In 1916 a young newspaper editor named Lawrence Hager was assigned a story on “The Charity Girls,” an organization that had sponsored annual Christmas parties for needy children in Owensboro since 1911. Rather than reporting that the organization was disbanding and the parties would end. Hager (then editor of the Owensboro Inquirer and later editor of the combined Messenger-Inquirer) began the first Christmas party because “no child should be forgotten at Christmas.”
The Goodfellows Club began that day and continues today, providing Christmas toys, clothing, shoes, dental care, and coats for needy children. 100% of all donations go directly to meet local schoolchildren’s needs.
Since school personnel have first-hand knowledge of students’ needs, they have the responsibility of identifying students at risk, requesting Goodfellows assistance and responding with appropriate clothing distribution. The shared responsibility between the local school systems and the Goodfellows Club assures that children’s needs are addressed quickly and fairly.
Goodfellows Club meets more than the everyday needs of clothing, coats, shoes, and dental care. When emergencies such as tornadoes, floods, and house fires arise, Goodfellows Club responds. Children left with little after a disaster are assisted immediately with the assistance of local school personnel.
The Goodfellows Club hired a part-time Executive Director in September 2022. This position was created through a grant from the Public Life Foundation of Owensboro. 100% of all donations to Goodfellows will continue to benefit the disadvantaged children of Owensboro and Daviess County.
The executive director’s position was created to oversee the organization’s community support initiatives.
Opportunities to become a Goodfellow through donations and participation include the following:
- Tennis Tournament – Summer
- 50/50 Raffle – Summer – October
- Soup Days for Kids October – December
- Messenger-Inquirer Roll Call November – December
- “Messiah” Performance December
- Memorial Gifts Year-Round
- Estate Planning Year-Round
- Emergency Assistance Year-Round
The Goodfellows Club is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation. Contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law.