How it began….
While the tradition of appointing Kentuckians as Colonels dates back to the 1800's and Kentucky's first Governor, Isaac Shelby, the modern Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) began taking shape in the early 1930s.

HOKC began as an idea of Governor Flem Sampson who called a special meeting at the State Capitol of Kentucky Colonels on May 2nd, 1931. He noted in these minutes “…and he outlined in brief the purpose of the meeting which is to formulate a society or organization to restore the grandeur and sentiment of the original Kentucky Colonel; to more closely band together this group into a great non-political brotherhood for the advancement of Kentucky and Kentuckians; to adopt uniforms, medallions, insignia, seals, constitution and bylaws and a Declaration of Principles.” Governor Ruby Lafoon, who replaced Sampson as Governor, coined the name, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, and off and running the HOKC went.

HOKC began helping Kentuckians after the Great Flood in January 1937, continuing with creating recreational rooms for the soldiers at Fort Knox during WWII, and officially began awarding grants in 1951. These nonprofits range from social services to cultural to animal welfare.

Because a Colonel gave…over the decades, the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels has awarded over $70 million to thousands of nonprofits located right here in our state.

In 2024, HOKC awarded $2.5M to 325 nonprofit organizations across the Commonwealth. With your support, we can do even more!

Many Kentucky Colonels honor their title by pledging  support to help strengthen the lives of Kentuckians, please consider making a pledge of $50 a year which is just over $2 per pay period.

Annual membership cards sent to contributing Kentucky Colonels.

Nonprofit areas HOKC provides support to through our Good Works Program.

Community Support

Good Works Program dollars ensure families across Kentucky receive training and assistance in creating nurturing, safe environments for their children.

Areas of Support:

• Resources for Women and Children
• Family Crisis Services
• Animal Welfare

Arts, Culture, and Recreation

Community theater, stage productions of Shakespeare, and hands-on and interactive instructional programs in art and science enhance the lives of Kentuckians from Ashland to Paducah.

Areas of Support:

• Performing Arts
• Libraries
• Parks and Outdoor Spaces

Disabled Support Resources

We serve children and adults across a spectrum of developmental differences, including Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy, as well as hearing and visual impairments.

Areas of Support:

• Physical Therapy
• Occupational and Speech Therapy
• Job Skills Training
• Diagnosis-Specific Services
• Independent Living Facilities

Education

Providing opportunities from early childhood education through college, the generosity of Kentucky Colonels is evident across the state.

Areas of Support:

• Early Childhood Education
• School-Aged Child Care
• STEM Educational Programs
• Scholarship Programs
• At-Risk Youth Programs

Health, Rehabilitation, and Mental Illness

Our grantees operate residential treatment facilities for alcohol and drug addiction and provide for those dealing with debilitating health issues like cancer, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and Huntington's disease.

Areas of Support:

• Cancer Services
• Free or Low-Cost Dental Care
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment
• Mental Illness Treatment

Historic Preservation

The Good Works Program helps preserve Kentucky's rich cultural history for future generations. Grantees are maintaining and restoring historic cemeteries, preserving our natural cave systems, and operating museums for all Kentuckians to enjoy.

Areas of Support:

• Cemetery Care and Restoration
• Historic Building Preservation
• Museums
• Kentucky's Natural Resources

Support for the Poor and Needy

Grantees provide much-needed private sector support, from the simplest services like food pantries, housing, and hot meals for homeless people to providing emergency shelter to youth who are abused, neglected, or at risk of being victimized.

Areas of Support:

• Emergency Shelters
• Food Pantries
• Immigrant and Refugee Services
• Transitional Housing
• Job Training

Military and Veterans Support

Grantees support disabled veterans and programs honoring veterans.

Areas of Support:

• Veteran Recognition Programs
• Disabled Veteran Services
• Training and Job Placement
• Emergency Assistance

Youth Services

Children across Kentucky can enjoy life-changing experiences such as arts programs, sports leagues, or transformative outdoor adventures through the help of the Kentucky Colonels.

Areas of Support:

• Music Enrichment
• Before- and After-School Care
• Outdoor Adventure Programs

Contact:

Colonel Sherry Crose
Executive Director
502-753-0779[email protected]