2025 Annual Impact Report

Program outcomes & highlights,community support, and financial results.

Understanding the Need

8,750

In Kentucky alone, there are approximately 8,700 to over 8,750 children in foster care placements.

23.3%

23.3% of these children have experienced at least one adverse event – higher than the national average of 17.5%.

4,000

Kentucky is experiencing a severe shortage of foster homes, as there are fewer than 4,600 available, creating a gap of over 4,000.

A Non-Profit Agency Supporting

Youth and Families in Kentucky

Boys & Girls Haven is a private non-profit agency supporting youth and families in Kentucky through a multifaceted and comprehensive continuum of care. We are trauma-informed caretakers providing five core services – Residential Therapeutic Foster Care, Transitional Living Programs, Independence Readiness, Haven Family Counseling Services, and Animal-Assisted Healing. Our mission is to provide comprehensive services to shelter, heal, and empower youth while offering critical support to individuals and families. Our vision is to be a definitive leader and innovator in social services, and to strengthen and support children, young adults and families.

In 2025, we proudly celebrated Boys & Girls Haven’s 75th anniversary of care. The world has changed significantly since our founder, Father James Maloney, welcomed our first residents in 1950, and so have the needs of the youth and families we serve. While our community has evolved over the last seven decades, our mission has remained the same.

Boys & Girls Haven is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), and is a member of the Foster Family Treatment Association (FFTA), Children’s Alliance of Kentucky, Alliance for Children and Families and Greater Louisville, Inc.

A Letter From Our CEO

Dear Friends,

As I reflect on 2025, what stands out most is the unwavering dedication of our community. Because of your generosity, we once again reached more than 500 children and families this year, providing the safety, healing, and support they need to build brighter futures.

We celebrated meaningful milestones throughout the year. The viewing room within the 8,400 square foot Hope & Haven Equine Arena was completed, further strengthening our Animal-Assisted Healing Program. This welcoming space allows youth who are not yet ready to participate directly in therapy sessions with the animals to observe, reflect, and build confidence at their own pace. Additionally, we proudly commemorated our 75th Year of Care with a special Legacy Celebration, honoring the generations of supporters, staff, and families who have shaped Boys & Girls Haven into a place of hope and healing.

As we look ahead, we are inspired by our history and energized for the future. I invite you to continue this journey with us to create a world filled with hope, healing, and opportunity for every person we serve.

Amanda Masterson

CEO, Boys & Girls Haven

5

Programs

505

Children & Families Served

150

New Donors

51

KY Counties Served

Program Demographics

Demographic data includes Residential Foster Care and Transitional Living Programs.

Race

64% – White
19% – Black
13% – Mixed race
4% – Unreported

Sex

81% – Male
12% – Female
7% – Transgender

Age

51% – 17 & older
41% – 14 to 16
8% – 13 & younger

“Some favorite memories I have are the times I spent bonding with all the animals & staff.”

ANONYMOUS ALUM OF BOYS & GIRLS HAVEN RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM

Program Impact

Highlights from our 5 core programs.

Residential Foster Care

Boys & Girls Haven Residential Foster Care is a Qualified Residential Treatment Program that serves foster youth ages 11–17. As a Qualified Residential Treatment Program, we meet the highest standards regarding care and treatment for our most vulnerable foster youth. We offer an array of therapeutic interventions and services. Knowing trauma affects the whole person developmentally, socially, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, we provide opportunities for healing beyond the traditional “one-treatment fits all” mold.

83 Children Served in 2025

78% of program youth had an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Score greater than 3.

57% scored higher than 6.

71% of program youth made some or significant progress at time of discharge.

Transitional Living

An estimated 20 percent of young adults who are in care become homeless the moment they’re emancipated at the age of 18. Boys & Girls Haven’s Transitional Living Program provides a safety net and strong emotional support system for young people who are transitioning out of foster care into self-sufficiency. BGH collaborates with young adults to design plans around their education, housing, and employment needs. We provide multiple rent-free housing options, offer assistance with transportation, and deliver skills-training classes that include money management, job searching, proper nutrition, volunteering, and more.

