Knott County Community Foundation

07/30/2026

GivingTuesday may seem far away, but it's time to start thinking about how you can participate this year! On August 19, we want to help Knott County nonprofits start planning for their campaigns.
We invite anyone connected to a nonprofit in Knott County to join us and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky for a virtual informational session and conversation about your invitation to join this GivingTuesday! Foundation staff will be sharing details about GivingTuesday as a global movement, the campaign, and why community campaigns work.
As an added bonus, any nonprofit that registers and attends will be entered to win a prize of $250!
To register, visit https://bit.ly/givingtuesdaysession.

07/20/2026

Over the past few weeks, we've been highlighting our affiliates to shine a light on the amazing work that they are doing in their communities. Today, we want to turn the spotlight to the Knott County Community Foundation (KCCF)! Established in 2022 following the catastrophic flooding in Knott County, KCCF has been serving its community faithfully for nearly 4 years now.

One of our favorite memories of the Knott County Community Foundation is when they brought the community together in 2024 to celebrate resiliency and recovery by bringing country music star Clint Black to the Knott County Central Morton Combs Athletic Complex. At the concert, they awarded $25,000 to the Knott County Long Term Recovery Group to support continued flood recovery efforts. The night was full of fun and entertainment, and it brought people together for a good cause!

"Bringing community together and creating unique opportunities unlike what we've seen before is what I feel should be one of the Foundation's goals." - Archie Everage, KCCF board member.

KCCF is run by a board of local leaders from Knott County, including: Dustin Combs (chair), Beth Slone (secretary), Jody Sims (treasurer), Dora Centers, Belinda Conley, Scott Cornett, and Archie Everage.

To learn more about the Knott County Community Foundation, visit https://www.appalachianky.org/communities/kccf/.

06/22/2026

We are excited to announce a brand new scholarship fund: the Regina Donour Memorial Scholarship Fund!

The Regina Donour Memorial Scholarship honors Ms. Donour’s legacy as a dedicated educator who inspired students through her passion for science, learning, and the natural world. She believed deeply in education, critical thinking, and the importance of encouraging young people, especially young women, to pursue their curiosity and find their voice in the classroom.

06/19/2026

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth—a day that honors freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward equality.

The Knott County Community Foundation recognizes the significance of this day and encourages our community to reflect, learn, and celebrate.

Happy Juneteenth! ❤️🖤💚

05/29/2026

Congratulations to our Knott County Community Foundation Chair Dustin Combs on being named the National Speech and Debate Association’s National Administrator of the Year.
This well-deserved honor recognizes his years of dedication, leadership, and tireless support of speech and debate in Knott County and across Kentucky. We are proud to celebrate this outstanding achievement and grateful for all he does for our community. Bravo, Mr. Combs!

Knott County's Dustin Combs named National Speech and Debate Association National Administrator of the Year!

In March in Danville at the District Tournament, Knott County Schools administrator Dustin Combs was named the Kentucky District's Administrator of the Year by the Kentucky National Speech and Debate Association, an honor which moved him along to the national competition. KHSSL has learned that he is this year's National winner! His nominator, Knott Central High School Coach Bria Stacy, was able to call Dustin and break the news to him herself by reading him her nomination letter. As he was her high school coach at KCCHS, it's been an extra special celebration for all involved!

After leaving coaching and classroom teaching (though he's always kept his hand in coaching, even if unofficial), Dustin has held several administrative positions, mostly and currently in his native Knott County Schools. He is a tireless promoter of and advocate for speech and debate in Kentucky -- from pushing for each of the Knott County schools to field a team to arranging hotel rooms at state and national meets for all sorts of Kentuckians -- and he has served many years as both a Regional Manager and as a member of the Board of Directors for KHSSL and even ran the Senior State meet in 2019 when we lacked a state executive director.

Dustin will be recognized in the Awards ceremonies of the NSDA Grand Nationals being held in June in Richmond, Virginia. He is no stranger to speech honors as a past coach of state championship teams (Senior Speech 2004 and 2005) plus numerous state champion students, and he himself was the 1987 Junior State Champion in Storytelling for Hindman Elementary School! KHSSL welcomed Dustin into its Hall of Fame in 2010. Today, we celebrate him once again!

Bravo, Mister Combs!

05/12/2026

Today’s the Day! Today is Kentucky Gives Day! The Knott County Community Foundation has helped fund projects for local schools, flood recovery efforts, community projects, various nonprofit organizations, and so much more in Knott County. With your help, we can continue this work and build a brighter future for generations to come. Every donation—big or small—makes a difference right here in Knott County. To support the Knott County Community Foundation, please donate here:

https://www.kygives.org/organizations/knott-county-community-foundation

Give today and help us build a brighter future together!

05/11/2026

The Knott County Community Foundation will be participating in the KY Gives Day tomorrow...

04/22/2026

Today we celebrate Earth Day—a reminder that even small actions can make a big difference right here in Knott County.

From keeping our rivers and roads clean to protecting the natural beauty that surrounds us, we all have a role to play in caring for the place we call home. Together, we can preserve our environment for future generations and continue building a healthier, stronger community.

Looking for a way to help? Pick up litter, plant something green, or support local efforts that protect our land and water.

Every step counts. Every action matters.

04/20/2026

April is National Volunteer Month, and we’re celebrating the incredible people who give their time, energy, and heart to make Knott County stronger. Volunteers are the backbone of our community—showing up when it matters most, lending a hand, and creating positive change every single day. Whether you’re helping a neighbor, supporting local programs, or giving your time through the Foundation, your impact does not go unnoticed.
Join us this month in saying THANK YOU to all our volunteers—and if you’ve been thinking about getting involved, there’s no better time to start!
Together, we can continue building a brighter future for Knott County.