Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky recognizes Denise Hall as Gil Friedell Award Winner for her decades-long support of youth health

LOUISVILLE, KY (October 18, 2022) – “Anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me,” said Fred Rogers, more commonly known as Mister Rogers. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (FHKY) named Denise Hall recipient of its 2022 Gil Friedell Award for her career spent serving the youth of Trimble County, Kentucky through substance-use prevention efforts.

“Drug addiction is something far too many Kentuckians have seen first-hand, and that’s why Denise Hall’s work is so critical,” said Ben Chandler, president and CEO, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “Her efforts to prevent future addictions and support the overall wellbeing of the youth of her community makes her the perfect person to receive the Friedell Award. At a time when so many young people are struggling with their mental health, Trimble County students can take comfort in knowing what a strong advocate they have on their side.”

Hall began working in the substance-use prevention field in 1998 at Seven Counties Services. In 2003, she became coordinator for the Trimble County Family Resource and Youth Services Center (FRYSC). There, Hall connected struggling families to basic needs ranging from utility assistance to clothing and food.

Hall wrote a Drug Free Communities Grant (DFC) in 2010 and directed it for 5 years. After being awarded the grant again in 2017, she stepped down as FRYSC Coordinator to dedicate her full attention to the DFC effort. As the DFC director, Hall implemented a drug education series in Trimble County and a Sources of Strength group at Trimble County Junior/Senior High School. She made tools such as drug-testing kits and medication-deactivation kits available to parents in the community. Hall also provided one-on-one education for students who violated school drug and alcohol policies and was crucial in getting vape detectors installed at the high school. Hall was also managing director of Trimble CARES (Community Assessing Resources and Education on Substance misuse) Coalition.

Hall’s dedication to youth spans beyond the substance-use prevention field. She’s written grants for a small kitchen to allow for life skills lessons in a special needs classroom, as well as for a washer and dryer for the Trimble County Junior/Senior High School. When a broken wheelchair ramp caused issues for students, Hall did the legwork to find funding to build a new one. 

“I am so honored to be chosen for this award,” Hall said. “So many wonderful people worked on these projects with me, and we so appreciate the amazing students of this community.”

The DFC grant ended September 30 and Hall retired from the district on October 1. She plans to continue attending Trimble CARES Coalition meetings and will assist local nonprofits and schools with grant writing.

$5,000 Grant to Trimble CARES Coalition

Healthy Kentucky makes a $5,000 grant to a Kentucky nonprofit working to improve health policy in the commonwealth in honor of the Friedell Award winner. Hall selected Trimble CARES Coalition. The organization works against the harmful effect of substance abuse and strives to ensure that all youth have support available to make positive, healthy choices.

“The Trimble CARES Coalition is such a fulfilling group to be a part of,” Hall said. “We take a broad approach to substance-use prevention. So along with some of the direct programs, we also make sure there are positive and fun opportunities for the youth in our community. For example, when the high school could not field a football team, we put on ‘Friday Night Lights’ events to fill that gap of entertainment for students and families. We also coordinate Project Prom each year.”

Gil Friedell Memorial Health Policy Award

Dr. Gil Friedell was the first director of the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky and cofounder of the Kentucky Cancer Registry. He helped launch a nonprofit advocacy education organization in 2005 that later became the Friedell Committee for Health System Transformation. The Foundation created the Friedell Award when it united with the Friedell Committee in 2018.

The Friedell Award winner is selected from each year's Healthy Kentucky Champions, a program that recognizes Kentucky individuals making a difference in the health of their communities or state. Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2023 class. For more information and to nominate someone, click here.