Y makes fundraising staff promotions, hires as part of effort to provide services to all

As part of the Y’s commitment to making its membership and services available to everyone, regardless of ability to pay, the YMCA of Central Kentucky recently implemented a series of changes to its financial development staff structure.
 

Brenda Blakovich, who has served as the Y’s Financial Development director since 2000, has been promoted to Vice President of Financial Development. The Y also added two development positions, naming George Stafford as the association’s director of Annual Giving and Susie Hillard Bullock as the director of Annual Giving for the Beaumont Centre Family YMCA.
 

Prior to coming to the Y, Blakovich’s fundraising skills benefited the Girl Scouts and Florida State University. Blakovich, who also oversees the Y’s grant writing and endowment development, steered the Y’s 2012 Annual Giving Campaign which recently reached its goal of $625,000.
 

Stafford’s previous non-profit experience includes serving as Executive Director of the Bluegrass State Games, as well Marketing Director for both the American Heart Association and Special Olympics Kentucky. The University of Kentucky graduate also has experience in the for-profit world, most recently with the Lexington Legends and JP Morgan Chase Bank.
 

Bullock comes to the Y from the Alumni and Development Office at Transylvania University, where she served for 13 years. The Berea College graduate also has worked as development assistant for the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre. She also is a freelance writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader and a writing tutor.
 

In 2011, the Y awarded more than $1.3 million in financial assistance toward Y memberships and programs such as summer camp, after-school programs, youth sports leagues and more. The Y’s Open Doors financial assistance program ensures that no one is turned away due to inability to pay. The Y counts on the support of the community to continue to meet this promise and to continue to strengthen the foundations of communities throughout Central Kentucky.
 

From the YMCA