October 9, 2007
Kentucky Native Named National Hero
Lexington, Ky. (Oct. 9) –– A Frankfort woman today received the national “Heroes In Our Midst” award for her extraordinary commitment to improving the lives of disadvantaged youth and the elderly in the Lexington area.
Heroes In Our Midst, the national recognition program of the Greeting Card Association, presented Kate Bonner, 50, with the bronze heroes medallion during a ceremony at the Arby’s Charity Tour golf tournament in Lexington. An active volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bonner has changed the life of a foster child in Richmond in addition to making regular visits to a facility for the mentally handicapped, where she has been working with an elderly patient for over ten years.
Heroes In Our Midst honors everyday heroes who give of themselves to connect with others to show they care, and encourages Americans to send cards to the heroes in their own lives. Since its launch last year, Heroes In Our Midst has generated thousands of cards for community and personal heroes.
“We give communities an opportunity to express their gratitude to their local heroes,” said Chris Bouchard, the national spokesman of Heroes In Our Midst. “Volunteers like Kate deserve recognition, and we hope that today’s presentation has inspired people to convey their appreciation to Kate and to their own personal heroes.”
For over ten years, Bonner has made weekly visits a local school for the mentally handicapped, where she works with Anne, a now seventy-year-old resident who has been at the facility since age nine. “She is a wonderful lady,” said Bonner. “She just likes to have someone to see her and take her on errands."
A working professional with a grown son, Bonner became involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) through a fundraiser at work. She joined the BBBS board three years ago and was quickly inspired to become a Big Sister herself.
Her “Little” Julia, now thirteen-years-old, had already been placed with several different families and “just needed some stability,” said Bonnard. “She just needed the basic, simple things in life. She needed structure, and she needed to know her self worth. She needed to know that there was something else out there.”
For her extraordinary commitment to Julia and to Anne, the Lexington community expressed their appreciation to Bonner through greeting cards. “I send greeting cards all the time,” Bonnard said, “just to let family and friends know I’m thinking of them. But the idea of getting them myself is great.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters and Heroes In Our Midst officials are asking members of the Lexington community to send cards or notes expressing their thanks to Bonner, as well as cards to the heroes in their own lives. Cards for Bonner should be addressed to:
Kate Bonner
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass
1122 Oak Hill Drive
Lexington, Kentucky 40505
Representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters, including Joseph Gomes, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Blue Grass, presented Bonner with her award. “Kate has been the only stability Julia has had in her life,” said Kelly Hadley, Match Support Specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. “Julia has had a lot of difficulty in school, and Kate volunteered to pay for a tutor. Just getting to school was a challenge for Julia, but Kate volunteered to go to her home and get her off to school. Kate commutes from Frankfort to Richmond to see Julia. Kate has been very dependable and very devoted.”
At the ceremony, the Heroes In Our Midst program said a $1,000 check would be donated in Bonner’s name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass to support the efforts of volunteers like Bonner who are reaching out to connect with others in their community and make such significant impacts on the lives of local children.
“Heroes In Our Midst is all about the rewards of connecting to others and building human ties,” said Bouchard. “Greeting cards are a cherished tradition for connecting and showing that you care about others. People everywhere have a special story of how someone impacted their life or created a shared memory through a greeting card.”
To learn more about Heroes In Our Midst, visit www.HeroesInOurMidst.org.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S. It has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact of the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 240,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in all 50 states. The national offices are located in Philadelphia. To volunteer or donate, visit www.bbbsa.org.
The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents nearly 300 U.S. and international greeting card publishers and suppliers. It is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the tradition and cultural values of exchanging greeting cards.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S. It has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact of the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 240,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in all 50 states. The national offices are located in Philadelphia. To volunteer or donate, visit www.bbbsa.org.
The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents nearly 300 U.S. and international greeting card publishers and suppliers. It is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the tradition and cultural values of exchanging greeting cards.