LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Heaven Hill Brands is investing $800,000 to West End nonprofits.

What You Need To Know

  • Heaven Hill Brands announced a five-year investment in West End nonprofits 

  • Five nonprofit organizations will receive $800,000 

  • Partnering agencies include: Change Today Change Tomorrow, AMPED, West End School, Neighborhood House, Louisville Central Community Center 

  • Heaven Hill also dedicates $50,000 to planting trees and shrubs to beautify the area near Perry Elementary School 

On Friday Heaven Hill Brands announced a major, long-term investment in Louisville’s California neighborhood. The partnership is called, “Spirited Neighbor Initiative,” and will invest $800,000 over five years to five area nonprofits. 

“We identified three pillars of need around the community: education, mental health and economic development,” Alan Latts, co-president of Heaven Hill Brands said Friday.

Rolanda London, of Change Today, Change Tomorrow, works to address the challenge of food inequity on the city’s West End. Change Today saves and diverts surplus food from grocery stores and the food service industry.

“It’s a full-circle moment, not just saying I’m giving to somebody but we’re all giving to each other,” said Rolanda London.

London said Change Today will use the money to expand their reach and help even more people struggling to find healthy grocery options in their neighborhood.

“We do stuff on a daily basis, Monday through Thursday. We have pop-ups so where people can come and get food and in some cases we have food that’s delivered to others as well,” London explained.

Much of Louisville’s West End is considered a food desert. To make matters more, changing many of its residents, namely older residents, rely on public transportation, making grocery shopping even more difficult.

“We will be able to use this, some of this money to help develop out app that helps do that, rescue food... and divert it into people in need,” London said.

The other nonprofits named Friday include Neighborhood House, AMPED, Louisville Central Community Center and West End School.

Besides the investment from Heaven Hill, Mayor Craig Greenberg says Louisville’s budget dedicates millions to West End parks.

“Including $3 million dollars for new pools at Algonquin Park and Camp Taylor Park. Additionally, just a few blocks away is going to be our newest city park the Alberta Jones Park,” Mayor Greenberg said.

Heaven Hill also dedicating $50,000 to plant new trees and shrubs at Perry Elementary.

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