FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2023
Kentucky Sports Radio, Kentucky Chamber Foundation Present Donations to Help Rebuild Communities Impacted by Flooding
HAZARD, Ky.—In an effort to help communities rebuild from the July 2022 flooding, Kentucky Sports Radio (KSR) and the Kentucky Chamber Foundation presented donations of $215,000 to the Housing Development Alliance, $70,000 to HOMES, Inc., and $50,000 to the ARH Foundation on October 30.
The event took place at the ARH Foundation Flood Distribution Center in Hazard, which has provided essential items for Kentuckians following the flooding.
Kentucky Sports Radio Host Matt Jones and Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ashli Watts spoke on the partnership to create the KSR Flood Relief Fund and the incredible generosity of individuals, businesses, and groups across the Commonwealth and nation to help the communities as they recover. They also thanked the organizations for their tireless work to help their fellow Kentuckians.
Housing Development Alliance Executive Director Scott McReynolds, HOMES Inc. Board Chair James Caudill, and ARH President and CEO Hollie Harris each spoke on the impact that the flooding has had on communities, the efforts of those across the Commonwealth and nation to help recover, and how the donations will be used to help eastern Kentucky.
“The Housing Development Alliance is so grateful to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Sports Radio for this much-needed funding! With the flood disaster in 2022, we’ve seen the housing need in our community reach staggering levels. This funding will go a long way to helping us meet those needs by building new affordable homes and repairing the homes of flood survivors. With the holidays approaching, folks just want to go home, and thanks to this funding, many more people in eastern Kentucky will get to do that this year,” said HDA Executive Director R. Scott McReynolds.
“When a major disaster happens there is a lot of immediate support for relief which is helpful. However, when the relief work turns to the long-term rebuilding effort and new disasters pull attention elsewhere support wanes,” said HOMES, Inc. Executive Director Seth Long. “The support from the Kentucky Chamber Foundation and Kentucky Sports Radio comes at a crucial time and is being well used to help families afford new energy-efficient homes built on higher ground never to flood again.”
“ARH appreciates this generous donation from the Kentucky Chamber Foundation and Kentucky Sports Radio, their support of our flood relief efforts and investment in the future of healthcare in some of the flood’s hardest hit areas in eastern Kentucky,” said ARH President and CEO Hollie Harris Phillips. “Allied health professionals play a vital role every day in healthcare, and there is an increasingly growing need for these positions. This donation will help ARH provide scholarships to students enrolled in Allied Health-related programs and offer them employment opportunities where they can stay here in the region and have a great career.”
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