Author: adminsunrise

BUTLER, Ky. For 30 years, the children and families of Butler Baptist Church have done something extraordinary with something as simple as a penny.

On a recent Sunday morning, the congregation gathered to celebrate a remarkable milestone, completing its 30th Mile of Pennies in support of Sunrise Children’s Services, a ministry that has served vulnerable children and families across Kentucky for more than 150 years.

What began in 1995 as a simple fundraising idea has become a beloved tradition spanning generations.

According to longtime church member Susan Pferrman, Butler Baptist Church first received information about the Kentucky Baptist Children’s Home’s “Mile of Pennies” campaign in 1995. The church embraced the idea and began collecting spare change in decorated soda cans that families would take home and return once they were filled.

The concept was simple yet powerful. Sixteen pennies placed end to end equal one foot. Multiply that by the 5,280 feet in a mile, and one “Mile of Pennies” equals 84,480 pennies, or $844.80.

It took the church two years to complete its first mile.

They never imagined there would be a second.

But after the first mile was celebrated, a small amount of money remained, about a dollar. Rather than ending the campaign, church members decided that the leftover change would become the “starter” for another mile.

Thirty years later, that one dollar has grown into more than $25,344 raised for vulnerable children and families through Sunrise Children’s Services.

Along the way, the tradition evolved. Instead of counting pennies solely through cans brought from home, the church incorporated a monthly Penny March into its worship services. During the singing of hymns, children walk the aisles collecting coins in buckets as the congregation gives joyfully.

Over the years, generations of children have participated. Some of the children pictured during the church’s first Mile of Pennies celebration now have children of their own participating in the tradition.

“To date, we have raised $25,344 for the Kentucky Baptist Children’s Home,” Pferrman shared as she reflected on the church’s journey. “We want to thank everybody that’s been on this trip for 30 years with us and for the ones that will be doing it later.”

The celebration included special recognition from Sunrise Children’s Services. Louis Hatcher, Vice President of Legal and Strategic Affairs for Sunrise, joined the congregation to commemorate the milestone, preach during the worship service, and present the church with a certificate recognizing its extraordinary accomplishment and decades of faithful partnership.

As part of the celebration, Pastor Martin Jones presented a check representing the church’s 30th Mile of Pennies, $844.80, the amount that makes up one full mile of pennies.

Hatcher praised Butler Baptist Church for demonstrating the very heart of biblical faith through its consistent support of children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and abandonment.

“For the past three decades, you have received these little children, the ones that nobody else wants, the ones that nobody else can handle,” Hatcher told the congregation. “You’ve helped the hurting, the abandoned, the abused, the neglected, and the forgotten. I know that God will bless you now and in eternity for the graciousness of your giving.”

Hatcher also shared stories of the ongoing work of Sunrise Children’s Services, including foster care, adoptions, residential treatment programs, sibling homes that keep brothers and sisters together, services for survivors of human trafficking, and independent living programs for young adults transitioning out of foster care.

The congregation was reminded that their pennies have done far more than fill jars and buckets.

Their giving has helped provide healing, hope, and the love of Christ to children across Kentucky.

Reflecting on the significance of the day, Pastor Martin Jones said:

“After Susan Pferrman presented the 31 year history of Butler Baptist Church’s Penny March, and the message of Louis Hatcher, Vice President of Legal and Strategic Affairs at Sunrise Children’s Services, we now have a greater understanding of the significance of our 30th mile, equaling over $25,000, and have a greater awareness of the importance of Sunrise Children’s Services. We are looking forward not just to our 31st Mile of Pennies but to a more significant partnership with Sunrise.”

As Butler Baptist Church begins collecting toward its 31st Mile of Pennies, the congregation is proving a timeless truth. When God’s people faithfully give what they have, even pennies collected one Sunday at a time, those small acts of generosity can change lives for generations.

For 30 years, Butler Baptist Church has shown that every child matters and that even the smallest gift, when offered faithfully, can become a lasting legacy.

 

Written by Jake Pelfrey, Sunrise Vice President for Marketing and Advancement

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — Sunrise Children’s Services is celebrating a generous in-kind donation from Planet Fitness and its parent company, Glow Brands, that will help young ladies at the Glen Dale Campus stay active, build confidence, and develop healthy routines.

