PADUCAH, KY– Since 1978, Four Rivers Behavioral Health has presented the Lovey Raburn Award to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and service in the areas of Mental Health, Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities or Substance Abuse.
This year, the company named the family of Craig, Susan and Morgan Guess. Susan Guess is currently the Chief Marketing Officer for Paducah Bank as well as the co-founder of the Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation along with her husband Craig and daughter Morgan.
The foundation began when Craig and Susan Guess, as parents, went on a personal journey with their daughter Morgan. At eight years old, Morgan began to be terrified to go to school. That’s when they discovered that she was being bullied. Since that time this family not only rallied around Morgan but also has embraced every child that is experiencing bullying.
The Guess Family turned a negative into a positive and work on a national, state and local level to make changes that matter. They recognized that children who are bullied are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, self-harm and even suicide. They have made it a priority to educate the public on the effects of bullying and the importance of getting help. They consistently advocate for mental health treatment and strive to bring awareness to teen suicide and promote kindness in our schools.
Morgan has served on the Kentucky Governor’s Task Force for Bullying and testified in front of the state legislature to support a bill that redefined bullying to better protect Kentucky public school students. She has been named one of Hasbro’s 10 Community Action Heroes.
Most recently the Guess Family has advocated for our local community to help receive funding for Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s Youth Drop In Center, The Zone. In addition, the Guess Foundation provided private funding and helped build public awareness for Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s newest program.
Terry Hudspeth, CEO of Four Rivers Behavioral Health said, “We couldn’t have gotten the project off the ground without them. They were advocates and, more importantly, grew to be our friends. Without their support our Drop In Center would not be what it is today.”
The help they provided to The Zone Drop in Center is just one of a number of things they are involved with including the foundation’s yearly Anti Bullying Walk in the Park, awarding a Kind Student of the Month in our region’s schools and, most recently, the Scarf in the Park Project to benefit homeless. This family is a tireless advocate for others and making the world a better and kinder place while doing so.
The award is named in memory of Lovey Raburn, a Carlisle County resident who served as a member of Four Rivers Behavioral Health’s Board of Directors for many years.
Previous award winners are listed on a plaque displayed in the Carlisle County Courthouse. The Guess Family’s name will be added to the plaque.
Four Rivers Behavioral Health is a private, not-for-profit agency that for more than 50 years has provided comprehensive mental health, substance abuse and developmental/intellectual disability services to clients in Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, McCracken, and Marshall Counties.
Attached Photo: Terry Hudspeth, CEO of Four Rivers Behavioral Health, Gretchen Roof, VP of Clinical Services for Four Rivers Behavioral Health and Craig, Susan and Morgan Guess.