Dare to Care Food Bank Managed by Sullivan Alumn

For nearly 40 years the Dare to Care Food Bank has made a commitment that no one in our community will go hungry. The organization works to end hunger by providing services to the more than 180,000 in the Louisville and surrounding areas.

Much of the organization’s fundraising is accomplished through special events like the recent First Annual Sullivan Yard Sale that took place in the West Campus lot on September 5, 2009. The event brought in some money and a lot of food for Dare to Care.

The “Taste of Derby Festival” held every year in April is a very popular event for the organization. “With more than 40 high-end restaurants and more than 20 fine wine and spirit vendors sampling their products, it is truly a fun event, and nets over $100,000 for the food bank,” according to Joey Stinson.

Joey Dean Stinson, Sullivan Class of ’73, is the Special Events Director of the Dare to Care Food Bank and is responsible for developing and coordinating these important programs.

“I began attending Sullivan University back in June of 1972 when it was called Sullivan Business College. I took the computer programming class, which was a 12-month program. I started at Sullivan immediately upon graduation from high school and graduated in June of 1973,” Stinson recalled.

“At that time, Sullivan was located in the old Lincoln Federal Building at 4th & Chestnut Streets in downtown Louisville. I had a data processing job lined up at Lincoln Federal Savings & Loan and started there upon graduating from Sullivan. I remained at Lincoln Federal until a California based bank acquired it in 1987. At the time I left Lincoln, I was vice-president and operations manager.”

Not willing to relocate, he moved on to his second career at Mercantile East, the parent company of Bacon’s, McAlpin’s and Lion’s Department Stores. “I became the regional visual cosmetic manager for the Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio stores. When Dillard’s purchased Mercantile in 2000, I was still unwilling to relocate, “ he noted.

“At that point in my life I felt it was time for something different. Having always lived in Louisville, I knew we have a wonderful place to live. However, not everyone is as fortunate or blessed as I felt I had been, so when the Special Events Director position at the Dare to Care Food Bank was offered to me, I felt it was a perfect fit.”

“I believe that the information and skills that I learned at Sullivan over 35 years ago, has help me to transition from each of those jobs to the next successfully. I clearly remember Mr. Sullivan Sr. telling me when I started class to “Pay Yourself First”, and I am glad he took the time to talk with the new students individually.”

Wise counsel could also be found among the faculty. “One of the best pieces of advice I received at Sullivan, and one that I clearly remember, was from my Business Organization and Management class teacher, Ms. Rutherford. She always said: “When your Outgo exceeds your Income, Then your Up-keep is your Downfall.”

Those lessons about precarious financial fortunes and caring for each individual person were not lost on the young Stinson who has been the Special Events Director of the Dare to Care since 2002. “I have been here for seven years now and the need for food assistance has risen steadily each year.”

Stinson wants to invite his fellow alumni and friends to join Terry Meiners at the 31st Annual Hunger Walk & Run Sunday, October 18th at Waterfront Park. An opening rally will kick-off the festivities at 2:00 pm, with the walk & run starting at 2:15 pm on a 5K course that will cross the George Rogers Clark bridge and return to the Festival Plaza where a Fun Fair and Expo will await all participants.

“It is a 5k-walk/run event that starts at Waterfront Park crosses the 2nd Street Bridge and returns to the park.” More than 2,000 runners, walkers, and families are expected to come out to support The Hunger Walk. Last year the event raised over $65,000 to help end hunger.

For more information, you can visit the event website at: www.thehungerwalk.org For general information about the Dare to Care Food Bank, you can go to: www.daretocare.org