Ways to Help Those Impacted by the Western Kentucky Tornadoes
Donation links and supply drive information for the December 2021 tornadoes in Western Kentucky.
Hey y’all.
By now, we’ve all seen the horrible footage of the tornado damage in Western Kentucky. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and most Kentuckians have friends, relatives, or coworkers who have been impacted in some way. We’re all looking for ways to help our Commonwealth.
FEMA’s guidelines for helping in disaster situations remind us that:
Cash is always the best donation because organizations on the ground can best assess need;
Confirm the need for in-kind donations. Used clothing is never a good donation, FEMA reminds us;
Connect to volunteer. Self-deployment is not a helpful use of resources.
I know that many people are budgeted out for the holidays and aren’t quite able to donate to disaster relief as freely as they’d like right now. Remember: the damage to these Western Kentucky communities will last far beyond a news cycle. Of course, immediate donations of money, supplies, and blood are always needed when a disaster hits, but these Kentuckians will also need help in the months to come. This post will serve as an ongoing list of resources and ways that you can help. Please let me know either in the comments of this post or via email if you know of additional ways to help.
Monetary Donations:
The most crucial need for disaster relief is money. Organizations like the Red Cross, the United Way, and local charities can do the most good with your tax-deductible monetary donations. I’ve listed a few reputable sources below and will update as I hear of more.
Community Foundation of Western Kentucky’s Disaster Relief Fund
Trace Creek Baptist Church (Mayfield, KY — one of the hardest hit communities) Tornado Relief Fund
Supply Drives:
In times of emergency, donated supplies are needed. Water, nonperishable food, feminine hygiene products, baby bottles and formula, diapers, and blankets are always immediate needs. Warm coats, hats, and gloves are needed, as are new underwear and socks. Toys provide comfort to displaced children. (And, please remember that supply drives are not a convenient way to offload old items. Your used clothing and stuffed animals are actually a hinderance to relief efforts.)
Lexington:
A semi truck will be parked at Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary Church (601 Hill N Dale Rd, Lexington, KY 40503) from Monday afternoon through early Wednesday morning 10/13-15th. Supplies may also be dropped off at Christ the King Church (299 Colony Blvd, Lexington, KY 40502). Needs include: toiletries, adult/children/infant clothing, diapers/formula, blankets, non perishable food, children's books, toys, coats and hats. Items can go directly in the back of the truck.
2 Dudes Moving will be accepting bottled water, pop-top canned food, and other items in their semi truck at The Urban Squirrel (The Urban Squirrel, 203 Lisle Industrial Ave, Lexington, KY 40511) Monday-Wednesday 12/13-15th from 10-4.
Eastern Kentucky Schools:
Northeastern Kentucky Public School Districts have created a “Stuff the Bus” Drive for Schools will be stocking buses with supplies to send a support “caravan” across the state to those in need, according to the #TeamKentucky announcement. Each district is collecting specific items. Donated items should be sent to your child’s school or the district office by Wednesday, Dec. 15. Donation requests by school system are listed below.
Ashland: Personal hygiene items, socks
Boyd County: Water
Carter County: Coats, hats, gloves
Fairview: Shelf stable food, toiletries
Floyd County: Blankets
Greenup County: Toys
Johnson County: Water
Lawrence County: Cleaning supplies
Lewis County: Coats, hats, toys
Martin County: Stable food items, toiletries
Pike County: Toys
Paintsville: Blankets
Raceland: Water
Russell: Water
Louisville:
Bryce Applegate Motorsports and Fit4MomLouisville will be filling a trailer tomorrow, Monday the 13th, from 1-5 pm behind the Landis Lakes CVS (13900 Shelbyville Rd Louisville). Items requested include: diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, bottles, and feminine hygiene products. This trailer will be delivered to the Dawson Springs, KY area, a town highly impacted by the tornadoes.
Northeast Christian Church (9900 Brownsboro Road, Louisville 40241) is conducting a supply drive for Mayfield, KY. Supplies must be delivered by 6 PM Monday 12/13. Only new, unopened items will be accepted. Only bring the items requested by pastors in Mayfield: Non-perishable food, healthy snacks, pet food, food & gas gift cards (Kroger), paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, toiletries, baby wipes, new pillows, sleeping bags, blankets. Drop off items at ether Brownsboro Campus in the bins by the main entrance.
