connects authentic experiences across time and place. We preserve and interpret the historic landscape and buildings of Locust Grove, the final home of Louisville’s founder George Rogers Clark, and tell the stories of all the individuals who lived and worked here, both free and enslaved, cultivating a deeper understanding of the present through a richer understanding of the past.
At Locust Grove, we are more than a house — we are a place where community gathers, where stories unfold, and where action meets purpose. Guided by our four pillars — History, Arts, Civics, and Land — we engage with our community via our educational programs, preservation efforts, and cultural experiences which create meaningful connections across generations.
Valaterra: A Living Sanctuary for Healing and Renewal
Nestled on 101 peaceful acres near La Grange, Kentucky, just 30 minutes from Louisville, Valaterra is a living sanctuary where nature, intentional design, and holistic well-being come together. Created by Valerie Young through The Young Family Foundation, Valaterra reflects the belief that nature can nurture healing of the body, mind, and spirit.
The Living Sanctuary was thoughtfully designed with eco-conscious principles and offers a tranquil setting for retreats, workshops, meditation gatherings, transformative experiences, or simply a place to pause and reconnect. The land—with rolling fields, wooded pathways, a flowing creek, seasonal wildflowers, and wildlife—is an essential part of the sanctuary experience.
Through the Valerie’s Grace Program, Valaterra provides restorative space and support for practitioners of alternative, complementary, and integrative healing, expanding access to healing resources for underserved communities.
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, dedicated to ensuring healthcare is accessible in communities throughout Kentucky and beyond. Through collaboration with numerous organizations and millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health, and share lifesaving resources. There are currently 37 active American Heart Association funded research grants in Kentucky totaling over $7.9 million. Additional investments support CPR and AED education, blood pressure control, and hypertension initiatives. We also work with hospitals, clinics, and community organizations to strengthen programs focused on blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. At the state and local level, we continue to advocate to ensure that all Kentuckians, regardless of who they are or where they live, have access to quality healthcare. To support our mission, learn more, or get involved, visit www.heart.org/kentucky and follow us on social media (@heartkentucky).
The SNAP Foundation is a 501c3 organization that supports visual arts professionals in Kentucky through financial investmen and exhibition opportunities at onsite galleries showcasing permanent and rotating collections.
Larry Shapin and Ladonna Nicolas have spent decades championing Kentucky artists, building one of the nation’s most significant private collections of contemporary Kentucky art. More than collectors, they are dedicated cultural philanthropists whose unwavering support has provided artists with visibility, encouragement, and sustained investment in their careers. As highlighted in Burnaway’s “Close to Home,” their home serves as both a living gallery and a testament to the power of collecting with purpose—demonstrating how thoughtful philanthropy can preserve a region’s creative legacy while strengthening its community for generations to come.
“When I founded Eternity Wellness in 2019, I wasn’t trying to build another medical practice, I was creating the kind of healthcare experience I believed people deserved. For more than 130 years, Norton Children’s Hospital has served as Kentucky’s only full-service, free-standing hospital created “Just for Kids,” treating all families regardless of their ability to pay. Norton Children’s serves over 215,000 children each year from all over our region.
The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds exclusively for Norton Children’s Hospital, Norton Children’s Medical Center, and pediatric services at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Funds are raised to support programs, equipment, new technologies, clinical research, child advocacy, and health education for patients, families, medical staff and the community.
The generosity of our community and corporate support plays a vital role in helping Norton Children’s provide innovative care, enhanced facilities, and meaningful programs that benefit patients and families. Reimbursement from insurance may cover the cost of providing care, but it does not cover the purchase of new equipment; hospital upgrades; or services for families, such as art and music therapy and our facility dog program. With your help, we can continue to give everyone the lifesaving care they need and make all members of our community healthier.
For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.HelpNortonChildrens.com.
Mission
Twisted Pink is dedicated to providing hope and connection to those impacted by breast cancer, funding bold breakthroughs in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) research, and raising awareness of stage IV disease.
Impact & Story
While traditional pink ribbon campaigns celebrate awareness, Twisted Pink shifts the spotlight toward action and extending lives. Founded in Louisville, Kentucky, by breast cancer survivor Caroline Johnson, the organization addresses a crucial gap: while thousands live with metastatic breast cancer—which currently has no cure—only a fraction of overall breast cancer funding historically goes to stage IV research.
Twisted Pink believes that the pink ribbon no longer fully reflects what all breast cancer patients endure and that meaningful change requires direct investment in life-saving science. To date, the non-profit has funneled over $2 million directly into cutting- edge metastatic breast cancer research initiatives across premier medical institutions. These grants empower top scientists to discover innovative treatments, slow disease progression, and ultimately work toward a cure.
In addition to funding scientific breakthroughs, Twisted Pink supports patients directly through community connections and programs like “Boxes of Hope,” which deliver comfort, encouragement, and trusted resources to individuals undergoing active cancer treatment. By uniting research funding with compassionate patient support, Twisted Pink ensures no one walks their diagnosis alone while actively building a future where stage IV breast cancer becomes a manageable condition rather than a terminal diagnosis.
