Louisville Central Community Centers (LCCC) on May 15 honored Ramsey with its Lifetime Achievement Award, which is handed out every five years. Ramsey became only the third recipient of the award, given to a person the LCCC Board of Directors believes demonstrates the values and vision of the 65-year-old nonprofit agency. LCCC offers programs and services for children, families and adults in West Louisville, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.
Sam Watkins, president and CEO of LCCC, said the board “enthusiastically” chose Ramsey because of the “dynamic difference” that UofL is making in the West End through the Signature Partnership initiative. The initiative, started in 2007, works with community agencies on programs to eliminate or reduce disparities that West Louisville residents experience in education, health, economic development and social services. Thousands of UofL students and hundreds of faculty and staff have been involved in the effort, which is ongoing.
The Signature Partnership is credited with helping improve student test scores and laying the foundation for academic improvements, higher graduation rates and more college-bound students from West Louisville schools.
The board recognized Ramsey for what it called the “dramatic transformation” of the university. During a ceremony at LCCC’s West End headquarters, Ramsey said he was greatly humbled by the award, which “really belongs to the faculty, staff and students at UofL” because of their “service to improve the quality of life and economic opportunity for the people of our community and state.”
