A TRIBUTE TO OTHERS

Kenny Hunt sees his name on the new men’s dormitory at Lifeline as a tribute more to others than to himself.

“It has been so heartening to see so many individuals dedicated to Lifeline through the years,” Kenny said. “They have given far more to me than I have to them.”

Kenny became a Lifeline board member in 2020, when his company, A&K Construction, helped build a men’s dorm, now known as Peeler Hall for one of Lifeline’s founders and former executive director Terrye Peeler. A&K has since completed a second dorm, Hunt Hall, bearing its retired president’s name.

Kenny, a long-time member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church and sponsor of Sunrise Children’s Services, and wife Beth have supported many local charities, but the connection with Lifeline grew gradually into a special relationship.

“There wasn’t an ‘aha’ moment,” he said.

Instead, Kenny’s Lifeline support began several years ago when board member Bob Hill invited his Bible study group, including Kenny, out to have breakfast with some of the Lifeline clients.

“After that, I began helping when I could from the edges,” he said. “My interest just grew over time, especially when we would attend the banquets and hear the stories from clients about how Lifeline had changed their lives.”

Kenny then took his friend, Steve Powless, to one of those banquets, and Steve was so impressed that he, too, wanted to help Lifeline. Steve joined the board and soon became chair; then Kenny joined the board. “I recruited him,” Kenny said, “and he recruited me.”

Kenny said he’d always known addiction was a national problem, but he had not personally seen its effects. “As an employer, we had a ‘no-tolerance’ policy in construction. We did a lot of drug testing, and we had to let plenty of people go; but my real indoctrination into knowing the real effects of addiction came through a friend’s son. He talked a lot about his son’s struggle, and that’s as close as I came to experiencing it.”

Walking that journey with his friend and seeing the successes of Lifeline graduates inspired Kenny’s dedication to help Lifeline grow and succeed. Still, he is humbled by the honor of Hunt Hall.

“There are a lot of people more deserving than I am to have their name on that building,” he said. “It’s one thing to put your money toward a cause, but the time and effort many of them have put into Lifeline are just amazing. They are the ones who inspire me.”

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Executive director Ashley Miller recognized donors, including Leadership Paducah Class #34, which raised $111,200 after choosing Lifeline as its class project to support a local nonprofit organization.

Board chair Steve Powless commended the class, which raised more than any previous class and did it during a pandemic. “It’s just beyond incredible,” he said, noting the gift not only helps current clients, but added it potentially will have a “generational effect because if you can stop addiction at some level, then you stop it from going forward.”

More than 126 individuals, businesses and churches donated to the two projects, as Lifeline celebrated its best fundraising year in its history. Ashley said she thinks of everyone who contributed, as well as those who benefit, every time she looks up the hill at the two new dorms.

“Resilience. When I look at those buildings, that’s what I think of,” Ashley said. “They are a testament of what hard work and dedication can do. We prayed and spent hours trying to strategize and develop a plan for these guys to have better housing. God heard us, and what we see here is His answer to our prayers.”