BGCF

News release

This month, Blue Grass Community Foundation awarded $99,000 in grants to 17 charitable organizations for projects that will improve the quality of life for children and adults in Boyle County.  Organizations serving Boyle County applied for funding through the Hudson-Ellis Competitive Grantmaking Program, which is made possible by the generosity of Lottie B. Ellis whose bequest established endowments at Blue Grass Community Foundation.

Over the summer, the Hudson-Ellis Scholarship Fund awarded $30,000 in new and renewed college scholarships.  Each year, renewable scholarships of $2,500 are awarded to one high school senior from Boyle County High School, Danville High School, and Kentucky School for the Deaf.

In 2018, Shelley Bigelow, VP and senior trust officer of WealthSouth, was elected as the new chair of the Hudson-Ellis Fund Advisory Board after Mort Hoagland stepped down, having held the appointment for six years.   

A lifelong Danville resident, Lottie Ellis had a passion for Boyle County which led her to establish a legacy gift when she passed away in 1999.  In accordance with Ms. Ellis’ wishes, Blue Grass Community Foundation established two permanent endowment funds: The Hudson-Ellis Discretionary Fund and the Hudson-Ellis Scholarship Fund. To date, the Hudson-Ellis Discretionary Fund has made160 grants to local nonprofit organizations totaling more than $1.1 million and the Scholarship Fund has awarded 131 scholarships totaling $320,000.   

John F. Joyner and Lena H. Joyner shared Ms. Ellis’ vision and their legacy endowment has helped fund the competitive grant program with more than $30,000 in grants to Boyle County nonprofits.