PeADD 55th Annual Dinner Meeting

The 55th Annual Dinner Meeting will be held Monday, June 10th at The Bruce Convention Center with the registration and reception beginning at 5:30 pm and the dinner and meeting beginning at 6 pm.  Explore the extraordinary activities and ongoing advancements happening in the region as we take you on a journey through the Pennyrile.  Service awards as well as the John C. Mahre Regionalism Award, which honors individuals, groups of individuals, or entities who have shown a passion for regionalism and cooperation in the Pennyrile, will be presented throughout the evening.

The yearly occasion, sponsored by Planters Bank of Hopkinsville, offers a platform for local officials, legislators, business and civic leaders, and others from throughout the Pennyrile the opportunity to celebrate the year’s endeavors and achievements.  As a service organization, PeADD has provided 55 years of leadership to the Pennyrile region providing the highest quality of professional planning, development, and implementation of services in community and economic development, workforce, transportation, social services and public administration.

The guest speaker of the evening is Jason Koger, who became the first bilateral arm amputee in the world to be fitted with multi-articulating bionic hands after losing both hands in a traumatic ATV accident in 2008. Today, he encourages others to live a life without limitations.

When Jason is not at home helping his wife, Jenny, with their three children, Billie Grace, Cambell, and Axell, he is traveling the country sharing his story of overcoming obstacles or working as an ambassador for the manufacturer of his hands, Ossur, and his socket manufacturer, Arm Dynamics. Known around the globe as one of the top prosthetic users, Jason brings hope through perseverance while being a peer support volunteer for Vanderbilt Hospital.  

With a positive attitude and welcoming personality, Jason has had the opportunity to appear on several national news outlets, which led to many other TV appearances, magazine articles, and the TedX stage. Jason has reached goals that have never been reached before, including becoming the first bilateral arm amputee to harvest a bear with a crossbow.

Jason also started a charity event, Handing Back, that  brought celebrities to his hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky, raising over $30,000 to giveback to a community that gave so much to him in his time of need. He recently released his first book, received the American Red Cross hero of the year and role model of the year awards.

Nobody knows what is next for Jason, but whatever doors open he will give the glory to God and grab every opportunity with both bionic hands.

PeADD is one of fifteen Area Development Districts in Kentucky and is the primary regional planning and development agency for the nine county area of: Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd and Trigg.  The 39 member Board of Directors is currently chaired by Ms. Crissy Carter, Citizen Representative of Livingston County.

We hope you will join us for an evening of reflection and celebration.  For more information, email Melissa Thompson at [email protected].