John Kurnick“At the core, Ignite Louisville and the community service challenge strive to achieve what we at YUM! Brands do on a daily basis. We are about building people capability, and through the new partnership, we have the ability to build community capability.”
John Kurnick, vice president – global talent management & corporate HR with YUM! Brands

About the Challenge

Yum! IGNITES Louisville ChallengeThe Yum! IGNITES Louisville Challenge is the service learning component of the program which pairs Ignite Louisville teams with a local nonprofit to design and execute a project. In return, Ignite Louisville participants gain experience in community leadership, board involvement and teamwork. At the end of the program year, the teams present their projects to a panel of esteemed leaders who choose a winner.

Since the inception of the Challenge in 2004, Ignite Louisville teams have worked with over 56 nonprofit organizations.

See the results of the 2013 Yum! IGNITES Louisville Challenge

  • “Between working with vendors to reduce the price of their services, making gifts themselves, and the man hours taken I would roughly estimate the financial impact to be $50,000.”
    Gilda’s Club of Louisville

  • “This is a really innovative program that allows young professionals to apply learnings, skills and creativity to current, pressing nonprofit challenges. I promote it all of the time!”
    Kerri Arnold, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana

  • “It is quality work from honest, hard-working individuals. Really, we received so much more than we expected. I hope our relationship with our Ignite Louisville team lasts for many years to come.”
    Traci Simonsen – Kentucky Center for the Arts

  • “Maryhurst was able to greatly advance our Transitional Living Program for girls either aging out of the foster care system or preparing for college through job shadowing programs, internships, an inspirational speaker series and an on-site college fair — all made possible by our Ignite Louisville project team.” Julie Roberts – Maryhurst

  • “They were highly motivated to excel because of the peer involvement and a tight timeline. Financial value: over $55,000. Volunteer contribution and in-kind support: priceless.” St. John Center

 

Outcomes

In a recent survey, partner organizations stated that Ignite Louisville teams:

  • Remarkably improved the productivity of operations.
  • Increased the organization’s outreach in the community.
  • Improved the strategic focus of the organization.

Over 83% of partner organizations reported continued involvement with the team following program conclusion (including board service and volunteer time).

In addition, 97% of program graduates reported civic engagement following program participation – 30% give 1-3 hours, 40% give 4-9 hours and 25% volunteer more than 10 hours a month.

How Nonprofits Can Get Involved

If your nonprofit could benefit from the talents and expertise of a team of young professionals, consider submitting a project proposal for the Yum! IGNITES Louisville Challenge in late summer of 2013. See the list of non-profit organizations who have partnered with Ignite Louisville teams.

FAQ regarding the Yum! IGNITES Louisville Challenge

For more information, contact Aaron Miller at (502) 561-0458 or email.