A Culture of Compassion: How James Collins Ford Is Leading the Way in Giving Hope and Jobs to Those in Recovery
Stories like this show us what’s possible: to be a business that cares about more than the bottom line. For over a decade, this local car dealership and service department–James Collins Ford in Downtown Louisville–has been a beacon of opportunity for individuals recovering from substance abuse, by partnering with our residential program. These second chances – even third and fourth ones – are often hard to come by. This journey began in 2012, when a man from the Beacon House walked through their doors, seeking employment. At the time, James Collins Ford had little experience working with people in recovery, and the initial hire did not stay very long. However, the experience didn’t dissuade them from continuing to support our nonprofit and residents in this way. “They have to be ready.” Virginia Payne, the dealership's Director of Fixed Operations, shared with us. In 2013, another man from our program applied for a service shuttle position. Despite lacking a driver’s license, he showed determination by going out, obtaining one, and coming back to prove his commitment. He was hired, and that marked the beginning of a relationship that would [...]
Alumni Spotlight with Jeremy Cottrell: From Distrust to Holding on to the Keys & a Career
How would you describe your life before you came into the Beacon House? The years before I made it to the Beacon House, I caused myself to become diabetic because of my lifestyle. I was selling my medical supplies in order to fuel my addiction. I was in the hospital. I was on the brink of death but I really didn't want to get sober. The hospital took me to JADAC (Jefferson Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center) From there, I was taken to the UofL psych ward. After that, I went to Recovery Works where I was eventually referred to the Beacon House. When I was first receiving help from JADAC, I actually toured halfway houses like the Beacon House, but it was clear I wasn’t ready yet. I had some work to do before I could begin a program like that. So, I completed rehab and, while there, I called the Beacon House as a potential next step for me. I remember them finally telling me “You’re ready.” What was your experience like at the Beacon House? Being there was a shock at first because I had [...]
An Interview with Katie Foree, Beacon House Case Manager
Welcome, Katie! Where are you from? I was born and raised here in the Louisville area, so I’m honored to help people in recovery in this community. What led you into the career you now have? My personal experience with substance abuse dates back to my childhood living in a dual-alcoholic household. My mom was sober for just over a decade while I was young but she relapsed when I was a Senior in high school. And that’s when a lot of my own issues began. There is a lot to my journey but it also contributed to the work I’m passionate about now. Can you share about your educational background? I went to South Oldham Middle School and South Oldham High School. Then, I moved to the University of Kentucky for my undergrad. I was undecided for 3 years then I chose psychology, but my goal was to go into nursing. Throughout those college years, my mom was relapsing, so that was very hard on me. My senior year at UK, she was admitted to the ICU and eventually had to be taken off life support. She passed [...]
Highlights from the 2024 Annual Golf Scrambles
Our annual Golf Scramble on September 23rd, 2024 at Lake Forest Country Club was a big success in our book! Despite looming weather, the skies held back, and we enjoyed a great day of golf with long-time supporters and new participants alike. It was heartwarming to see so many sponsors, donors, volunteers, and friends of our nonprofit come together to help us raise funds for our operations and aftercare programming. We hit our goal and had fun doing it! What more could we want? This year’s contributions make it possible for us to not only continue our operations and aftercare programming, but we are expanding the ways we serve the men in our recovery program. More exciting news to come on this! A huge thank you to everyone who chose to be event sponsors—over 50 in total! Many of them were local businesses who are committed to giving back to the community. Check out this list of upstanding leaders and organizations who stepped up to help us in this way. We’re proud to say that several of our sponsors have supported us for a long time. This kind of [...]
Local Community Matters, Especially to Joe
Raised in Louisville, Joe Dougherty is a product of the local community, having attended Holy Spirit and St. Xavier, and now the CEO of Louisville Paving Construction, all of this just like his father before him. This strong connection to his community has fueled his passion for giving back, particularly through his work with our nonprofit organization. It was through David Harrod, another long-time donor and previous spotlight in our series, that Joe was first introduced to our nonprofit. This alone shows you the power of relationships and word of mouth! David eventually invited Joe to join our board, where he served as chairman, leaving a lasting impact on our organization during a very critical time for us. Direct Issues Facing our Community Joe shared how his life and the values he imparts into his company are focused on two critical areas: Catholic education and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. The latter issue weighs heavy on him. "I've seen it in people I know, people I work with, co-workers, friends, and just the stats across the community. The devastation caused by substance abuse is significant," he says. "At some level, [...]
Get to Know One of Our Longest Standing Donors
David Harrod’s roots run deep in Louisville, Kentucky. Born and raised near Holy Trinity and reared in the halls of Trinity High School, David embodies the spirit of community and continues to honor our community as one of our longest standing donors. As the President of Harrod Concrete and Stone and Harrod Transport Company, he leads the family businesses founded by his father in the mid-1950s. Today, his daughter also works alongside him, and hopefully, her children will continue this entrepreneurial legacy. But David’s story extends beyond his professional achievements. A Personal Connection to the Beacon House David's introduction to Beacon House was serendipitous yet transformative. Several of his friends, already involved with Beacon House, were on their own alcohol recovery journeys along with David. Intrigued by their experiences, David found himself drawn to the mission of Beacon House during its earlier years when the organization was struggling to stay afloat. “At that time, the operations and funding were so small that we’d sometimes pass a hat around to make sure the next month’s expenses were covered,” he recalls. Inspired by the dedication and impact of the Beacon House, [...]