Being a Spirited Neighbor: Investing $800,000 in West Louisville
This past week was full of proud moments for Heaven Hill Brands as we announced our Spirited Neighbor Initiative to increase our investment in one of the amazing communities in which we live and work. The Spirited Neighbor Initiative is an exciting long-term partnership with West-Louisville, KY’s California Neighborhood where we’ve operated our Bernheim Distillery for almost 25 years. The initiative is rooted in uplifting the pride and legacy of the neighborhood for future generations. Heaven Hill committed $800,000 over a five-year period to help local non-profits focused on giving back to the California Neighborhood and surrounding populations.
To gain an in-depth understanding of what the community needed, our team’s first step was to ask the people who know it best. Over an extended period of time, we gathered feedback from California Neighborhood residents and Bernheim Distillery employees. This information collection process resulted in the Spirited Neighbor Initiative. We are confident that it will have tangible and meaningful impact now and into the future.
“It’s critical that our efforts as a Spirited Neighbor are designed to address each community’s specific needs,” Co-President Kate Latts said. “Initiatives to support education, mental health and economic development are three critical areas where we believe our assistance will be the most impactful.”
It was a busy week at the Bernheim Distillery as events were hosted in anticipation of and celebration of the groundbreaking announcement.
Something Big is Happening
On Tuesday, Heaven Hill Brands was featured on a local news source, “WDRB,” with reporter Keith Kaiser. Several of our community partners including Descendants of the California Neighborhood, Trip J Band, Big Moe’s BBQ and Amazing Internal Praise joined us on the morning show to garner excitement and establish awareness.
Official “Spirited Neighbor” Announcement
Co-Presidents Kate and Allan Latts officially announced Heaven Hill’s plan to be a “Spirited Neighbor” at Friday’s press conference. A full audience including community partner, non-profit owners and media members gathered to learn more and share in the excitement.
“We’re working with some key organizations that make up the fabric of the West End community to support a sustainable, thriving California neighborhood now and for future generations.”
The first five organization’s that are set to receive funding include:
- Change Today Change Tomorrow which provides services devoted to eradicating food injustice and public health issues that plague Louisville’s Black and other marginalized communities;
- Neighborhood House which provides opportunities ranging from child development to senior programming for families in West Louisville;
- AMPED which provides music education, business services and technology workforce training to create self-sufficiency, economic mobility and equity among the city’s Black and brown communities;
- Louisville Central Community Center which provides programs ranging from early childhood education to adult job training and money management to advance equity among Louisville’s West End families; and
- West End School which provides a rigorous education, character development and family support to pre-K through 8th grade boys, and offers housing to alumni who attend area high schools.
Second Annual Community JamFest
Our Second Annual Community JamFest was the perfect end to a memorable week and a beautiful kick-off to seeing the Spirited Neighbor initiative come to life. Free to the community and geared toward families, the event included catering by Big Moe’s Barbeque, inflatable games, face painting, live music and time well spent gathering as neighbors. Over 200 California Neighborhood residents, community leaders and Heaven Hill employees were in attendance.
Learn More
This is just the beginning of all that is to come as we continue to learn how we can be Spirited Neighbors in the communities where we live and work. Follow along on this journey at http://www.spiritedneighbor.com.
