Today, the University is again celebrating One Day for UK (onedayforuk.com), a targeted campaign to drive gifts to programs and entities across campus.

For the first time ever, the College of Health Sciences will devote all of our gifts to one cause — the Grace Jones Memorial Fund, established in memory of Grace Jones, who joined the faculty of the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky in 1984 and later became a Professor in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 1999 in the renamed Department of Biology.

After suffering a severe stroke in 2000, she inspired many as she overcame difficult physical challenges — while receiving help from representatives of our College — as she continued her academic teaching and research before she passed away in 2019.

Her husband, Dr. Davy Jones (a Professor Emeritus of Toxicology here at UK) set up this fund, which helps those with physical/stroke disabilities and their families. The funds can be used to pay for adult day care, medical equipment, therapy services (such as PT, OT, or Speech), transportation costs related to attending disability support services, short-term respite care, program development, education, assistive technology and marketing.

The Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network, a collaborative team that advocates to empower communities impacted by disability and is directed by the UK College of Health Sciences, has the privilege of helping to oversee this fund.

And your generosity will help underprivileged disabled persons around the Commonwealth — those who are suffering and in need. In the spirit of Grace Jones, and in accordance with the mission of our College, we feel the call to assist our communities. Not only on One Day for UK — but every day. 

Still, we cannot do so without your help. Throughout this week you have seen stories and other media (like the Behind the Blue podcast) detailing why you should participate.

Let’s help make One Day special for us all.

Visit onedayforuk.com.