Building a Community Legacy

"I've been blessed in my life. Whatever you give, you don't miss it. In fact, you'll often find it multiplies."

Mr. Bottorff is a long-time supporter of the Oldham County Family YMCA. He believes it is important to give young people a place to go, and it's a great benefit to the entire Oldham County community.

Charles Bottorff

Lifelong Goshen resident Charles Bottorff has quietly and steadily supported his local community for decades. A retired electrical contractor, Charlie has lived in Oldham County throughout his 92 years, and he and his late wife, Imogene "Gene" White Bottorff, are familiar names in the area. In fact, Charlie was named as one of Oldham County's "Living Treasures" by the Oldham Era in early 2011, which recognizes long-time residents who have generously served the community through good deeds with their kind hearts.

"We didn't have any children, so I wanted to leave a legacy for the Goshen community and throughout Oldham County," explains Charlie. "I've been blessed in my life. Whatever you give, you don't miss it. In fact, you'll often find it multiplies. I honored my wife, Gene, through a scholarship at the Vanderbilt Nursing School. But I also wanted to do something closer to home. That's why I'm so delighted to be a founder of the Oldham County Community Foundation."

As an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Louisville, the OCCF has a local board of advisors to oversee grantmaking in the local community. Thanks to Charlie's generosity, there are now four endowment funds to support diverse needs in Oldham County: arts & culture, education, the environment & public benefit, and health & human services.

"I'm so happy that I was able to make this gift during my lifetime so I can see it in action now. But I know these endowments are really gifts for the future—the real power of these funds will be seen in later years. My family's been a part of this community for generations. I'm just glad I can continue that legacy through these endowments at the Community Foundation."