Donation-based Items for Purchase:
Shop Local Kentucky’s Kentucky Strong 270 Tee is available in three colors. 100% of net proceeds will be donated directly to the state’s tornado relief fund.
I’ll add to this post over the next few days as more donation opportunities arise. Please feel free to let me know of any donation drives or fundraising opportunities I may have missed.
Silks Bash 2021
A fun #partyinabubble supports children with incarcerated mothers.
Hey y’all. It’s hard to believe that Derby is almost here!
With Kentucky Derby tickets severely limited, most of us are sticking pretty close to home over the next week. Fortunately, there are still fun ways to observe some of Louisville’s best parties. This year’s Sliks Bash has transitioned to a #partyinabubble format — you can stream the festivities, enjoy delicious drinks and snacks, and, most importantly, support Operation Open Arms!
Operation Open Arms is an incredible local charity that provides clothing, housing, transportation, and food as well as a safe and loving environment to children whose mothers are incarcerated. Operation Open Arms serves as a state-licensed private child-placement agency and seeks to offset the difficulties that often arise from parental incarceration, including financial difficulties, instability in relationships, school behavior, performance difficulties, low self-esteem, and feelings of shame. The statistics are staggering, y’all. Seventy-five percent of incarcerated women are mothers. The average age of children with an incarcerated parent is 8 years old; 22% of the children are under the age of five. The likelihood of parental reunification for children of incarcerated mothers is 21%; the average for other children in foster care is 40%. This charity is doing amazing work to give children a stable and loving foundation, and some tickets to Silks Bash are as affordable as $50!
(My dogs have been fascinated by this horse balloon for days!)
The folks at Operation Open Arms were kind enough to share a Party in a Bubble kit with me, and it is so fun! There’s everything you need to throw your own little gala at home, from a 2021 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Commemorative bottle to snacks from Wiltshire Pantry to julep cups!
The virtual Silks Bash includes a cocktail lesson from Woodford Reserve Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall (one of my very favorite people in the bourbon industry) and music by celebrity DJ James Kennedy (I’m told by people who are less out-of-touch than me that he’s on a Bravo show…). The event will be held Oaks Night, Friday April 30, from 8 - 10:30 pm. Tickets are available here. Today, April 23rd, is the last day to order the party kit for shipping; you have until the 27th to order for local pickup!
Thanks so much to Operation Open Arms and Lemonade PR for the Silks Bash kit and for inviting me to spread the word about this amazing event!
Margie Samuels Commemorative Maker's Mark Bottle
A new bourbon bottle release celebrates the iconic co-founder of Maker’s Mark.
This weekend, Bob and I made a special trip to Loretto to visit the Maker’s Mark Distillery to pick up a collectible bottle. Now, y’all know that we love bourbon at HerKentucky HQ, but we aren’t big on collector’s bottles. Our attitude has always been that we don’t see the point of a bottle of bourbon that you can’t drink. This bottle, however, was so special that I had to have one to keep in my collection. This bottle commemorates Mrs. Margie Samuels.
Paintings commemorating Maker’s Mark Founders Bill Samuels, Sr., and Margie Samuels, Maker’s Mark Distillery
Mrs. Samuels was, of course, the wife of Maker’s Mark founder Bill Samuels, Sr. and the mother of Maker’s chairman emeritus Bill Samuels, Jr. While Mrs. Samuels never held an official title at the distillery, she came up with the iconic red wax seal, hand-lettered label, and bottle shape that sets Maker’s Mark apart. She also came up with the name “Maker’s Mark”, derived from the term for the markings that identified the creators on her collection of fine English pewter. In helping her husband create the brand for his new bourbon in the 1950s, Mrs. Samuels quietly revolutionized bourbon branding and marketing.
Mrs. Samuels’s ideas about historic preservation and distillery hospitality are the basis of the modern bourbon tourism industry. When Bill Sr. purchased an abandoned, pre-Prohibition distillery in Marion County, KY, Margie, by all accounts, “pestered him” about renovating the Victorian-style buildings on the site. Of course, she persevered. A few years later, we’re told, she decided that the distillery site shouldn’t just be a factory — it should be a welcoming spot where bourbon lovers could visit. With Kentucky’s bourbon distilleries receiving over a million visits in 2019 alone, it’s safe to say Margie was onto something with this idea.
