Owensboro’s MentorKids Kentucky will mark a major milestone on March 10 with a ribbon cutting, leaders’ luncheon, and public open house at its newly remodeled facility.
The Christ-centered mentoring agency, which serves children from single-parent and non-traditional households, recently completed a two-year renovation of its building at 2809 Veach Road. The organization previously operated next door before purchasing the property and redesigning the space to better support its mentoring programs.
Executive Director Berley Tillman said the facility was intentionally built around the needs the organization sees among local youth.
“When you come alongside the most at-risk population, you need to put every safety and security measure in place,” Tillman said.
One of the building’s most distinctive features is a secured key-card entry system paired with a fully monitored camera system. The setup allows mentor-mentee matches to use the space outside of normal operating hours while providing added oversight.
Tillman said the flexibility is especially important during colder months when mentors may struggle to find activities.
“This building will allow our matches to come in using a key card,” Tillman said. “Everything starts recording. Cherokee and I both have an app on our phones that lets us not only see what is going on in the building, but we can also hear and communicate with them.”
The remodeled facility includes multiple activity and learning zones designed to support MentorKids Kentucky’s five areas of focus, including academic excellence, relational skills, and life skills.
Inside the academic area, staff and volunteers assist students with homework and tutoring. Other spaces feature games, puzzles, and imaginative play areas where children work on communication, cooperation, and social development.
Director of Programming Cherokee Parker said group mentoring nights often center on simple but meaningful interactions.
“Probably the number one thing that you would do would be to play a game of UNO,” Parker said.
The facility also includes a kitchen, washer, and dryer, which Tillman said addresses practical challenges many families face.
“Oftentimes they will have access to food at a food pantry,” Tillman said. “However, if their legal guardian is working a double shift, they might not have the adult supervision needed to prepare it. So we are going to equip our kids with just the basic fundamentals in the kitchen.”
Tillman said the laundry area plays a similar role.
“We want all of our kids to be able to hold their head up high when they go to school and have the opportunity to not go in dirty clothes,” she said.
MentorKids Kentucky primarily serves children between the ages of 6 and 14 in Owensboro and Daviess County. Founded in 2002, the organization provides mentoring programs and support services at no cost.
According to MentorKids Kentucky’s 2025 data, the agency served 102 youth. Of those, 43 mentees were matched with mentors, 30 participated in group mentoring, and 29 received other support services.
Survey results collected by the organization show strong reported outcomes. Legal guardians indicated that 100% believed having a mentor helped their child, while 98% said their child was academically equipped to complete their current grade level.
Mentors and mentees also reported positive experiences, with 100% of mentees saying they feel happy when with their mentor.
MentorKids Kentucky traces its roots to its former affiliation with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tillman said the local board voted in the early 2000s to become an independent, Christ-centered agency.
“We have Jesus in our bylaws,” Tillman said.
The March 10 celebration will begin with a ribbon cutting from 11:30 a.m. to noon, followed by a leaders’ luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. Mayor Tom Watson will serve as the keynote speaker. An open house and community reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. The events are open to the public, though organizers ask attendees to RSVP to help with planning. Click here to register for the event.
Tillman said Watson plans to share his personal experience with mentoring.
Tillman said the day is ultimately about celebrating the community’s role in supporting local youth.
“We want the community to celebrate with us,” she said. “If you are just looking to invest in the community and invest in the future of kids, this is a beautiful time.”