Planet Fitness donated two treadmills, one stationary bike, and one elliptical machine to the Glen Dale Campus, providing youth in residential care with new opportunities for physical activity right where they live. The equipment was also delivered directly to campus, making the gift an immediate and practical blessing for the girls and staff.

For youth who have experienced trauma, structured activity can play an important role in supporting emotional, physical, and mental well-being. At Sunrise, staff see firsthand the value of helping young people stay engaged, active, and encouraged as they work toward healing and stability.

“We are incredibly grateful to Planet Fitness and Glow Brands for this generous investment in the young ladies at our Glen Dale Campus,” said Jake Pelfrey, Vice President for Marketing and Advancement at Sunrise Children’s Services. “This gift is more than exercise equipment. It gives our girls another opportunity to build healthy habits, relieve stress, grow in confidence, and experience encouragement in a safe and supportive environment.”

The donation came after conversations about the importance of helping youth at Glen Dale remain active and connected to healthy outlets. The gift also opens the door for future conversations about how Planet Fitness, Glow Brands, and Sunrise may work together to support youth wellness beyond the campus.

“We know that physical activity can be a powerful tool for young people,” Pelfrey said. “It helps them build discipline, reduce stress, gain confidence, and experience a sense of accomplishment. We are thankful for partners like Planet Fitness and Glow Brands who see the potential in these young lives and choose to invest in them.”

As part of the delivery, thank-you cards from each girl were presented to the staff who brought the equipment to campus, offering a personal expression of appreciation for the generous gift.

For more than 150 years, Sunrise Children’s Services has served children and families across Kentucky through Christ-centered care, residential programs, foster care, family services, and independent living support. Partnerships like this one help Sunrise continue providing hope and healing to some of Kentucky’s most vulnerable young people.

Written by Jake Pelfrey, Sunrise Vice President for Marketing and Advancement

PADUCAH, Ky. — The 16th Annual A&K Construction Golf Tournament benefiting Sunrise Children’s Services was a tremendous success, bringing together golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners to support children and families across Kentucky.

Hosted on May 18th in Paducah, the annual tournament has become an important tradition of generosity in western Kentucky. Each year, A&K Construction and its partners use the event to raise awareness and support for the mission of Sunrise Children’s Services, which provides care to children and families through residential programs, foster care, family services, and independent living support.

Sunrise Children’s Services is grateful for the continued partnership of A&K Construction and the many individuals and businesses who helped make this year’s tournament possible.

“We are incredibly thankful for A&K Construction and the generous community that rallies around this tournament year after year,” said Jake Pelfrey, Vice President for Marketing and Advancement at Sunrise Children’s Services. “Events like this do more than raise funds. They remind children in crisis that they are not forgotten, and they help Sunrise continue providing hope, healing, and Christ-centered care to some of Kentucky’s most vulnerable young people.”

The tournament was recently featured by both WPSD Local 6 and The Paducah Sun, helping shine a light on the generosity of the Paducah community and the impact local partners can have in the lives of children who need safety, stability, and support.

For Sunrise, partnerships like this are essential. The needs facing Kentucky children and families remain great, but faithful supporters help make it possible for Sunrise staff to continue walking alongside children through difficult seasons of life.

“We never take this kind of support for granted,” Pelfrey said. “Every sponsor, golfer, volunteer, and donor who participates in this tournament is helping make ministry possible. Because of their generosity, Sunrise is able to continue serving children and families with excellence.

Sunrise extends its heartfelt thanks to A&K Construction for its leadership, generosity, and long-standing commitment to children in crisis. Sunrise is also grateful to each sponsor, volunteer, and participant who helped make the 16th annual tournament a success.

For more than 150 years, Sunrise Children’s Services has served children and families across Kentucky through Christ-centered care. Through residential programs, foster care, family services, and independent living support, Sunrise continues its mission of providing hope and healing to hurting children and families.

 

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.

Download the Sunrise Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report, Here.

Written by Jake Pelfrey, Vice President for Marketing and Advancement