The South Central Kentuckian of the Year Award honors an individual for excellence in leadership as demonstrated by outstanding initiative, impact of work and inspiration of others.

The purpose of this award is to honor ordinary people in our community who are making significant contributions through their life’s work. Every day people in our community make a difference. We want to celebrate these people who make giving back a priority for themselves, their family or their business.

Mr. Baker supported many organization including, Boys & Girls Club of Bowling Green, The Symphony at WKU, Orchestra Kentucky, Phoenix Theatre, and Med Center Health Community Clinic. His support to WKU include professorships in horticulture and music as well as scholarships in horticulture, music, dance, art, and athletics. Baker was one of the founding Board Members of the Community Foundation.

For his achievements and years of support to various organizations, Baker was awarded numerous awards and honors. Some of these include the induction into the Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky’s Business Hall of Fame as well as an induction into the WKU Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2001. In 2009, he received the Milner Award in the Arts for his contributions to the arts in Kentucky. His support of various groups across the region are unrivaled and will continue to benefit local organizations, for years to come.

The Community Foundation of South Central Kentucky is a 501 (c)(3) that meets the changing needs of South Central Kentucky through our discretionary and donor fund grantmaking. Some donors have created funds to support designated charitable agencies, to provide scholarships to students, or to support their ongoing, evolving charitable interests. Other donors have established funds with a broader purpose or have entrusted the Foundation with unrestricted dollars to respond to the community’s current and evolving needs. Through both types of grantmaking, CFSCKY is able to change lives and transform communities.

The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of local business and civic leaders who understand the community’s needs and are dedicated to building a lasting resource to address those needs through grant making in education; health; human services; arts; public recreation; and beautification.