49 Young Adults Served in 2025

83% of clients made treatment progress at time of discharge.

Animal-Assisted Healing

Animal-Assisted Healing includes activities to promote physical, occupational, and emotional growth in children who have experienced trauma. This program is a safe space for our children to learn to build trusting relationships again. It serves as a bridge, enabling youth to apply the principles they learn from working with animals to reestablishing trust in humans.

Completion of the Viewing Room

Construction on a viewing room for the Hope & Haven Arena began in fall of 2024 and was completed in July of 2025. With the addition of the viewing room, we’re now able to offer year-round services. These services give more people—families, youth, and community members—the opportunity to witness and experience the healing power of equine and animal-assisted therapy.

Independence Readiness

Our Independence Readiness (IR) services are specially designed for disconnected young people in community settings, equipping them with the tools, resources, and individualized support needed so they can meet adulthood with confidence, purpose, and determination. Through a combination of life skills, mentoring, and career readiness training, IR gives young adults in Louisville their very best chance.

Haven Family Counseling

Haven Family Counseling is an outpatient program of Boys & Girls Haven. We specialize in addressing the behavioral and emotional needs of children, adolescents, adults, and families. Our team of professionals is committed to providing compassionate, effective interventions that help clients achieve their goals.

208 clients served in 2025

2025 Financial Overview

You can find complete audited financials on our Form 990, publicly available here.

$2,028,805

In Contributions, Grants, & Event Revenue

127

Generous Donors

$176,296

Received in Gifts

2025 Operating Revenue

$6,837,389

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32% – Black
13% – Mixed race
2% – Unreported
32% – Black
13% – Mixed race
2% – Unreported

2025 Operating Expenses

$5,837,389

32% – Black
13% – Mixed race
2% – Unreported

“I came into care as a teenager carrying a lot of unaddressed trauma and uncertainty about my future. BGH played a huge role in my growth. The staff consistently showed me patience, care, and understanding.”

WILL, ALUM OF BOYS & GIRLS HAVEN

RESIDENTIAL & TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAMS

2025 Events

Throughout 2025, Boys & Girls Haven brought our community together through a series of meaningful events. From impactful giving days such as Give for Good, KY Gives Day, and Giving Tuesday to joyful holiday festivities on our campus, each occasion provided opportunities for supporters to engage with our mission and uplift the youth and families we serve. Our two signature fundraisers—The Gravy Cup and the 2025 Legacy Celebration—stood out as cornerstone moments of the year, generating vital resources while honoring the compassion and commitment of our community.

The 12th Gravy Cup

On March 1st, 2025, the Mellwood Art Center hosted the 12th Annual Gravy Cup, the world’s largest biscuits and gravy competition. More than 30 local professional chefs and home cooks showcased their best gravy recipes for a panel of professional and celebrity judges. Attendees also voted for their favorite recipe and the winner was awarded the People’s Choice Award.

$52,885 Raised
850+ Attendees
26 Sponsors

2025 Champions

Traditional – Monnik Beer Co.
Non-Traditional – 1816 Modern Kitchen
Vegetarian/Vegan – Bitchin’ Biscuits
People’s Choice – Louisville Bourbon Inn

The 2025 Legacy Celebration

The 2025 Legacy Celebration, Boys & Girls Haven’s largest annual fundraiser, took place on Friday, November 7, 2025, at The Olmsted in Louisville, bringing together community members for an inspiring evening in support of local youth and families. The event held special significance as the organization celebrated 75 years of sheltering, healing, and empowering Kentucky children and families. Guests enjoyed cocktails, a seated dinner, a lively auction led by Kevin Harned, and live music from Carly Johnson. The evening honored Peg and Steve Diebold and Lisa Brendel Ewen with the Nicholas X. Simon Altruism Award for their extraordinary generosity and lasting impact. Special guest speaker Nick Marshall shared his powerful journey from foster care to becoming an education advocate, while emcees Alex Durham and Kirby Adams guided the program with warmth and enthusiasm. Proceeds from the event directly supported Boys & Girls Haven’s mission to provide safe, stable housing and comprehensive services for at-risk youth and families.