This year's theme was chosen to honor our 75th birthday. We will celebrate this milestone of service and dedication to our community while looking forward to the bright future in store for our organization.

Our event is known for unique items and experiences such as rare bourbon, curated travel experiences, collectible sports memorabilia, and tickets to popular attractions. We can't wait to show you what we've put together this year!

The evening will feature famous local artist Aaron Kizer of Kizer Arts in a live performance as he creates two original paintings for our attendees to bid on. Live and silent auction items will be displayed throughout the evening while DJ Jeff Boling keeps the party going! The ticket price includes drinks, dinner, and dessert provided by the Owensboro Convention Center.

Our event website will continue to be updated with details and auction items in the coming months. Check back regularly for more information!

In an effort to share little-known parts of their history, we have created "Our Legacy" - a series of stories that will appear in our newsletters throughout the year. If you have a story about the Foster family that you would like to share, please contact Erin Lee in the Community Engagement Department at: [email protected].

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and in the case of James "Wendell" Foster, you wouldn't be wrong. You could even say that if it weren't for a delicious plate of fried chicken and pie, our organization might not be here today!

We all know that Wendell Foster, Inc. was created out of a decision to care for people like Louise Foster - the only child of Edith and Wendell - who was born with cerebral palsy. The love the Fosters had for their daughter was the catalyst for our organization, which now provides over 65,000 services to individuals each year.

One might say that if Wendell and Edith never met, married, and gave birth to Louise, the lives of thousands would never be the same. And what do we all have to thank for their meeting? A simple pie supper.

According to an interview between Wendell Foster and Henry Wilson for the Daviess County Oral History Project in 1984, a pie supper was typically a fundraiser for the local one-room schoolhouse. The "pie" was more of a boxed dinner, and they typically sold for anywhere between $.50 to $1.50 during a live auction.

Young Wendell had a plan to meet Miss Edith Pitcock by purchasing her pie at the supper, which was nearly ruined thanks to another gentleman who had his sights set on Edith as well. Their bidding war for her pie raised the price of her box to $3.10 - quite an expensive purchase in those days! Wendell recalled, "He run the bid up to three dollars, and I thought, 'Oh my. I've got three dollars and a dime.' So I said 'three and a dime' and I got the pie... I remember she was dressed in a little white outfit with little white shoes and socks - very pretty... So, I fell in love that night. And her pie was delicious. So was the fried chicken. And then I went with her for seven years before we were married...".

Wendell goes on to say that he and Edith married in Rockport, Indiana - in a "Rockport marriage parlor." The interviewer acknowledged it was a popular choice for local engaged couples, as it was a cheaper option. Wendell and Edith paid $3.00 to get married there - less than the cost of that first pie supper!

Our organization owes everything we have accomplished to the legacy of love started by Mr. and Mrs. Foster. A romance that began over a plate of chicken and pie created the long-lasting devotion of a family supporting one another and their community.

Thank you to the Daviess County Public Library for sharing the transcript of the interview between Wendell Foster and Henry Wilson. Subscribe to our newsletter for more stories from the "Legacy" series!

Wendell Foster is excited to welcome Peter Kline back to Owensboro for the Chamber of Commerce Rooster Booster Breakfast on March 3, 2022, sponsored by Wendell Foster. Kline, a VP at Merrill Lynch in Seattle, will be the morning’s featured speaker.

He last visited Owensboro to participate in the Wendell Foster Half Marathon on November 13, 2021. Kline is the founder of Marathons with Meaning, a campaign aimed at making marathons accessible for people with disabilities. He has competed in more than 100 marathons, dedicating over 60 of those to helping someone with disabilities cross the finish line.

Kline pushed 11-year-old Jesse Gonzalez in November’s race. Gonzalez, an Owensboro native and care recipient of Wendell Foster, lives with an undiagnosed form of muscular dystrophy. He says his goal is to be a rider-athlete in a full marathon in the future!

Kline loved visiting Owensboro during the half marathon and gushed about the friendliness of our city. “I loved the community. The atmosphere of the town made the race so fun…it was such a friendly course, and it made for a good time!”

We can't wait to hear Peter's message on March 3rd, and wish him safe travels from Seattle!

We are so excited to be BACK on Instagram after a one-year hiatus! We are looking forward to sharing all the fun things happening during our 75th year. Follow us @WendellFosterDifferenceMaker to keep up with our posts, stories, and reels!

Charlie's door won our social media Valentine's Day Door Decorating Contest! Great job, Charlie - we think your design is

"PURRRRFECT!!"

What a beautiful unicorn box!

Alanna's mother asked Occupational Therapist, Teresa Clark, to assist her daughter in creating a Valentine's Day box for a school party. Since Occupational Therapy addresses everyday tasks that a child or adult may encounter, Teresa was more than happy to meet this request! Thanks to our Occupational Therapy team for always putting the FUN in functional!

Cottage B celebrated Valentine's Day with a few rounds of bingo!

Thank you to our staff for getting creative with holiday activities!

Don't forget to participate in our year-long fundraising challenge! In honor of our 75th anniversary, consider donating in denominations of "75" - $7.50, $17.50, $75.00, or $750.00. Get creative and share our challenge with your friends and family! Or, raise money as a group in your classroom, church, or sports team!

You can donate your contributions to the "75 Donation Drive" through our website - it's that easy! Just go to: https://wendellfoster.org/donate/

Our Vision is to be the premier provider of rehabilitative, community-based, and residential services.