United Way of Southern Kentucky Invests in Survivors Across Our Region

This week, BRASS, Inc. was honored to be in the room as United Way of Southern Kentucky announced its annual community impact investments — more than $1.1 million heading to nonprofit programs across south-central Kentucky.

At a news conference held Wednesday at the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way unveiled $1,103,297 in total allocations supporting 45 programs across the Barren River region, with $641,997 of that total staying in Warren County. The investments will support programs focused on education, health, income, and safety net services from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

BRASS, Inc. Director of Administration Cindy Mace and Director of Development Jenni Leeds attended the announcement and spoke about what this partnership means for survivors of domestic violence across all ten counties of the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD).

You can read and watch WNKY’s full coverage of the announcement here: United Way awards more than $1 million to south-central Kentucky nonprofits.

A year of work, focused on changing lives

United Way President and CEO Debbie Hills described the day as the culmination of nearly a year of effort. The process began last fall, when 70 organizations across the 10-county region submitted letters of intent for consideration. After months of application reviews, site visits, and recommendations from local volunteer committees, 45 programs were selected for funding. Nearly 100 volunteers contributed more than 1,300 hours to evaluate applications and determine where dollars could make the greatest difference.

While the dollar figures are significant, Hills emphasized that the stories behind the investments matter most — families that feel more secure, children who start school better prepared, and individuals who gain access to life’s necessities.

For BRASS, Inc., that mission is deeply personal.

What this investment makes possible

As the designated domestic violence service program for the BRADD region, BRASS, Inc. provides 24/7 crisis response, emergency shelter, advocacy, and housing services. Partners like United Way are what allow us to keep showing up for survivors around the clock. This year’s investment helps power two vital programs.

ESCAPE — Emergency Shelter & Crisis Aid to Protect & Empower

Domestic violence doesn’t keep business hours — so neither do we.

ESCAPE helps fund our evening and weekend crisis calls, because a survivor may need us at 1 in the afternoon or 1 in the morning, on a Tuesday or a Saturday. That call is often the very first step toward safely leaving an abusive relationship.

When the phone rings, our advocates use that conversation to plot, plan, and carry out a safe route out of the home and into emergency shelter. Sometimes one call is all it takes. More often, it takes several before a person is ready and able to flee. We answer every one — because a survivor’s life may depend on us picking up.

STAP — Shelter Transportation Assistance Program

Three of every four survivors in our shelter do not have access to safe, reliable transportation.

After uprooting their lives to escape abuse, many survivors are rebuilding from the ground up. We never want anyone in our care to feel stuck. STAP provides rides for the everyday needs most of us take for granted — getting to and from work, picking up personal care items, making it to a doctor’s appointment.

By drawing on community resources like public transit and rideshare in addition to what our advocacy staff can provide, we help survivors move through the world on their own terms and reclaim their independence.

Thank you

To every donor and volunteer who made these investments possible: thank you. Because of you, survivors across our region have an advocate on the line at 2 a.m. and a real path forward.

We are proud to call United Way of Southern Kentucky a partner in this work — and grateful to stand alongside so many organizations working to build a stronger, safer community.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available 24 hours a day.

24-hour crisis line:  1-800-928-1183

Learn more or get involved:  brassinc.org

Support survivors:  brassinc.org/donate