LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Buddies of the Bluegrass was founded about a year and a half ago by a UK student who wanted to give back to the community.
Brack Duncan said his relationship with friend Josh Banks, who has Down Syndrome, inspired him to create the nonprofit, that assists families with the funding needed to adopt a special needs child.
"It's pretty new still," Duncan said. "But we have four chapters now and they're all student led."
The chapters are at the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester and West Jessamine High School in Nicholasville, Duncan said.
Each chapter plans fundraisers to raise money for adoptions, he said, including a concert that was held earlier this year.
Duncan has big goals for the young organization.
"I would really like to create an organization where people from Kentucky are more willing to adopt special needs because they know, at the end of the day, we can help pay
for that and that doesn't have to be a burden," he said.
Buddies of the Bluegrass has started partnering with local businesses, he said.
On Tuesday, he took Josh to Geno's Formal Affair on Southland Drive where Josh tried on suit jackets and posed for pictures.
The photos will be posted to the Buddies of the Bluegrass Instagram page. Geno's will donate 50 cents for every follower they get on their Instagram page, gfatux, up to $500, Owner Gino Guarnieri said.
"It's always good to find something to give back and this time of the year I think a lot of people are in that mood," Guarnieri said about the partnership.
Duncan hopes each partnership with a local business will get him one step closer to his goals.
