Summit on Philanthropy starts Wednesday, take a look at some of the program stars

Kentucky Philanthropy Initiative (KPI) will convene the 4th annual Summit on Philanthropy this week at the Hyatt hotel in downtown Lexington. Presented by the Shumate Family Foundation and Kosair Charities, the two-day event will include workshops and sessions designed to introduce and explore current trends in Philanthropy and in the nonprofit sector.
 

Amanda Hite, CEO and co-founder of Lexington-based BTC Revolution, is the keynote speaker for this year's Summit.

A limited number of spaces are still available. Registration information and program agenda is available at kyphilanthropy.org. Mention KyForward on the registration form and still receive the Early Bird rate. Inquire about individual tickets to the workshop sessions and to the awards luncheon featuring keynoter Amanda Hite at kpi@kyphilanthropy.com.
 

The topics covered at this year’s Summit include; the state of charitable giving in Kentucky and an update on the Endow Kentucky Tax Credit, strengthening governance and leadership of non-profit organizations, access to capital and credit, small business micro finance, businesses practicing philanthropy and social enterprise concepts, effectively utilizing social media tools and strategies, and discussions of the rural philanthropy landscape.
 

“The Shumate Family Foundation is pleased to be presenting sponsor of the Summit on Philanthropy and to be part of an important effort to encourage private philanthropic engagement in our state,” said Paige Shumate Short of the Shumate Family Foundation, located in Paris.
 

The Summit will also celebrate the recipients of KPI’s Commonwealth Award, recognizing distinguished service in philanthropy in Kentucky. The 2012 honourees will be Kathryn E. Merchant, President and CEO, The Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Northern Kentucky Fund of GCF; Gerry F. Roll, Executive Director, Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing NA, Inc. / Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
 

The keynote speaker for this year’s Summit is Amanda Hite, CEO and co-founder of Lexington-based BTC Revolutions, a strategic marketing firm that utilizes social media. She will inspire with compelling examples of individuals and organizations changing the world with social media and provide insight into learning how to leverage strengths of organizations to build communities and ignite movements online that drive revolutionary results and make meaningful change.
 

“Movements grow and live on as long as passionate people are connected and involved,” said Hite. “The great ones — the powerful ones, the ones that end up changing the world, lives and companies — go on and on and on. Social Media lends us super powers we’ve never had before to organize and connect, igniting powerful, sustainable online word-of-mouth movements that translate to offline action that makes meaningful change.”
 

Canaan Smith, 10-year-old founder of The Marshmallows Company, who gives a portion of his profits to charity, is a featured speaker at the Summit.

Among others from Lexington participating in the program:
 

• Author Steve Flairty, “Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes,” who will also be signing his books, including the new “Kentucky’s Everyday Heroes for Kids.,”
• Canaan Smith, 10-year-old founder of The Marshmallows Company, who gives a portion of his profits to charity,
• Ben Self, co-founder of West Sixth Brewery and The Bread Box, which also designates a portion of profits to charity, and
• Shelia Bayes, owner of Shelia Bayes Fine Jewelry, whose marketing plan is based in giving back to the community.
 

In 2010, KPI commissioned a Transfer of Wealth (TOW) study which identified an intergenerational wealth transfer of $707 billion over the next 50 years, which was instrumental in the passage of the Endow Kentucky Tax Credit. As a result of this study and the Endow Kentucky Tax Credit, KPI launched the Give-back Kentucky campaign that encourages Kentuckians to count our communities among their heirs with a goal of capturing 5 percent of this wealth in the Commonwealth’s Community Foundations for long-term economic development and quality of life of our communities. KPI is developing programs to reach young people and create awareness of the responsibility for and developing a life-long habit of giving-back and growing a viable statewide network of advocates. For more information about KPI can be found at kyphilanthropy.org.
 

Other local sponsors of the Summit include KyForward as media sponsor, Blue Grass Community Foundation, the Calipari Family Foundation, BTC Revolutions, Prosper Media Group, Toyota and United Way of the Bluegrass.
 

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