I love that Mrs. Samuels’s legacy has been celebrated so much in recent years. She was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2014, one of the first women to attain that status. Her presence is felt in so many ways at the distillery — there are many photos of her around the Maker’s campus, and her beloved historic buildings still stand. You can even buy t-shirts with her imaged emblazoned on the front. (Of course, I had to have one of these.) Every year, Maker’s Mark celebrates International Women’s Day with tributes to Margie Samuels, recognizing her incredible contributions to the modern bourbon industry.
Mrs. Samuels has been a professional inspiration to me as well. Several years ago, Bob and I toured Maker’s Mark when I found myself particularly drawn to the display of Margie’s photo and notebook. I’d heard parts of her story before, but in that moment I was so taken aback by her impact on the Maker’s Mark brand. It was the first step of realizing that, as a writer, I wanted to help tell Kentucky women’s stories and that I wanted to write about bourbon. It’s one more reason that I’m celebrating Mrs. Margie Samuels today.
The Margie Samuels Founders’ Series Bottle is available only at the Maker’s Mark Distillery. $25 of the purchase price of every Margie Samuels Bottle will be donated to Bellarmine University’s Rubel School of Business to fund scholarships for entrepreneurs who are women of color.
Ensley's Make-a-Wish Story
Ensley Ogden on her Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii
Today’s post is so very special to me. I want to introduce y’all to my friend Ensley Ogden.
Ensley is a very special young lady. She’s a hard-working, smart, and compassionate high school student here in Louisville, and she was diagnosed at age 13 with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a rare type of cancer, in her brain. I’ve had the good fortune to know Ensley’s family for years and actually was sitting on a charity board with her mother, Lauren, when this diagnosis occurred. I watched the Ogdens fight this terrible diagnosis with a remarkable degree of grace. Ensley was awarded the Dick Vitale Award for Hope from the V Foundation, which carried a special message from Dickie V that even Cats fans (like me) and Cards fans (like Ensley and her parents) can agree upon: Miss Ensley is one tough lady!
I’ll be sharing updates from the Make-a-Wish Foundation gala tonight over on Instagram, and I wanted to share Ensley’s story of all the ways that Make-a-Wish can help an ailing family heal!
Ensley Ogden on her Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii
Ensley, do you mind telling me a little about your illness and your diagnosis? I know it had to be so scary.
I was diagnosed with LCH when I was 13 years old after having symptoms for about a year, such as uncontrollable thirst, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, low-grade fevers, headaches, delayed growth, and low thyroid. I had my craniotomy on March 3rd, 2016 and was diagnosed around that time. Luckily, I was able to keep hold of hope (for the most part) because of the overwhelming support I had from my family, friends, school, nurses, doctors, and even people that I had never met! I could not have done this alone.
Ensley Ogden and her family on their Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii
Your treatment took close to two years, if I remember correctly, and y’all were traveling a lot. I’m sure that made life so different. Can you tell me a little bit about how traveling for treatment affected school and life for you?
When I was first getting my surgery and being diagnosed, I was in Houston, Texas for a long time. It was really hard not being able to see my friends and family back home and not being able to participate in school. But, even though I didn't have everyone supporting me in person, I received so many messages, letters, and packages from friends back home and even teachers at my school! Each and every one that I received really brightened some of the hardest days. After I was diagnosed, I was able to do treatment in Louisville, which was so amazing because I had my support system right there with me along the way. Even though I had to go to Houston regularly, it was comforting to be able to treat at home.
Ensley Ogden on her Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii with her mother and aunt.
You are so blessed to have such an amazing support system. I remember talking to your mom several times during your illness and she always stressed the value of keeping your life (and hers) as normal and positive as possible. I know that having this kind of support had to make a scary situation a little better, right?
Yes! As I said previously, I couldn't have done it without my support system. Everyone from my friends and family to my school to my nurses and doctors to complete strangers served this role. I would always make sure to have plenty of visitors while I stayed in the hospital. It made me feel like everything was normal when I was around people.
Ensley Ogden and her parents on their Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii
Can you tell me about your experiences with Make-a-Wish and your Wish Trip? It had to be such a great way to change your outlook and celebrate your prognosis!
