The Kentucky Executive Mansion Foundation Inc. today announced that its endowment has reached $1.1 million, thanks to events and sponsorships that resulted from the Governor’s Mansion Centennial Celebration.
“Governors’ mansions across the country are becoming increasingly rare, as many have gone by the wayside due to lack of interest in preservation or depleted funding,” said KEMFI Board Member and Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear. “In Kentucky, we are fortunate to have a fully functional and restored executive residence because of the support of our leaders and people who value history, art and tradition.”
In 2014, the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion reached an historic milestone turning 100 years old on Jan. 20. The anniversary was marked with a yearlong celebration of events and exhibits honoring the building’s architectural, social and political history.
Some of the many highlights throughout the year included a centennial gala, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march and reception, a “Summer Solstice Garden Celebration” with award-winning garden designer Jon Carloftis and the premier of a new documentary narrated by Diane Sawyer about the mansion called “Kentucky Governor’s Mansion: A Century of Reflection.”
To date, $1.1 million in cash and pledges has been raised through Centennial Celebration events, principal sponsorships and private donations for the Governor’s Mansion endowment.
Centennial Legacy Garden
To recognize principal sponsors of the Governor’s Mansion preservation, KEMFI created a circular garden with granite stones and native plantings on the mansion’s south lawn. Names of the 45 principal sponsors are engraved on the stones. A list of principal sponsors is available here.
For more information on KEMFI visit www.kemfi.org/.
You might be interested in reading Kentucky Governor’s Mansion Centennial Celebration includes documentary for kids on the NKyTribune’s sister publication, KyForward.com.
From Office of the Governor