New Team Member, New Digs — Gatton Park on the Town Branch

As Town Branch Park continues to make progress in planning and fundraising, we thought it would be a good time to meet the team and tell you about out new home, which is closer to the site of the future park.

We are pleased to introduce our newest team member, Ben Shaffar, who joined the staff just this week as the capital campaign director. Ben’s new position will allow us to spend more time out in the community meeting you, sharing about the project, and moving toward our campaign goal. Ben worked in the office of development at Midway University for more than 2 years, most recently as director of development. He was the co-chief development officer for the University’s $5 million, 3-year capital campaign for the institution’s first-ever athletics field house and baseball stadium and existing dormitory renovations. Ben also previously worked at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, where he managed the Commonwealth’s official agricultural marketing program, Kentucky Proud.

Ben spent several years as a professional baseball player in the Reds, Cubs, Pirates and Phillies organizations. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, where he also played baseball.

Allison Lankford and Hannah O’Leary have been serving as staff of Town Branch Fund since its inception in January 2017.

Allison, executive director of Town Branch Park, was vice president and general counsel for the Foundation for more than 12 years. A native of Mount Sterling, Allison has a degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Furman University.

Hannah, who is the deputy director, previously served as project analyst at Lexington Downtown Development Authority. She graduated from Centre College with a degree in economics and holds a master’s in public affairs from the School for Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.

To date, we have been fortunate to fall under the charitable umbrella of Blue Grass Community Foundation. The support of their staff and board has been invaluable during the initial launch of the project. But, as with all successfully incubated projects, there comes a time to leave the nest. Town Branch Fund is now moving away from Blue Grass Community Foundation to become a standalone organization called Town Branch Park.

As part of becoming our own organization, we have set up new offices at 249 E. Main St., Suite 201 through a generous gift from Cornett. Cornett, a creative marketing agency, is donating the office space thanks to its Founder and CEO Kip Cornett, who is a member of the Town Branch Fund Board of Advisors.

Call us to schedule a visit. We have a model of the park set up in the office, and we can bike to the park site so you can see where your donation will be invested.