Announcing Our 2025 Messer Foundation Grant Recipients

This year marks two decades of transformative giving through the Messer Construction Co. Foundation Grant program. Since 2005, Messer has awarded more than $1.8 million to capital projects for 501(c)(3) organizations across our regions. Here are the next ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​four organizations receiving $25,000 each to address their capital improvement needs and to support their economic inclusion, education, workforce development and/or stewardship efforts as part of the annual Messer Foundation Grant program.

Here are this year’s recipients:

Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky

Founded in 1882 as an orphanage, the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky has evolved to meet the changing needs of the community, while always maintaining a focus on children, youth and families.  

The organization currently holds three licenses for mental/behavioral and substance use treatment, as well as child welfare services. The grant will allow the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky to improve its built environment by 1. upgrading the duty stations in the cottages that serve clients in Psychiatric Residential Treatment and 2. upgrading the Wi-Fi Access Points for its computer systems. Robert Simmons is a board member. 

Lexington Hearing & Speech Center

Founded in 1960, The Lexington Hearing & Speech Center is a statewide nonprofit organization serving over 2,100 Kentuckians. Their primary mission is teaching and offering early interventions to children with hearing, speech, and language disabilities to listen and talk. With this grant, Lexington Hearing & Speech Center can renovate their potty-training restroom to accommodate children enabling independence, creating a sensory-rich environment, and supporting cognitive development. Mark Hill is a board member. 

Project HOPE Foundation

Finding no suitable options for their young autistic sons, two local mothers founded Project HOPE Foundation in 1997. Project HOPE has grown into the largest autism-specific service provider in South Carolina, operating nine campuses and offering four core programs: therapy, education, adult services, and community engagement. Project HOPE will use the grant to renovate a non-functional kitchen space into a hands-on learning lab to build life and vocational skills with autism. Matt Irwin is a volunteer and avid supporter of Project HOPE. 

Wesley House Community Center

Wesley House Community Center was founded in 1907 by United Methodist volunteers. Its mission is to empower individuals and families in under-served communities by providing high-quality licensed childcare and after-school/summer programs, senior citizen support services, and food pantry items to community members.  

The grant will fund fencing installation to 1. activate an outdoor classroom for various educational activities and 2. replace windows in their existing classrooms to address safety and environmental concerns. Derek Votaw is president of the board.