My experience with Make-A-Wish was absolutely incredible! My Wish Trip was a cruise throughout the Hawaiian Islands. I got to bring my mom and dad and because I don't have a sibling, I got to bring another person. I chose my Aunt Mary. I had the best trip I could have ever imagined. Since I had to wait until I was finished with treatment because I couldn't be that far away from a hospital and I couldn't swim in the ocean with my port, I had something to always look forward to. My mom even bought be a book about Hawaii to look through during my hospital stays. It felt like such a huge accomplishment when I finished treatment and this trip was my reward. Also, it was the first time I got to swim in the ocean since I received my port two years beforehand! I will always remember this trip and all that Make-A-Wish has done for me and my family.
Ensley Ogden on her Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii
Is there anything you’d want a kid facing a diagnosis like yours to know?
Just to stay strong and keep people around you. You are stronger than you know. (Click to tweet these remarkable words of wisdom!)
Ensley Ogden on her Make-a-Wish trip to Hawaii
Thanks so much to Ensley for sharing her story! Follow me on Instagram for more from tonight’s gala, and feel free to touch base with me if you’d like to learn more about how to get involved with Make-a-Wish in your area!!
How to Clean Your Closet Responsibly
Most of us spend a lot of time thinking about where we’ll buy our next favorite piece of clothing, but we don’t always task ourselves with finding the best home for those no-longer favorite pieces.
Most of us spend a lot of time thinking about where we’ll buy our next favorite piece of clothing, but we don’t always task ourselves with finding the best home for those no-longer favorite pieces.
Of course, earlier this year, Netflix dropped the “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” series; predictably, Goodwills around the country were inundated with stuff that no longer sparked joy. People donated their no-longer-loved items in record numbers. And, of course, we’re hitting the time of year when we’ll soon put away our sweaters and start to think about what to wear to Keeneland, Easter Sunday, and Derby. I have a few tips that will help y’all make those transitions with a vision toward utility.
Recently, I’ve started to think a lot more about the complete life cycle of a garment, and where things actually go when we’re finished with them. My eyes have been opened by a couple of badass Kentucky ladies whom I follow on social media. Gretchen Hunt, a Louisville-based attorney and advocate for domestic violence victims, runs an instagram account called ThriftingKY that details her adventures in shopping for a thrifted wardrobe. Samantha Moore, a Lexington designer and fellow Transylvania alumna, upcycles vintage garments into stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces for her brand Modern Country Couture. Both Gretchen and Samantha are committed to reducing the issue of textile waste. Both Samantha and Gretchen have made me think far more closely about whether I actually need the things I have or the things I want to buy.
My involvement with Dress for Success over the past few years has made me think far more deeply about the ways in which I discard or donate the items I no longer need or want. Y’all know that I’m committed to both volunteering and raising money for the Dress for Success affiliates in Lexington and Louisville; it is so incredible to see the profound effect that a newer work outfit can have on a woman’s future. Dress for Success has also had an important impact on my consumer habits. The other day, I was volunteering in the Dress for Success boutique when I saw a really pretty skirt. Upon closer inspection, I realized that I’d once owned a skirt — lilac and grey wool from Loft — just like it. It was 15 years old, but it was a timeless style and quite gorgeous. If it were still in my closet and still fit (few of us are the same size 15 years later…), I’d wear it today. Isn’t that what we should all be striving for a little more of? Timeless styles, reduced waste, and keeping ourselves a little healthier and trimmer? Of course, I certainly hope that skirt finds a great home, and I’m so glad that its previous owner was socially conscious enough to donate it to a place where it can be used. I’m embarrassed to say that I have no idea what happened to my own skirt in that style, which is an area where I need to do better.
Here are the rules I’ve come up with for cleaning my closet and responsibly resourcing my items; I hope that they can help you as well. I’m providing specific examples from my closet; I hope these help you with your own decision tree.
