The Foundation’s Year in Review
Winter 2023
Founded the James Baker Hall Foundation.
Spring/Summer 2024
Approved as a IRS 501c3 Organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
Received the Gold Star National Non-Profit Certification by Candid (GuideStar/Foundation Center).
Held a Kick-Off event in May at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington where we announced the James Baker Hall Book Award, in partnership with Accents Publishing and first two grant recipients and collaboration with Write to Recover in Bullitt County and the Hindman Settlement School’s Ironwood Writer’s Studio in Knott County.
Began a monthly newsletter for friends of the Foundation. Our newsletter list has grown to over 600 followers.
We received over 70 manuscripts for the inaugural JBHF Book Award.
Fall
In collaboration with the Spalding University Creative Writing Department, the Foundation hosted a reception and press conference to announce the finalists of the first annual James Baker Hall Foundation Book Award. Wesley Houp’s, Strung Out Along The Endless Branch, won the inaugural James Baker Hall Book Award.
Held two well-attended friendraising events in Louisville to help spread the word regarding the work of the Foundation. Thanks to Trudy Wheeler and Dr. Charlie Barnett and our second hosted by Camy Campisano and Steve Heine.
Worked with artists in Bullitt County to establish the Salt River Local Artists Collaborative led by Write to Recover Author and Leader, Bobbie Buchanan.
Partnered as a sponsor of the Kentucky Humanities Kentucky Book Festival (Lexington) Reading Room with the Spalding University MFA Program.
Winter
Initiated our first fundraising effort by participating in the Blue Grass Community Foundation’s GoodGiving Challenge, coming in at the top spot with $135,614 raised from 66 donors.
What’s Next?
We aren’t sitting back and resting on the great year we had. 2025 will see accelerated growth of our outreach programs as one of our goals is to reach parts of the state we haven’t reached yet, specifically Northern Kentucky and Western Kentucky. Happy to report some of those talks are already in place. We are working with Wesley, our Book Award winner, to host readings around the state to promote his book as well as the work of the James Baker Hall Foundation. We want to continue to friend-raise and plan on holding several events again this spring. And of course, we will be working with our grantees for their continued success.
It’s been a busy, but successful year for the James Baker Hall Foundation and we are looking forward to 2025.