Charity at Home in Lexington, Kentucky and for Haiti, Too

Lexington, Kentucky---population 261,000---is more small town than big city in its civic personality. But it has shown a generosity of spirit in ways large and small in early 2010 that has had an impact from icebound downtown Lexington to earthquake ravaged Port-au-Prince, Haiti. No doubt other communities in the United States have similar stories.

Charity begins at home during cold weather

In the first week of January 2010, a bitter cold spell descended upon Lexington and cities as far south as Florida. Homeless shelters were filled to overflowing when the Catholic Action Center made a plea on a local television news broadcast for donations of blankets and coats to be distributed to local people in need. The shortage of these items was described as an emergency situation.

Within a few hours dozens of blankets and coats had been dropped off at the Catholic Action Center to meet the cold weather emergency, according to local television station WLEX. The following day, the response was so strong that the donation center had to be moved to a larger building so it could continue to accept all the blankets and cold weather gear.

Charity moves quickly to help earthquake victims in Haiti

On January 12, an earthquake with a measured magnitude of 7.0 ripped through Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Five days later, the basketball coach and team at the University of Kentucky headlined a local telethon that pulled in $1 million in donations and pledges immediately, and sparked further giving through the purchase of auction items and T-shirts throughout the following week. The funds were targeted for the American Red Cross International Response Fund, with assistance from the United Way of the Bluegrass.

Coach John Calipari solicited contributions from sports figures around the country on air while players on his nationally ranked Wildcat basketball team fielded phone calls and thanked fans for providing donations and immediate aid to ease the suffering of earthquake victims in Haiti.

Over 6,000 "Hoops for Haiti" T-shirts were sold by the next weekend, with the net profits going to the local chapter of the Red Cross. During an interview on a local radio talk show after the UK-Arkansas game on January 23, "Coach Cal" emphasized his appreciation for the many small donations and shirt purchases made by those who did not have much to give. Young children even donated money from their allowances.

There were large donations, too. A special dinner at the Coach Calipari house with "Coach Cal," wife Ellen and special guest actress Ashley Judd was auctioned for a bid of $98,200. Lexington businessman Paul Orberson, who made the winning bid, rounded up the donation to an even $100,000 after the bidding was closed.

Murray's, a local restaurant that is normally closed on Monday evenings, opened for dinner the night after the "Hoops for Haiti" telethon and donated its receipts to "Hoops for Haiti." The dinner proceeds amounted to $7,500 and customers left another $1,051 in a collection jar at the restaurant.

Charity includes T-shirt and donut sales---and blankets

From January 25 to January 31, Lexington-area Dunkin' Donuts stores are donating $1.00 from every dozen donuts sold to Coach Calipari's "Hoops for Haiti" relief fund. And the "Hoops for Haiti" T-shirt sales continue.

Donations to the "Hoops for Haiti" fund topped $1.5 million as of January 23, 2010.

And if more blankets are needed in Lexington during the next cold snap, surely plenty of those will be donated, too.

Resources:

WLEX video transcript archives January 5, 2010

University of Kentucky Web site, Quick Facts About Lexington

CNN Web site, 7.0 quake hits Haiti, 'serious loss of life' expected

www.coachcal.com

WVLK radio interview with Coach John Calipari, 1/23/2010

wkyt.com One-on-one with winner of Coach Cal dinner, Paul Orberson, 1/23/2010