HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — This year several community organizations will improve their outreach. Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky opened its grant applications this week. They will award $100,000 dollars to nonprofits across the region. 

Kate Kassis, the youth service director of Brighton Center, said the best part of her job is connecting with so many people.

She said, “My favorite part of my day, I think just being able to have positive interactions with our customers and staff. Sometimes we’re able to let loose.”

Kassis has a degree in counseling and says she’s always been passionate about creating positive opportunities for people in her community.

Kassis said, “Our Opportunity House program is a new program within our youth services department and it provides stable, affordable housing for young adults ages 18 to 24 that really have a goal of pursuing post-secondary education.”

Opportunity House has over a dozen, one-bedroom apartments on Northern Kentucky University’s campus with individual bathrooms and kitchenettes. In addition, there is a full kitchen and large group spaces to promote community, but this wouldn’t be possible without the Horizon grant they received last year. Horizon was founded in 2017, helping nonprofit organizations aid people in need.

“Our Horizon funding supported our case management and technology support needed for our young adults here,” remarked Kassis.

Horizon prioritizes funding aimed at responding to the long-term struggles experienced by marginalized communities living Northern Kentucky.

Kassis said, “It’s a great opportunity to provide support for those programs that are really trying something new and thinking about how they can collaborate with the community and thinking about solutions that are going to be really successful.”

The horizon community fund will be accepting letters of intent and applications until Wednesday, Jan. 31. You can find more information on their website.