Rule 1: Only Keep Clothes that Fit
Last fall, I absolutely fell in love with this navy Draper James dress. It’s so flattering and can be styled for any occasion. It ran a little big to begin with, and then I lost some weight. So, this spring, it no longer fits! My number one rule for cleaning closets is that there is absolutely no reason to keep clothing that is ill-fitting. You just won’t wear it. Now, I seldom do a one-to-one replacement when cleaning out my closet. This was an exception because I know the dress is so flattering and functional, and I found the smaller size at a very reasonable price on eBay. I will consign or donate the larger size; hopefully it will find a home with someone who loves it as much as I do! In most cases, however, I stick to finding a similar, suitable replacement.
Rule 2: Only Keep Clothes that Flatter or Serve a Purpose
We all have things in our closet that we don’t quite know about. Maybe it’s an impulse buy. Maybe someone bought it for you. Maybe it’s from a weird phase when you were trying to make florals happen. And, it just sits there. For me, it was this French Connection wrap dress. It’s a stunning piece. It was perfect for a photo shoot I did last spring. And it’s never quite fit right. So, it needs a new home; it goes to the consign or donate pile.
Rule 3: See if it Could Serve Another Purpose
Honestly, I think this is an important one. There are other ways that our clothing can be used. I grew up with a grandmother who makes quilts, so my mind is never far from that use. Old t-shirts, for example, have a better use as a quilt than as drawer-fillers. (Bonus use: The excess t-shirt material makes THE BEST dusting cloths!!) I have several Derby-themed t-shirts that I plan to eventually turn into a quilt. You can read my t-shirt quilt tutorial here, or visit Louisville-based Campus Quilt to have a more professional-looking version made for you!) Similarly, a piece of clothing that you can’t bear to part with but that has a flaw that makes it unwearable makes a perfect quilt fabric. My granny made me this quilt using fabric from an old Lilly Pulitzer Kentucky Derby print. This would be a great way to repurpose a special dress or skirt into an heirloom!
Old party dresses in not-quite reparable conditions can become great dress-up materials for kids. The possibilities here are really only bounded by your time and imagination!
Step 4: Make a Responsible Plan for Your Discarded Items
If you only have one takeaway from this blog post, I sincerely hope this is it. Be responsible with the way you discard your item. It’s truly not enough to discard anything that sparks joy. The key here is to be realistic about your own situation. Consigning or selling your pieces can be a great way to earn a little bit of spare money, and, of course, donating your pieces to a charity or thrift store can help it find a deserving new home. But, responsible rehoming goes a little farther than just sorting into consignment and donation piles. You need to dig a little deeper to decide where an item goes. Here are my 3 basic rules of thumb:
(a) Assess the item’s value.
We all have some items in our closet that are nicer than others. Sometimes, these things have a higher resale value. Lilly Pulitzer, for example, is a brand for which well-maintained items can achieve a high resale price. You can sell a Lilly item on eBay or Poshmark, at consignment, or in a brand-specific Facebook group for close to its original retail price. Here in Louisville, we several GREAT consignment shops that focus on brand name women’s resale: Stella’s and Sassy Fox are both located in St Matthews, have the sweetest staffs ever, and are fabulous to buy from or sell with. Another great use for higher-value items is to donate to a charity that can turn them into creative fundraisers. Many Dress for Success affiliates, for example, pull higher value items from their donation piles for individual sale or for a higher price at their inventory sales. Goodwill has created the ingenious ShopGoodwill auction site. While these mechanisms have made the old “I found a Gucci bag at a Goodwill in a nice suburb!” urban legends even less likely, they’ve certainly helped to convert more donations into cash to nonprofits!
(b) Assess Your Commitment
Don’t let a whole bag of “this can go to consignment once I wash it and press it and sew on a button” things sit around. The truth is, you aren’t going to do that if you don’t do right now. Similarly, be honest with yourself about your financial motivation for selling your items. If you’d rather have the cash value for your item at the time you release it, go with eBay or a resale store like Clothes Mentor that pays cash up front. True consignment stores pay you when your item sells; this usually means a month’s delay in receiving payment for the item.