One in four people in the Greater Louisville region live in poverty. An additional 154,000 people live above the poverty level but still struggle to make ends meet. These are people we see every day: baristas, servers, cooks, delivery drivers, bank tellers, and more.
Imagine working full time and still not having enough. What would you do if you couldn’t afford rent and groceries?
That’s where Metro United Way’s Hardship to Hope effort comes in. We are asking our community to help us lift our neighbors from hardship to hope by raising $75 million by 2030 to ensure all kids and families have what they need.
Our efforts to help families focus on supporting thriving kids, strong households, and an equitable community. We provide academic supports including free school supplies and critical mentorship and scholarships, free childhood development screenings, training and resources for early childhood educators and those helping school-aged youth, free financial coaching and tax preparation services, emergency home repairs, help for first-time homebuyers, thousands of kits containing basic needs essentials like healthy food, cleaning supplies, school supplies, and diapers, and much more. We also tackle issues facing families by advocating for better policies at the local, state, and national levels.
From basic needs support to policy changes to equity-driven strategies, Metro United Way works to create a better community for every person in every neighborhood. Please consider a donation to aid us in these crucial efforts. Learn more about our work and donate today using the QR code.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens is built from a story of transformation. On land once used as a landfill, the Gardens have taken root as one of Louisville’s most inspiring examples of what vision, generosity, and community partnership can achieve. Today, this growing urban oasis invites visitors to wander, learn, gather, celebrate, and reconnect with the natural world, all in full view of the downtown Louisville skyline.
Every garden path, educational program, and new phase of development reflects a commitment to creating a world-class destination that enriches Louisville’s quality of life. Through botanical excellence, accessible programming, environmental stewardship, and meaningful visitor experiences, Waterfront Botanical Gardens welcomes all to discover beauty, inspiration, and connection.
As the Gardens continue to grow, philanthropy remains the catalyst that turns vision into reality. Generous supporters have helped transform an overlooked landscape into a thriving cultural and environmental asset, making possible new gardens, educational opportunities, community events, and spaces where future generations will create lasting memories. Each gift helps expand access to nature and ensure that this extraordinary place continues to flourish.
Waterfront Botanical Gardens is more than a beautiful destination. It is a living legacy shaped by those who believe in investing in Louisville’s future. Like the Gardens themselves, that legacy continues to grow season after season, inspiring wonder, fostering community, and demonstrating the impact that philanthropy can have when people unite around a shared vision.
Discover more and help the Gardens grow for generations to come at waterfrontgardens.org support.
Wellspring Provides Housing, Behavioral Health, and HOPE!
Wellspring uniquely provides a powerful combination of housing and supportive services for adults with serious mental illness (SMI) along with offering a comprehensive array of behavioral health services based on clients’ needs.
Mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression, often emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood, disrupting lives and families. Without access to care, many individuals with SMI experience homelessness, incarceration, substance use, or repeated hospitalizations. Wellspring meets these challenges head-on, offering quality affordable housing and life-changing services that promote dignity, community integration, and long-term recovery for approximately 1,300 people each year.
With donor support, Wellspring can transform lives through:
• Assistance with medication
• Crisis Stabilization
• Peer Support services
• Life Skills coaching
• Intensive Support Mobile Teams
• Individually tailored Employment Services
With help like yours, Wellspring improves the lives of people from every walk of life and every corner of our community who are living with no-fault, biological brain disorders. Your gift to Wellspring is a powerful investment.
Together we are building a community where adults with mental illness are respected and given the opportunity to thrive.
Just outside of Louisville in Crestwood, Kentucky, Yew Dell Botanical Gardens offers 60 acres of inspiration, education, and beauty. Once the private estate of legendary plantsman Theodore Klein and his wife Martha Lee, Yew Dell grew from family farm to nationally recognized public garden. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and welcomes visitors year round to explore curated display gardens, woodland trails, historic architecture and ongoing plant research.
As a nonprofit organization, Yew Dell’s mission is to spark a passion for plants and gardening through accessible science and inspiring beauty. That passion comes to life in every corner of the gardens — from seasonal displays and family-friendly events, to hands on workshops and educational programs designed for gardeners of all levels.
Community support makes all of this possible. Whether through annual fund gifts, honoring a loved one with a tribute bench, or leaving a bequest, every donation directly fuels Yew Dell’s ability to connect people with plants. Memberships, too, help sustain daily operations while offering free admission, discounts and reciprocal benefits at gardens nationwide.
For those who prefer to roll up their sleeves, volunteering at Yew Dell provides a chance to learn new skills and give back in a meaningful way. With opportunities in the gardens, natural areas, events and even office work, there’s a place for every interest and talent.
Learn more, become a member, or support the mission at yewdellgardens.org.