For the second time in less than a year, residents of northeast Kentucky have proven that they will take the time to go online to vote for a worthy cause.
For Jamie’s Sake — an Ashland-based non-profit agency that supports foster children and foster families and promotes adoption — has learned it will receive a $10,000 grant plus a feature story in People magazine for finishing second in the “Power a Bright Future” promotion sponsored by Clorox.
For Jamie’s Sake learned late last year that it had been chosen one of the 50 finalists for the five $10,000 grants, but it required the votes of area residents for the agency to win to one of the grants. Voting began on Dec. 7 and continued through Jan. 17. Individuals could cast one vote per day.
After a rather slow start in the voting, support for For Jamie’s Sake picked up steam and the agency received 14,375 votes. Another Kentucky agency — the Center for Courageous Kids in Scottsville, a town near Bowling Green that is much smaller than Ashland — received the most votes.
“I think that says good things about Kentucky,” said Lea Ann Gollihue, the founder and driving force behind For Jamie’s Sake. “People in Kentucky support their agencies.”
Indeed, they do. Last summer, Brownie Troop 915 at McKell Elementary School in South Shore won $2,500 for finishing second in Big Lots’ Lots2Give Internet promotion. The girls in the troop created their own video about the need to improve McKell’s playground, and the money was used for that purpose. Despite being one of the smallest schools among the finalists, many area residents who have little direct involvement with McKell took the time to support the Brownie troop by going online to vote for its video.
Area residents did that same thing for For Jamie’s Sake and Gollihue said the grant would help the agency continue to support foster children and foster families and o grant wishes of children in foster care. The agency also strives to make people more aware of foster care and adoption.
“Whatever we’re doing, we feel we have to create awareness,” she said. “I’m so excited about People magazine, too. You can’t buy that kind of awareness. I’m hoping it will generate awareness of the children that are waiting to be adopted.”
Gollihue called For Jamie’s Sake’s second place finish in the voting “a little miracle.” That it is — a little miracle aided by the support of a lot of area residents.
