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‘Log A Load’ helping to brighten children’s
futures
By
Carol L. Spence
 LEXINGTON, Ky., (Dec. 12, 2007) – An industry that touches every
corner of the state is in its second decade of helping
Kentucky’s children. The Kentucky Forest Industries Association
spearheads the Kentucky version of Log A Load, a national giving
campaign that benefits Children’s Miracle Network affiliated
hospitals. Kentucky Children’s Hospital, part of University of
Kentucky HeathCare, has directly benefited from their
generosity.
Log A Load refers to the idea of loggers contributing the value
of a truckload of logs. But the philanthropic program has grown
to include other forest industries, such as sawmills and paper
manufacturers. Since 1997, Kentucky forest industries raised
more than $235,000, money that was designated for several uses
at the children’s hospital. Three custom wood murals now grace
the halls of the hospital, and a tree room invites children to
play and learn about the forest. When the youngsters press
buttons on the tree’s trunk, the sounds of forest life emerge
from its branches.
But the loggers’ generosity goes beyond playrooms to providing
two $250,000 endowments. The first, begun in 2001, targets
pediatric heart research. The second, begun in 2006, focuses on
recruiting people to the field of developmental pediatrics. Each
five-year endowment was created with $125,000 from the Log A
Load campaign and a matching state grant.
Forests are an essential component in the overall health of the
commonwealth, providing critical habitat for wildlife, important
filtering for watersheds, recreational opportunities and income
for Kentucky’s citizens. Careful harvesting of those forests
plays an essential part in maintaining that health.
 It’s not the only way forest industries contribute to the health
of the state. According to Jeff Stringer, UK associate extension
professor in hardwood silviculture and forest operations, the
forestry industry employs about 34,000 individuals and
contributes approximately $6 billion per year to the state’s
economy.
“Of course, the logging industry provides the resource for that.
So it’s the front end of that $6 billion industry,” he said.
“Logging provides the raw material that drives hardwood lumber
production in the state.”
That’s no small amount either, since Kentucky typically ranks in
the top three hardwood lumber producing states in the country,
producing approximately one billion feet a year, according to
Bob Bauer, the forest industries association’s executive
director. Of the state’s more than 25 million acres of land, 47
percent are forested. Of those 12 million forested acres, 78
percent are owned by private individuals.
The renewable resource is more important than many people
realize, Bauer said.
“Employment in forest industries is double what the coal
industry is in the state, which surprises a lot of people,” he
said.
“The thing about this industry is, it’s ubiquitous,” Stringer
said. “You’ve got some form of wood industry in 110 of the 120
counties in the state.”
In the 11 years of its existence, Kentucky’s Log A Load program
has grown from a $3,500 contribution in 1997 to this year’s
total of nearly $37,000. John Marshall of NewPage Paper
Corporation, located in Wickliffe, was instrumental in raising
almost $14,000 this year. He and his wife Marilyn, who teaches
in the Mayfield City School system, joined other Kentucky Forest
Industries Association members recently as special Santas to
deliver presents to the children in the hospital. Marshall was
visibly moved after presenting a bag of toys to little
Jay’Nathan Jenkins.
“I like children,” he said, downplaying his role in raising such
a large sum of money. “This was just a way for the loggers to
get involved.”
“They have a real heart for the kids,” Bauer said, referring to
the support from the industry. “We have some loggers who have
had kids here (at the hospital), or they know of somebody. I
think that’s why they have an interest. I think it’s also a
program that recognizes the wood industry, so that gives them
some incentive.”
Bauer explained that many loggers struggle with an inaccurate
public perception of them as “an evil guy that’s cutting trees.”
“Obviously, that’s not true. They’re making a living, managing a
forest,” he said. He hopes that one of the things the children
take away from the hospital is a respect for the forest and a
better understanding of loggers.
Loralyn Cecil, community relations manager with Kentucky
Children’s Hospital, has worked closely with the Log A Load
program.
“They’ve contributed to the hospital to make the kids happier
while they’re in the hospital. Then on the other level, they’ve
contributed to endowments to try to keep children healthier in
Kentucky,” she said.
“It (the industry) is a pretty close knit community, and
everybody has the same objectives, whether it’s raising money
for the hospital or managing our forests better,” Bauer said.
“Obviously for us, anything we or UK do to promote better forest
management, it all comes around (to the people in the state).”
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Contact: Jeff Stringer, 859-257-5994
Loralyn Cecil, 859-257-1106
Bob Bauer, 502-695-3979
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The UK College of Agriculture,
through its land-grant mission, reaches across the commonwealth
with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of
Kentuckians. |
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