LOUISVILLE, Ky. — St. Joseph Children's Home is a community staple in Louisville, and has been since the 1800's. Staff say all of the home's work wouldn't be possible without the annual picnic fundraiser, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year.
St. Joe's first opened in 1849, as the 'St. Joseph Catholic Orphan Society.' The Society built its first home in 1850, but growing need led it to settle in Crescent Hill in 1885.
CEO Grace Akers said even all those years ago, huge crowds showed up for the groundbreaking of what's now known as the Landmark Building.
"10,000 people came to that groundbreaking because they knew how important St. Joe's was," she said.
Today, St. Joe's has four main areas of service; behavioral health, residential care, child development and fostering/adoption. Akers said adding new programs, beyond the traditional care people know St. Joe's for, is how it evolves with the times.
"The state of childcare in the state of Kentucky has been really tough on families, and we wanted to be a place in the community where people could find help and community therapeutic services," Akers said.
The non-profit is part of a public-private partnership, helping find foster homes and adoptive parents for children in state custody. Akers knows all too well that Kentucky faces a foster care crisis, with around 8,000 children in the system.
Akers said in the last 10 years, St. Joe's has found adoptive families for 120 kids, and served thousands of others with a variety of resources.
"Kids have to know where they're going to land their feet, they have to know where they're doing to sleep at night, they have to be able to take the stress of family out of the equation," she said.
St. Joe's does get some public funding from state partnerships, but Akers says that doesn't fully cover its services, making its biggest fundraiser, the annual picnic, a key part of the 'St Joe's' identity.
"The more people we welcome here, the more people know about St. Joe's, and are able to spread the good news about the care of kids and families," Akers said.
The 175th anniversary for the picnic, and St. Joe's, also marks a milestone for Akers, who's retiring in December.
"We've been here for 175 years caring for children and I've been lucky enough to be a part of it for 10," she said. "I hope the next person stays for the next 10 and continues to watch kids thrive at St. Joe's."
After retirement, Akers plans to take culinary classes in Italy and continue to attending picnic as a volunteer.
Though it's the end of a more than three decade career in child welfare, Akers knows its not the end for the work.
"The needs of children have evolved and St. Joe's wanted to evolve and flourish with them," she said. "St Joe's knew children needed our care in 1885 and we know they still need our care in 2024."
The 175th annual St. Joe's Picnic is August 9th and 10th at 2823 Frankfort Avenue. The event is free, but food, beverage and activity wristbands and raffle tickets are available for purchase.
This year, for the anniversary, there will be live music from multiple bands all day Saturday.