Founded in 1882 by Covington entrepreneur Colonel Amos Shinkle, Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky is the result of one man’s vision to provide a safe haven for children in need. Now, generations later, the Home continues to provide safety and care for hundreds of abused, neglected, and at-risk children in the Commonwealth. In the summer of 2011, as the Home experienced a renewal of mission, focus, and energy, the CHNK team followed in Shinkle’s footsteps by launching the Shinkle Society, a premier giving circle for the Home that focuses on CHNK’s most significant and urgent needs.
Shinkle was not born into money. One of ten children in a typical working class family, he left home at the age of 18 to become a riverboat cook on the Ohio River. That experience led Amos to become an entrepreneur – and one of the wealthiest men in Northern Kentucky during the 1800s. Shinkle made his fortune through a variety of avenues – coal, riverboats, real estate, and banking, to name a few – and similarly, he divided his wealth among numerous philanthropic endeavors in the Covington area. His greatest legacy, however, is not the Roebling Suspension Bridge he financed, but the establishment of Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky.
Shinkle knew he couldn’t singlehandedly make his vision for a children’s home a reality, so he brought in 12 of his closest friends and colleagues to help finance the Home… a home that had dignity both in its physical appearance and in the services it offered to the children in its care. Likewise, the Shinkle Society is geared towards community partners with a heart for service and the financial stability to make a dramatic positive impact on children served by our Home. Annual membership in the society requires a minimum tax-deductible gift of $5,000 and includes VIP attendance at CHNK events, special recognition throughout the year, and the sense of purpose that comes with knowing the investment has a direct effect on children in need.
For community members unable to make a $5,000 gift, the Circle of Champions is an option. Shinkle’s wealth was largely due to his riverboat business, and he chose the name “Champion” for ten of his boats. Members of the Circle of Champions make a gift of $2,500 this year and a matching gift the following year – with membership in the Shinkle Society coming with that second year’s gift.
Recognition of the inaugural class of Shinkle Society members and the Circle of Champions took place Sunday, July 31 at the Shinkle Society Gala, held in Devou Park’s Drees Pavilion. Dinner was hosted by McHale’s Catering, with music provided by the Pete Wagner Band. For supporters who want to attend just the gala, dinner tickets were $100 each.
Shinkle worked on the beautiful Ohio River all his life and is perhaps best known for financing the construction of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, but the philanthropy he offered throughout his time in Covington was his true bridge-building legacy. Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky encourages the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati community to build bridges to a better future for the abused, neglected, and at-risk children in CHNK’s care by joining the Shinkle Society. Please call or email Rick Wurth (859.261.8768, rwurth@chnk.org) to become a bridge builder.
We recognize and celebrate our 2011 Class:
Shinkle Society
Anonymous
Marla & Bill Bagley
Building Management Partners/ Mary & Paul Hemmer, Jr.
Beth & Michael Dempsey
Carrie Fieger
Mary Jo & Paul Hardcorn
Jan & Chuck McHale
Kelly Miller
Kay & Dan Mistler
John Mocker
Ann & James Monroe
Joy & Danny Perkins
Cindy & Jim Rahe
George A. Renaker, M.D.
Stephanie Renaker-Jansen & Dick Jansen
Pam & David Shearer
Circle of Champions
Mary Jean Giltner
Patti & Tim Lally
Becky & Jeff Melching
Shelley & Clay Shearer
Sue & Mark Wehrman
Our Sponsors
