Nonprofit Leadership Studies program presents Giving Back Endowment Grant to Journey Bags

 

MURRAY, Ky. – The Murray State University Nonprofit Leadership Studies program recently presented the 2025 Giving Back Endowment (GBE) Grant Award to Journey Bags in recognition of its support of youth and families during an incredibly vulnerable time in their lives. The funds will be utilized to provide Journey Bags for youth and their families facing a cancer diagnosis.

Journey Bags traces its roots back to 2021, when founders Roy and Jennifer Riley witnessed first hand the lack of resources for cancer patients in Murray as Jennifer fought breast cancer. Determined to give purpose to her diagnosis, Jennifer gathered a group of friends and family who had all been affected by cancer in one way or another. Together, they started packing bags full of useful items for cancer patients at Murray Calloway County Hospital Regional Cancer Center. 

Journey Bags works directly with the cancer center employees to give patients bags on their first day of treatment. The bags are age- and gender-specific, and can include items such as blankets, coloring books and toys. At such a difficult, and extraordinarily stressful time, the small gesture of love and kindness that comes with a Journey Bag makes a world of difference. However, the most important item in the bag is the resource directory. Filled with links and contact information to local resources they will likely need, it saves hard-pressed patients and their families hours of time, stress and research trying to get the help they need. 

The grant is made possible by the Murray State University Giving Back Endowment, which is dedicated to advancing the understanding, appreciation and application of the principles of altruism, generosity, caring and service to others. The Student Engagement Initiative provides an opportunity to operate a comprehensive grant making process while studying “giving, philanthropy and grant making.” The students conducted a community needs assessment and identified youth development programs as required by the Giving Back Endowment.

Applications were reviewed with the following types of guiding criteria: the scope and scale of youth development programming, the qualifications and experience of the volunteers and staff and financial health and sustainability. After extensive deliberation and thorough review, Journey Bags was selected in recognition of its commitment to youth and families. Students praised the application and important work being done by the organization. 

Senior Lisa Greene, of Cadiz, Kentucky, said of the experience, “The process of creating this grant was an immensely rewarding experience. Journey Bags is an organization that is the embodiment of everything that the grant, created by our class, was created to accomplish.” 

Jasira Jouett, a junior from Florence, Kentucky, said “This was a one-of-a-kind course that taught core skills and allowed you to see your impact firsthand.”

Senior, Sierra Ganz, of Oakley, California had this to say: “Journey Bags is truly one of the most special organizations in our community. They make sure cancer patients are taken care of every step into their journey.”

The award was presented on Dec. 4 to Journey Bags Founder Jennifer Riley. 

“Journey Bags is honored to have been chosen as the recipient of the 2025 Giving Back Endowment Grant,” Riley said. “Dr. Elise Kieffer’s class provides real-world experience for students that is invaluable as they prepare to enter the world of non-profit organizations. We are so fortunate to have been a small part of the process that not only helps students succeed, but also assists our community in a tangible way.”

Dr. Elise Kieffer, program director and assistant professor of Nonprofit Leadership Studies said, “The Giving Back Endowment initiative, made possible by the generosity of Dr. Robert and Mrs. Patricia Long, provides uniquely impactful benefits. Not only are students able to learn about the grant process in a personal, hands-on experience, but they are empowered with the emotional goodwill of giving and serving others through philanthropy. Likewise, local organizations benefit from the opportunity to submit their programs for potential funding. The GBE is a beautiful manifestation of the relationship between Murray State University and the Murray/Calloway community. It is my honor to facilitate this experience for students in the Nonprofit Leadership Studies program each fall." 

Individuals who wish to support the Giving Back Endowment may do so by following this link: bit.ly/3VOM24y.

The Nonprofit Leadership Studies Program is a part of the Department of Organizational Communication and Leadership which is dedicated to “develop student competence in the application and synthesis of those communication processes, theories and skills that enable individuals and groups to organize effectively in an increasingly complex and global society.” As a part of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, the department and program are committed to advancing careers in dynamic environments of leadership and management.