The dollar-for-dollar match runs through December 31, 2029. When fully matched, it will create a $2 million permanent endowment fund held at the Blue Grass Community Foundation, generating about $100,000 annually to support CivicLex's programs for school-aged youth across Fayette County.
While the donors chose to remain anonymous, BGCF president Lisa Adkins shared that the couple believes every child should have access to a "robust civic education" that empowers them as knowledgable participants in public life.
"The donors made this matching endowment gift as an investment in the long-term sustainability of CivicLex and as an investment in the long-term sustainability of Lexington by generating a future with more engaged residents, more informed voters, and more innovative leaders," said Adkins.
CivicLex executive director Richard Young said the organization has taught thousands of students about local government since the program's introduction in 2023.
"Through our civic expos, we have brought hundreds of government divisions and departments, nonprofits, and more directly into schools to meet students and engage with them on the topics they care about," said Young. "Through our annual Civics Day, countless students have designed and presented civic engagement projects about improving issues in their community to leaders across Lexington. And we're proud to say that we've helped more than 130 students earn the Kentucky Civic Seal on their diploma."
Secretary of State Michael Adams assisted in the development and launch of the Kentucky Civic Seal program. He said intentional civic education addresses a critical knowledge gap.
"Two years ago, my office surveyed Kentucky voters on their basic knowledge about their government," explained Adams. "Even in the wake of competitive elections for statewide office, just half of our voters could name the three branches of government. Under half could name a single local official."
But Adams said increased access to CivicLex's education could change that.
"This new endowment will significantly scale up what FCPS students learn and make Fayette County the envy of - and a model for - counties across the Commonwealth and communities in other states."
Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman is a former civics teacher. She says she's seen how civics education empowers students to be active collaborators in the world around them.
"You cannot create change if you don't understand how the system operates, if you're not willing to work with other people, if you're not willing to have conversations that might sometimes be hard," said Coleman. "And that is exactly what civics teaches our young people."