9th Annual Community Foundation Fred Paxton Fund Run

Whether you walk, wheel, run or go piggyback, you’ll be a winner in the 9th Annual Community Foundation Fred Paxton Fund Run for Charities! The big 5K event is set for Saturday, July 17, in Noble Park. Register at Shelter 10 starting at 6:30 a.m.; the race begins at 8 a.m.

The best thing about the whole thing — besides getting a little exercise with all the other super-cute participants — is that the event raises some nice money for 19 local organizations. Plus, enjoy free ice cream from the Paducah Bank WOW! wagon afterward, as well as free swimming passes to the Noble Park pool, 10 a.m.-noon! (Bring your race bib — that serves as your pass.)

Here’s how it works. Download the registration form. On the donor page, write in every organization that you’d like to raise money for, and decide how much you’d like to give to each. Here’s a hint: the more, the better.

Then write a check to the Community Foundation and send it in. Include your race entry fee, as $5 of that will go to the organizations, as well.

The Community Foundation will match all the donations up to $10,000 per organization, up to $100,000 overall.

So, for example, let’s say you and four friends each give $1,000 apiece to, say, Easter Seals of West Kentucky. That’s $5,000. The Foundation will match that and, voilá, a $10,000 check finds its merry way into the Easter Seals of West Kentucky’s own endowment fund account, creating extra interest for the organization to use to change the lives of children and adults with disabilities or other special needs.

You can give as much as you like to as many organizations as you’d like — and extra karma points if you encourage others to do the same.

So there you go. Couldn’t be easier.

Here’s a list of the organizations:

1. American Red Cross - Paducah Chapter
   232 North 8th St.
   442.3575
   The American Red Cross provides a variety of programs and services to keep people safe every day and in emergency situations.
   
   
   
   
2. Bellewood Presbyterian Homes for Children 
   618 Monroe St.
   443.8181
   Bellewood is a 158-year-old non-profit agency that serves abused, at-risk and homeless youth in Kentucky. The Paducah office helps young adults transition from foster care to independent living.
   
   
3. Child Watch Children’s Advocacy Center
   1118 Jefferson St.
   443.1440
   Established in 1984, Child Watch works to prevent child abuse, as well as to evaluate and treat child abuse victims. The organization offers kid-friendly exam and treatment rooms, play therapy, educational outreach and a number of other services to take care of our area’s most vulnerable.
   
   
4. Community Foundation of West Kentucky
   333 Broadway, Suite 615
   442.8622
   By donating to The Community Foundation, we’re adding to a permanent charitable endowment that earns a significant amount of interest income each year. The interest is distributed to local organizations in the form of grants. The more we give, the more interest the endowment earns and the more grant money is available to support local groups.
   
   
5. Easter Seals of West Kentucky
   801 North 29th St.
   444.9687
   Easter Seals creates solutions that change the lives of children and adults with disabilities or other special needs. Teams of therapists, teachers and health professionals help each person overcome obstacles to independence and reach his or her personal goals. Easter Seals also includes families as active members of any therapy program, and offers the support families need.
   
   
6. Family Service Society
   827 Joe Clifton Dr.
   443.4838
   The Family Service Society provides emergency relief for low-income people and families, including help with utilities, medication, dental, transportation, rent, glasses, clothing, food, personal hygiene items and household goods.
   
   
7. Market House Museum
   121 South 2nd St.
   443.7759
   Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, The William Clark Market House Museum has been a vital part of Downtown Paducah since it was founded in 1968 for the dual purpose of education and preservation.
   
   
8. Market House Theatre
   132 Market House Square
   444.6828
   The Market House Theatre enhances the quality of life in our community by providing a “hands on” artistic experience for people of all ages. The theatre offers a regular schedule of artistic opportunities, as well as education and training, for people of all ages. And it encourages participation in the arts as a way to enrich our community and teach valuable life lessons.
   
   
9. Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center
   PO Box 98
   443.6001
   The Merryman House provides a safe haven for battered spouses and their children. The staff provides food, shelter, counseling and classes to instill a sense of worth, pride, hope and confidence so that survivors can learn to create independent and happy lives.
   
   
   
10. Paducah Cooperative Ministry
    402 Legion Dr.
    442.6795
    Paducah Cooperative Ministry is an inter-faith ministry founded in 1973 by and for local congregations. The organization seeks to do God’s work with human hands by drawing together individuals and congregations to respond to basic human needs and conditions, including food, shelter and emergency assistance services.
    
    
11. Rehab Associates Foundation
    220 Berger Rd.
    442.4396
    For more than 20 years, Rehab Associates has provided quality therapy services to our community. The team meets our rehabilitation and fitness needs with specially trained staff, state of the art facilities and the most up-to-date treatments available. The Foundation is designed to give back to the community.
    
    
12. River City Mission
    1466 Bechtold Rd.
    442.7921
    River City Mission offers emergency and transitional shelter to men and their families. The organization provides food, clothing and household items as well as job referrals.
    
    
13. River Discovery Center
    117 South Water St.
    575.9958
    The River Discovery Center is located within the oldest surviving antebellum building in Paducah’s historic Downtown. The museum is dedicated to preserving the heritage of our rivers, with all sorts of great exhibits and educational programs.
    
    
14. St. Nicholas Family Clinic
    1901 Kentucky Ave.
    575.3247
    St. Nicholas Family Clinic provides quality health care to working individuals and families who do not have medical insurance or financial resources necessary to pay for private insurance and/or medical care. All services are free whenever possible.
    
    
    
15. The National Quilt Museum
    2501 Kentucky Ave.
    442.8856
    The National Quilt Museum is the portal to the contemporary quilt experience through traditional and non-traditional quilt exhibits and quilt workshops. The museum is committed to be the best in quilt exhibitions, quilt education and quilt experience. The museum is clearly Expanding the Vision, Advancing the Art!
    
    
16. Western Baptist Hospital Foundation
    2501 Kentucky Ave.
    575.2100
    Western Baptist continues its Christian heritage of service to enhance our health and strives to be the healthcare leader in Western Kentucky. The hospital’s vision is guided by integrity, respect, stewardship, excellence and collaboration.