Leadership Paducah Class #39 presented a total of $105,000 to Fresh Start Village, a program of Paducah Cooperative Ministry, during the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce July 9 Power in Partnership Breakfast. The class chose Fresh Start Village in the fall of 2025 to be the beneficiary of their project.  With these funds, Fresh Start Village will remodel the interior and exterior of their Welcome Center.

The Fresh Start Village Welcome Center is often the first space residents, donors, volunteers, and community partners experience when arriving at Fresh Start Village. The current building is outdated and does not reflect the care and support needed by the residents, especially the children. This project will ensure the space reflects the high-quality environment these residents deserve.

“It’s more than just a place where people gather. It’s a fresh start for women and children. This class project became about more than dollars—it became about restoring dignity to the residents at Fresh Start Village,” said class member Luke Diefenbach during the presentation. 

Lacy Boling, Executive Director of Paducah Cooperative Ministry, accepted the check on behalf of the organization. Boling thanked the class for all their hard work on this project.

Leadership Paducah is a program of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, under The Leadership Center. There are more than 1,100 graduates of the program.