Bill Kohm, Director of Assurance Services, represents one of our many team members who actively give back to the community. A Leadership Lexington project that began almost three years ago has come to fruition, in the form of a cancer patient receiving free childcare during treatments, thanks to the help of the community and the Dean Dorton Foundation.
Leadership Lexington is a leadership development program sponsored by Commerce Lexington and directed toward individuals who demonstrate leadership qualities. The 2013-2014 Leadership Lexington class worked on multiple projects, including Advance Lexington, Roosevelt Boulevard Community Garden, University You, and S.O.S. Cancer Support (S.O.S. stands for “supportive oncology services”). Bill was involved with S.O.S., which partnered with the YMCA of Central Kentucky and a local church to structure a program to provide free childcare to the dependents of cancer patients as they go through their cancer journey.
Two children of a recently diagnosed cancer patient started receiving free childcare last week through S.O.S. as their mother began her year-long chemotherapy treatment. “With everyone’s hard work and persistence, we have eased some of [the mother’s] burden as she begins her cancer journey,” stated Erica Radhakrishnan, a two-time cancer survivor, S.O.S. project team leader, and Distinguished Leader of Leadership Lexington class of 2013-2014. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Dean Dorton Foundation for their support. I am grateful that our community possesses business entities, such as Dean Dorton, that appreciate the value of leadership development and cultivation, as well as a generous spirit that supports opportunities to give back and enhance our city.”
“We are thankful for the Dean Dorton Foundation’s support of our cause. It’s an amazing feeling that our vision has finally helped a young mother with cancer,” said Bill.
Other team members include Dan Hitchcock with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, Della Tuttle with Bluegrass.org, and Kelly Karbowicz Riley with Thomas P. Miller and Associates.
The Dean Dorton Foundation is a charitable foundation that supports nonprofit organizations throughout Kentucky. Each year, the firm contributes a percentage of its net profits to organizations that help the community through social service, cultural, environmental, or educational activities. Dean Dorton has a strong tradition of community involvement and support, whether philanthropic giving through the Dean Dorton Foundation, charitable contributions, or employees volunteering their time. Dean Dorton is as excited as Bill and his S.O.S. team to lend a helping hand to the new cancer patient and other patients to come.