(c) Assess a Charity’s Needs
This is so important, y’all. We are so fortunate here in Kentucky, especially here in Louisville, to have an amazing network of 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organizations serving a variety of populations. If you’re going to make a donation of used clothing, please take the time to touch base with the organization and see what their needs and guidelines actually are. For example, I’ve learned through years of grant-matching volunteer work that, as a general rule, missions and shelters will not accept used underwear and socks, no matter how clean. It’s an issue of dignity and basic hygiene, not a reflection on how well you washed your old socks. Similarly, a huge need for Dress for Success is always work-appropriate clothing that does not require dry cleaning. While many of us grumble about our monthly dry cleaning bill, it’s an actual impediment to use for a lot of people who are struggling to maintain basic employment. Remember, too, that donation-based charities like Dress for Success still have to pay rent for their spaces and don’t have a ton of storage space. Because of this, they’re really limited in how much out-of-season inventory they can house. You’d be far better off to donate by wear-now season! Remember to always check with your charity of choice to see what they need and how they can best put your item to use.
Rule 5: Be Honest!
Be honest with yourself when assessing your item’s path. Ask yourself if this item is as valuable as you perceive it to be. A 15 year-old Louis Vuitton bag may have a lot of sentimental value, but will most likely show so much wear as to command a far lower resale price than you anticipate. You may have splurged on a trendy cold-shoulder top two years ago, but many resell venues may deem that look to be, mercifully, past its expiration date. Be honest about the condition that your item is in. Work slacks with a torn hem aren’t immediately interview-ready for Dress for Success. Be honest about the decision you’re making to part with an item, and you’ll figure out a way to give it another use!
Let me know in the comments how y’all clean out your closets and where you donate your items!!
HerKentucky x Louisville Stoneware Shop & Sip!
Shop with HerKentucky and Louisville Stoneware to benefit The Center for Women & Families!
So, my birthday is this Friday. Every year, I ask the same favor of my social media friends. If you were planning to text, Facebook, call, or send a card, please take that time instead to clean out a closet and donate a gently used coat to a shelter of your choice. It’s always a cold, cold week, and I just love the idea that my friends and I are spreading some warmth to those who need it.
This year, my friends at Stoneware & Co. (formerly Louisville Stoneware) are helping me celebrate my birthday with a fun shopping event that benefits some of Louisville’s most vulnerable women and children. This Wednesday, January 16th, from 5-7pm, I’m hosting a Shop & Sip at Stoneware to benefit The Center for Women and Families. 15% of the night’s proceeds will benefit The Center for Women and Families which provides advocacy and support for individuals and families affected by intimate partner violence and sexual assault. We’ll offer a raffle and light refreshments, and will be collecting new and lightly used coats at the door.
I’m so excited about our raffle prize — it’s a wine cooler in Stoneware’s elegant Embossed Running Horse pattern! This gorgeous piece is a $75 value and also makes a very elegant vase for showstopping centerpieces. I love how it was styled at a recent charity event I attended!
Visit the event’s Facebook invitation for more information. If you can’t attend in person, Stoneware has graciously extended the opportunity for y’all to make phone orders during the event hours. Call the Stoneware showroom at 502-582-1900 Wednesday from 5-7 to place a local pickup or shipped order, and your purchase will benefit The Center for Women & Families!
I hope to see y’all there!
Make-a-Wish Day at Keeneland
A Wish-filled day of racing and fundraising.
Today is my very favorite day at the racetrack, y’all. It’s Make-a-Wish Day at Keeneland, which celebrates a special group of Wish Kids and raises funds for an additional Wish. (Click here to donate!)
The day’s festivities are sponsored by local thoroughbred horse farms. As guests of honor, 10 wish kids and their families spend the morning touring their sponsor’s property, enjoy a VIP lunch in the Phoenix Room, meet the Keeneland jockeys in the paddock, watch their sponsor’s race from the winner’s circle, and, at the end of each race, the wish kids present the trophy for the race named after their sponsor. Y’all, this gives you such an amazing perspective to see these kids and their families enjoy a day of fun at the track. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Make-a-Wish several times now, and it’s really reinforced how important some days of normalcy and relaxation are for families impacted by life-altering childhood illness. The kids are so cute enjoying the track!
The jockeys are so sweet with the kids. Here’s my sweet friend Mindy Lynn, who’s the attorney for the Jockey Guild, joining in on the fun in the paddock.
Last year, I attended the event with a group of girlfriends!
Please follow along on HerKentucky’s Instagram and Facebook. If you’ll be at the track today, please visit the Wishing Well at the Paddock to donate toward a kid’s wish; if you can’t make it, please consider donating toward a wish.