This Community Voices column is written by Patrick Blair, a recent Procter & Gamble retiree. You can reach him at pnblair@gmail.com.
The first weekend in May is traditionally a big one in the Tri-State. The Flying Pig, high school proms, and for many in the Commonwealth – The Kentucky Derby.
And while derby enthusiasts are dusting off their fascinators and mixing mint juleps 90 minutes to our southeast, up here, it’s all about community and connection. At the heart of many of these gatherings is the spirit of giving back, embodied by the annual Jill and Denny Coleman Scholarship Derby Party held in Taylor Mill.
The genesis of the JDC Scholarship, as it’s known, began not with the thunder of hooves, but with the swing of golf clubs.
To make space to hear from more Northern Kentuckians, we launched a new feature called Community Voices. These will be regular columns that aren’t quite news stories but also aren’t exactly opinion – they’re somewhere in the middle. We want to be a vehicle for you to share your expertise and the stories behind them with Northern Kentucky.
If you think you have a voice the community would like to hear, please submit three to five writing samples to mgoth@linknky.com.
The samples should be somewhere between 500 and 750 words, and do not need to be previously published somewhere else, but it’s OK if they were. .
If we select you, we’d ask that you submit your Community Voices column with some regularity, whether that be weekly, biweekly or monthly. Your columns would also need to include your name as the author: We can’t accept pen names or pseudonyms.
Not everyone who applies will get to be a Community Voice. While we don’t expect you to know AP style, we do expect submissions to adhere to correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. We will edit slightly to make sure submissions fit our style. We also won’t accept submissions that are a promotion for you, or a product or service. (If you’re looking for a way to promote your company, product or service, email our VP of sales, Brad Crosby, at bcrosby@linknky.com.)
We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
What is a Community Voices column?
As Matt Coleman, their son, explained, the idea was first introduced by their neighbor, Tim Price, who was organizing the annual Luke Muller Golf Outing that benefits cancer survivors (and now in its 19th year).
With a vision to broaden their impact, Price proposed creating a scholarship to accompany the outing. He approached Coleman with the thoughtful suggestion of naming it after his parents, who had recently passed away. It was a poignant way to celebrate their legacy and invest in the community they cherished.
“They were known for hosting gatherings filled with incredible food and were always ready to open their doors to anyone in need,” Coleman said about his parents.
The connection to the Kentucky Derby?
Well, that’s a story steeped in Northern Kentucky tradition.
Matt shared that the Derby party actually started way back in the early ’80s on Glenway Avenue in Covington. It was a casual gathering of a tight-knit group of friends and family, centered around an all-day wiffle ball tournament that, at its peak, drew around 20 spirited teams.
As the “Glenway crew” grew up, married, and moved, Matt and his wife, Amy, took the reins in 1994, keeping the tradition alive with new additions like a DJ and a pig roast.
One particularly memorable year, 2001, saw them hosting the party a mere week after moving into a new house with a newborn – straw-covered yard and all! This enduring spirit of togetherness eventually evolved into something more profound. As the party grew, the opportunity to give back became clear, leading to the transition into a fundraiser for the JDC Scholarship.
It is a testament to how a simple neighborhood tradition can blossom into a powerful force for good.
Over the years, the event has certainly evolved. The wiffle ball tournament and full pig roast might be relics of the past, but the spirit of fun and community remains.
Now held at Pride Park in Taylor Mill to accommodate the growing numbers – typically between 125 and 150 guests – the party features delicious pulled pork, burgoo, and beef brisket.
A more recent and wildly popular addition is the live Derby horse auction, held a couple of hours before the race. This lively event not only adds a competitive edge but also directly benefits the scholarship, with a portion of the proceeds split between the winners – 1st, 2nd, and even dead last.
Coleman shared that over the past nine years, the JDC Scholarship Fund has raised over $50,000 and awarded scholarships to more than 20 deserving recipients.
Beyond the fundraising, the Derby party is deeply rooted in the values exemplified by Jill and Denny Coleman themselves. As Coleman poignantly stated, the main tradition is “carrying on the spirit and example set by my parents.”
This event is a true testament to their legacy, powered by an “army of family and friends coming together to honor two remarkable people who were taken from us far too soon,” Coleman said.
And while fancy hats and mint juleps certainly make an appearance, the heart of this Northern Kentucky Derby tradition lies in the enduring bonds of community, the joy of giving back, and the powerful way a simple gathering can honor the memory of loved ones by investing in the future.
It’s a reminder that the real winners on Derby Day are the students whose dreams are being supported by the Jill and Denny Coleman Scholarship.
To learn more about this year’s event – and to see a history of years past – visit the Jill & Denny Scholarship Facebook page.
Patrick Blair writes about the traditions that make Northern Kentucky what it is.
If you have an idea for a Community Voices column, email Meghan Goth at mgoth@linknky.com.