Kentucky Colonels award $10K grant to Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA) to purchase COVID-19 testing and vaccination supplies

Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA) is proud to announce it received a grant from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) in the amount of $10,000 to purchase PPE (personal protective equipment) for use at COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics.  These essential supplies -- including N95 masks, latex gloves, wipes and hand sanitizer -- will support KNA’s efforts to continue offering free COVID testing and vaccination clinics in Louisville as well as expanding across Kentucky.

Since the onset of the COVID pandemic and the introduction of the COVID vaccine, KNA has been a leader in Louisville’s COVID response, organizing hundreds of volunteers and partnering to offer hundreds of mobile missions. The KNA team was also instrumental in the operation of the LouVax drive-through vaccination site at Louisville’s Broadbent Arena where over 110,000 vaccines were provided by its completion in March 2021.

Going forward, the KNA is committed to address ongoing COVID vaccination needs by sharing the testing and vaccination clinic successes with community organizations across Kentucky. 

While May 11, 2023 marked the end of the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration for COVID-19, the CDC recommends that individuals ages 6 years and older receive an updated (bivalent) mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they previously completed their (monovalent) primary series.  To date, only 17% of Kentuckians have received this bivalent dose.

Read detailed guidelines about COVID vaccines at https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s0419-covid-vaccines.html.

“COVID-19 is here to stay, and it’s essential to keep up with the recommended vaccines,” said Delanor Manson, CEO of the KNA. “This generous funding from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels will greatly assist the KNA in continuing and expanding our COVID response model, offering more vaccines to underserved and underrepresented areas.”

HOKC awarded $3.1 million in grants supporting 343 non-profits, impacting more than 3.8 million Kentuckians.  Grants are made possible through donations from Kentucky Colonels from throughout the Commonwealth and around the world who chose to exercise the honor of being named a Kentucky Colonel in a meaningful way.

According to Commanding General Gary Boschert: “2022/2023 was another generous year for Colonels. We were able to award another $3.1 million dollars to 343 non-profits this year that helps them support over 3.8 million Kentuckians. Kentucky Colonels generosity is heartfelt and well spent on worthy agencies across the Commonwealth.   Our long-term efforts in both western and eastern Kentucky are ongoing with funds remaining for each effort. We work with other agencies to ensure Kentucky Colonels money is spent wisely and deliver goods and products needed for the rebuild.”

About the Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA)
Established in 1906, the Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA) is the only full-service professional organization representing the needs of 90,000 nurses in the Commonwealth. In addition to promoting the essential role of nurses in the healthcare delivery system, the KNA advocates for quality patient care in all settings. From the halls of Frankfort and state agencies to boardrooms, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, the KNA is the voice for the nursing profession throughout the Commonwealth. Visit https://kentucky-nurses.nursingnetwork.com/ to learn more.

About the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels is a 501(c) (3) entity dedicated to supporting charitable activities throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The organization is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees. The “Kentucky Colonel” commission is an honorary title granted by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Since 1951, the organization has pursued its mission through annual grants totaling $63 million to more than 1,700 nonprofits. Of those Colonels’ contributions, Each grant is thoroughly vetted by the trustees and staff. Though the corporate name is The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, most know it by its long-term trademark, KENTUCKY COLONELS. Visit kycolonels.org to learn more.

 

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