The Spirit of Louisville Foundation is set to celebrate its 49th anniversary by honoring the 2026 WLKY Bell Awards on Oct. 8 at the historic Churchill Downs Millionaires Row. The ceremony will spotlight twelve adult volunteers who have embodied the “Spirit of Louisville” through years of self‑less service, as well as youth honorees who have shown extraordinary dedication to their peers and neighborhoods.
Adult award recipients
Theresa “Dolly” Adams (Georgetown, IN) – At nearly 90, Dolly spends half her life serving veterans, the homeless, and the homebound. She volunteers with Good Shepherd Catholic Church, St. Mary’s of Navilleton, Franciscan Kitchen, the Harrison County Public Library, and the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, and sings with the “Merry Melodies” group in nursing homes.
George “Dutch” Boehnlein (Louisville) – Dutch devoted more than 2,000 hours over six years to transform a former brothel into a safe house for survivors of human trafficking. He raised over $300,000, secured new windows and HVAC, and served on the boards of Louisville Catholic Charities, Little Sisters of the Poor, and St. Xavier High School.
Alex Campbell (Louisville) – As a senior vice president at Republic Bank, Alex has led Pillar, a nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, for nearly a decade. He has held multiple board roles and champions dignity, independence, and community inclusion for people with disabilities.
Kimberly Ann Clark‑Endicott (Louisville) – Since 2020, Kim has volunteered 10‑20 hours weekly to feed unsheltered neighbors, organize quarterly hot‑meal events with St. John’s United Church of Christ, and serve on the advisory council of Highlands Community Ministries.
Carolyn Dean (Louisville) – During the pandemic, Carolyn stepped in as Food Pantry & Volunteer Coordinator for St. Matthews Area Ministries, rebuilding a volunteer base that had fallen from 120 to 20. She also serves with Harvey Browne Presbyterian Church, Kentucky Center for the Arts, and numerous civic groups.
Jim Garvey (Louisville) – Jim has been a steady presence at Dare to Care and Lutheran Redeemer Church since 2020, delivering Meals on Wheels and supporting the Twice Blessed Thrift Store for five years, along with many other charitable ministries.
Allison Gousha (Louisville) – Allison contributes over 500 hours annually to the Kentucky Derby Festival, serves on the boards of United Crescent Hill Ministries, YMCA Northeast, and St. Joe’s, and volunteers weekly at St. John’s Center.
Nate Jarboe (Shepherdsville) – Nate founded Give A Day for Hunger at age nine, later raising more than $8,000 for pediatric cancer through the University of Louisville’s raiseRED Dance Marathon and leading Sigma Chi to a $95,000 campaign. He now volunteers with Active Heroes and Ronald McDonald House.
Olivia Raley (Louisville) – A full‑time social worker, Olivia also serves as Vice Chair of CASA Lincoln Trail and participates in multiple nonprofit boards, dedicating countless hours to advocacy and community impact.
Youth honors and special awards
The Youth Service Honor Recipients will each receive a $2,500 scholarship funded by Brown‑Forman Corporation, the Lorch Family Foundation, and William W. Campbell. In addition, Mayor Craig Greenberg and the foundation will present the “Mayor’s Spirit of Louisville Award” to Steve and Amy Trager for their longstanding community leadership. The “John Asher Spirit Award” will be presented to John Ramsey by the foundation and Churchill Downs.
Support and sponsorship
Each adult Bell Award winner will receive a $500 charity grant from presenting sponsor Republic Bank, reinforcing the partnership between local business and community service. The awards ceremony underscores Louisville’s commitment to encouraging volunteerism across generations, reinforcing the values of faith, family, and liberty that strengthen our neighborhoods.
The event promises to be a celebration of dedication, compassion, and the enduring spirit that makes Louisville a place where neighbors look out for one another.
Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.
