The gift will create the Fund at UofL. The fund will provide support in three main areas: diversity and inclusion, food security and sustainability and leadership development.

“Kroger is so proud to be part of this innovative and truly remarkable partnership,” said Ann Reed, Louisville Division President for Kroger. “We love the University of Louisville and all the wonderful programs that are available in the city through its leadership. Our combined efforts around food insecurity and sustainability and our focus on diversity and inclusion will drive innovation and improvement for Kroger and the university.”

Highlights of the Kroger gift include:

• $80,000 annually for undergraduate scholarships, beginning in fall 2020. Strong preference will be given to low-income, under-represented minorities pursuing STEM+H careers. Kroger Zero Hunger, Zero Waste Scholars will develop and present projects to a panel of UofL, Kroger and community professionals. Projects will focus on such topics as food waste diversion, food access for underprivileged families and communities and recycling and sustainability initiatives.
• $30,000 annually to UofL’s Office of Diversity & Equity to provide student services that will increase the likelihood of retention and degree completion of Black, Latinx, LGBTQ and female students.
• $30,000 annually to create and fuel a UofL Employee Success Center. These funds will enable the center to provide leadership and professional development training to thousands of UofL staff and faculty.
• $10,000 annually to UofL’s Sustainability Center for increased zero waste efforts and on-site composting expansion.

“We are thankful to the Louisville Kroger Division and its many associates for stepping up to assist the students, faculty and staff of the University of Louisville,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “This generous gift will greatly strengthen our efforts to foster diversity and inclusion, promote sustainability on campus and build the next generation of leaders.”

The Kroger gift includes support for the renovation and expansion of the Cardinal Cupboard and the donation of a vehicle to help volunteers gather items to stock the on-campus food pantry. The Kroger agreement also creates a partnership with the Kroger Mobile Market, through the Dare to Care Food Bank. The mobile market will make stops at the Belknap and Health Sciences Center campuses to provide healthy and convenient fresh food access.

UofL faculty and staff further stand to benefit through the creation of an exclusive discount program for all full- and part-time employees. By presenting a current UofL ID at checkout, faculty and staff will be offered special discounts and offers.

Through the partnership, Kroger dietitians, nutritionists and other experts also will host cooking classes and information sessions on nutrition and other topics.

Kroger’s Louisville Division operates 116 retail food stores in Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois.Ěý

Less than two years into school, however, new challenges emerged. In March 2015, Lee chose to pursue – and was grantedĚý– full custodyĚýof her niece Kailyn.

Despite the heartache of a custody battle with her sister, Lee recognized a troubling situation and knew it was the right decision.

“I decided that Kailyn’s best chances for living a healthy, constructive childhood that would influence her to set goals, reach success and to break the cycle of poverty, drug addiction and risky behaviors was for me to step in to give her a fair chance at life,” Lee said.

The move immediately improved Kailyn’s quality of life; however, it had an adverse effect on Lee.

Though fortunate to have a Cardinal Covenant scholarshipĚý– which covered her school expensesĚý– the mental and financial strain weighed heavily with the new addition. Lee attempted to at least resolve one of those issues by taking a full-time position at Kroger to assist with the costs.

“I was 20 years old, working a lot of hours, taking full-time course loads in school, and was a single parent,” Lee said. “I struggled with asking for help when it came to anything because I was so used to doing everything for myself and not having much help. But once I became Kailyn’s full-time guardian, I had to reach out for extra support.”

With assistance from her family and the Family Scholar House program, Lee was able to regain her focus. But, because of the time commitment involved in her original plan (the dental hygiene program), she chose to make another major change.Ěý

“I could not possibly continue with dental hygiene, work as much as I did and give Kailyn what she needed,” Lee said. “So, I made a sacrifice for both of us. In the end, I found that social work is my passion.”

Lee said through all of these changes, it has been rewarding to watch everything come together. On Friday, she will receive her bachelor’s degree in sociology, becoming the first of any of her siblings or parents to earn their bachelor’s degree.

Lee was also recently hired as a children services intake position at Cincinnati’s Hamilton County Children and Family Services.

In addition to her mom, stepdad, grandmother and inspiration from Kailyn, Lee credits her soon-to-be alma mater for helping her complete this journey.

“UofL has helped shape me into the person that I am today due to its ethics and acceptance that is preached throughout the campus,” Lee said. “The staff and faculty helped me find what I am passionate about – helping others and advocating for those who are under-served and less privileged than myself and others in our society. Without their assistance, I would not have been able to complete college as a single parent and a well-rounded, critical thinking woman who is ready to go out and spread some positive vibes all over this universe.”