In September, KVC Kentucky celebrated 25 wonderful years of serving children, families and individuals in our communities! To celebrate 25 years, we gathered donors, partners, volunteers and employees for a special celebration of our successes. The event raised awareness of our mission, generated resources and helped expand our programming to continue making an impact.

Here’s a recap of our anniversary celebration, reflecting on our history and looking ahead to a brighter future for KVC Kentucky. To see all the event photos from this wonderful evening, visit our Facebook page.

Looking Back: 25 Years of Service in Kentucky

Liz Croney and KVC Kentucky President Gina Klyachkin

2024 has been a year of celebration for KVC Kentucky, and this event was just the cherry on top of an exciting 25 years of compassion in action! KVC Kentucky began as a private practice founded by Liz Croney and Jim Clark. Since then, we’ve expanded to 81+ counties, driven by our passion for serving Kentucky’s children and families.

KVC credits our dedicated team, volunteers and donors for helping serve over 100,000 individuals and improve outcomes in 25 years.

We also attribute our success to the emphasis we place on KVC’s Six Core Values:

1. The Heart of Our Work is Helping People
2. Our Character is Built on Authenticity and Compassion
3. Family Connection Drives Our Culture
4. Collaboration Fuels Our Improvement
5. Urgency and Innovation Mark our Approach
6. Diverse Perspectives are Key to our Progress

Megan Moore, DSW, CSW Senior Director of Innovation and Impact

Megan Moore, KVC Kentucky’s Senior Director of Innovation and Impact, emphasized how our dedication to providing the highest quality services and collaborating with key stakeholders to develop innovative solutions has helped us to tackle a challenging child welfare landscape. “The behavioral health and child welfare landscape has faced numerous challenges, both nationally and in Kentucky, over the past 25 years,” said Moore. “Our work is critical to improving the health, well-being and safety of children across the state, and we are continually expanding our efforts to support those who need us most, ensuring a brighter future for all.”

Our Hopes for the Event and KVC’s Future

The theme for this anniversary event was “The Future is Bright.” KVC Kentucky was founded on the core values of quality services, evidence-based practice, collaboration, partnership and recognizing that every child deserves to be safe and connected to a loving family. 

Courtney Rader, Marketing Outreach Coordinator, and Taylor Breeding, LCSW, MSW Senior Director of Clinical Practice and Advancement

“The key message of the KVC Kentucky 25th anniversary event was centered around resilience and community impact,” said KVC Kentucky’s Marketing Outreach Coordinator Courtney Rader. “Celebrating 25 years of service underscores the organization’s commitment to improving the lives of children and families in Kentucky.”

Rader emphasized the event’s goal to strengthen community ties and raise awareness about our services. We want our community to share our excitement, encouraging ongoing involvement and investment in Kentucky’s children and families’ well-being.

Event Highlights: The Brightest Moments

The 25th anniversary event was hosted at the tropical-themed Lost Palm on the rooftop of the Manchester Hotel in Lexington, KY. As guests arrived, they were greeted with a signature cocktail or mocktail courtesy of Trek Advancement and delicious hors d’oeuvres including fried chicken sliders, shrimp fritters, mushroom tartlets, yucca fries and more!

Guests had the opportunity to mingle with the KVC executive leadership team and board members, key members of state leadership and several stakeholders, donors and supporters as they explored visual storyboards (sponsored by Babbage Cofounder) detailing real stories of success and resilience from the children and families we have served in the last two and a half decades.

As one of the goals for this event was to fundraise for future KVC Kentucky programming and success, Kendra Scott donated 25 jewelry “mystery boxes” available to purchase, with all proceeds going toward KVC Kentucky and those we serve!

Jason Hooper, KVC Health Systems CEO

Event Speakers

KVC Kentucky President Gina Klyachkin welcomed guests and thanked sponsors. Jason Hooper, KVC Health Systems CEO, toasted our achievements and future.

Next up was Vice President of Operations Jarrod Dungan, who provided insights into our rich history and powerful impact. “His remarks emphasized the importance of partnerships in creating innovative programs to address the complex needs of Kentucky’s children and families,” said Rader.

KVC Kentucky was honored with a proclamation from Sheila Horton-Holt, Director of Family Services, alongside presentations by KVC leadership. To underscore our organization’s vital role in the community, Horton-Holt formally declared September 26th as KVC Kentucky Day!

A Thank You to Our Sponsors

None of this is possible without the unwavering support of our stakeholders, donors, volunteers and team members serving Kentucky families. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our sponsors, who made this 25th anniversary celebration possible:

• Presenting Sponsor: Tempur Sealy

• Reception Sponsors: Wellcare and the Croney Clark Family Foundation

• Storyboards Sponsor: Babbage Cofounder

• Signature Cocktail Sponsor: Trek Advancement
• Supporting Sponsors: Kendra Scott and The Summit at Fritz Farm

We would also like to thank our many Brighten the Future sponsors:

• Renny Arensberg
• Jason and Michelle Hooper
• Lonnie Johnson
• Sherri Lohe
• Chris and Erin Stucky
• The Klyachkin Family
• Megan Moore

Join KVC Kentucky’s Mission!

There are many opportunities to support KVC Kentucky, from making a donation to volunteering your time or resources to our cause. Our donors humbly inspire us with their generosity, and we’re grateful for their passion in supporting Kentucky children and families!

We’re proud of our dedicated team—case managers, therapists, and specialists—serving Kentucky families for over a decade! As we continue to grow and reach even more Kentuckians, we invite you to consider joining our team and becoming part of the KVC mission. Together, we are transforming lives!