Each year, I sit down to reflect on all that God has done through Sunrise, and I always find myself in awe. However, this year feels different. It feels deeper. We have seen firsthand that He is able to  do far more than we ask or imagine. This year, we saw young lives transformed, families restored, and new families created. Kids who once flinched at a kind word due to years of feeling unsafe now smile as they build trust. The thread running through it all is you. God does not need us to move, but He delights in working through faithful people (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Your faithful giving, your prayers, and your belief in the mission of Sunrise has been the fuel behind every story. I do not say that lightly. In a world that is noisy with broken promises, your steady support, often without worldly applause or recognition, is a rare thing.

In Fiscal Year 2024 we paved the way to open new doors, both literally and spiritually. We faced our share of challenges, just as every ministry does. Inflation did not skip us. Regulations did not get easier. The needs of Kentucky’s most vulnerable children did not slow down. In fact, this year we have seen an increase in the level of trauma among many of the youth entering our care.

However, you did not slow down, and neither did God. We are taking some big next steps: expanding our services, launching new programs, and opening up more beds. We do this because we believe in finishing well, not just starting strong.

As I write this, I think about a boy named Tyler (name changed), who recently told me during a tour, “I think I’m safe now.” That is what your support does. It creates a space where kids do not just survive, they begin to believe that healing is possible.

Thank you for believing that the most vulnerable children in Kentucky are worth investing in.

Thank you for showing up when others walked away. Thank you for making room in your hearts and budgets to say, “You matter”

He is able to do far more. He is doing it through you.

Written by Jake Pelfrey, Vice President for Marketing and Advancement