St. George's Community Center will celebrate its 43rd anniversary on Oct. 16 with its major fund-raising event once again at 21C, one of downtown Louisville's most distinctive hotels. For the first time, however, the annual event will spotlight the Lillian Yeager Community Service awards.

The community center, which adjoins St. George’s Episcopal Church, has long been supported by the Diocese of Kentucky and is a Jubilee Center of The Episcopal Church, a national designation that is awarded after an extensive vetting process to outstanding community service programs. St. George’s offers innovative, educational programs year-round for youth from the Parkland-Duvall neighborhood in western Louisville. It also earned national recognition as a Freedom School site last year, the first year it offered the summer program for African American children.

Like many nonprofit organizations in the Louisville area this year, St. George’s has been facing some difficult financial challenges since learning this spring that it would be receiving at least $64,000 fewer grant dollars than anticipated, according to Arthur Cox, the center’s executive director. Fortunately, this summer the center learned that it will be receiving a $27,000 grant to fund truancy diversion and conflict resolution programs for 6- to 15-year old youth.

As a result of the reductions in grant monies available to nonprofits, the community center’s directors are currently developing strategies and events in order “to increase our donor base” and depend less on foundations and grants. "What we’re experiencing isn’t unique, but what we’ve learned and what we understand now is that this is typical of organizations that are heavily funded by grant dollars from foundations,” said Cox. “What we want to do is insure that we create a more viable funding base. Our research is telling us that nonprofits that thrive usually have a larger, private donor base -- 60 to 75 percent of their giving comes from small contributions from private donors.”

The fund-raising challenges and new direction, however, will not impact this year’s anniversary celebration, which will be held from to 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. As last year, it will be a festive place (21C, known for its displays of contemporary, innovative art collection on display, is one of Louisville's hottest destinations) to meet St. George's supporters and learn about the community center's program as well as spend some money at the annual silent auction.

This year’s event will feature a major change: guests not only will be celebrating the community center’s 43 years but they also will pay homage to the service of community leaders receiving this year’s Lillian Yeager Community Service awards. First given to four community leaders in June 2007, the awards were established in honor of the late Lillian Yeager, whose name in the metropolitan Louisville area and The Episcopal Church could be considered synonymous with service and commitment. She died in May 2006 after a long struggle against cancer.

Tickets for the St. George’s gathering are $40 per person, and as last year, guests will be treated to hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, the music of Jane Halliday and Swing 39, the silent auction and other fundraising opportunities. To purchase tickets or to find out more about how to support the community center, call (502) 775-6232.

Download a flyer with details about the event and post it at your church or workplace.