Alltech presents $100,000 donation to GreenHouse17

[LEXINGTON, Kentucky] — Alltech presented a $100,000 check on Thursday to GreenHouse17, an advocacy agency and emergency shelter in Central Kentucky committed to ending intimate partner abuse.

The donation was made possible by the success of Alltech’s second annual Make a Difference Golf Scramble and matching funds from the Pearse Lyons ACE Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the philanthropic endeavors of Alltech and the Lyons family.

Alltech and the Pearse Lyons ACE Foundation are longtime supporters of GreenHouse17 and its mission to support survivors of intimate partner violence.

“A contribution to GreenHouse17 creates a home for healing and regeneration, as well as the ability to serve thousands of survivors each year through legal advocacy, affordable housing assistance, children’s safe exchange and visitation, and countless other services,” said Deirdre Lyons, Alltech’s co-founder and director of corporate image, design and construction.

For nearly 20 years, GreenHouse17 has offered crisis intervention and stabilization services for those harmed by intimate partner abuse in 17 Kentucky counties. Situated on 40 acres in rural Fayette County, GreenHouse17 provides shelter for about 6,000 people every year. Of these 40 acres, a portion of the land serves as a therapeutic farm, where residents grow produce and flowers — and connect with nature as part of their healing process. Opportunities to help on the farm allow survivors to develop new skills that will assist them in rebuilding their lives.

Through these efforts, a thriving social enterprise has been established in which survivors help grow flowers that are sold in the community and create handcrafted items like soaps, bath salts, candles and lip balms. They sell them online and at pop-up shops and festivals.

GreenHouse17 not only empowers survivors but plays an important role in raising awareness about intimate partner abuse, which affects people from all walks of life. It provides an avenue for survivors to seek help without shame and reminds them “that they are much more than what has happened to them,” said Darlene Thomas, executive director of GreenHouse17.

“We help survivors of domestic violence move from crisis to self-sufficiency, but we can’t do it alone. It must be a community effort,” Thomas said. “Alltech has been tremendous in its support of our program and its growth. We’ve never received a donation close to this amount in nearly 20 years. We are blessed that Alltech is willing to invest in helping vulnerable people.”

“GreenHouse17 saves and transforms lives,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “We are honored to be able to support Darlene and her team in their mission to provide a safe community for abuse survivors to grow strong in body and in mind.  Our partnership goes beyond the funds we can donate but extends to exchanging ideas around future fundraising opportunities and business outlets that help to further their mission, which we profoundly believe in.”

Watch this video to learn more about GreenHouse17.