With Kentucky having a child maltreatment rate three times the national average, Buffalo Trace Distillery has joined with UK Healthcare to form a local mentorship program in Frankfort, Ky., where the distillery is located.  

UK Healthcare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky.

Fathers of Frankfort will connect fathers who are currently team members at Buffalo Trace Distillery with new or expecting first-time dads in Frankfort. The program aims to use experienced fathers to engage expecting fathers before their child is born to inspire them to play an active role in their child's life from birth to adulthood.

“An adverse childhood experience such as child maltreatment has a lasting impact on a person's life, which also significantly impacts our community through increased mental health issues and decreased educational and occupational potential,” remarked Dr. Scottie Day, Physician in Chief at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. “Engaged fathers can change the trajectory of families and a child's life.” This is especially critical in Frankfort, where 26.6 per 1,000 children experience maltreatment, a rate three times higher than the national average.

New dads who enroll as mentees will also receive gifts throughout the year to help them transition into parenthood, including a custom, one-of-a-kind toy chest made by Buffalo Trace Distillery’s “Whiskey Woodcraft” team.

“It takes a devoted team to help mature the award-winning products at Buffalo Trace Distillery, and it also takes a passionate team to raise a child. Like some of the best things in life, both whiskey and the relationship between a father and child only gets better with age,” said Sara Saunders, Head of Marketing at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “We are honored to work alongside Kentucky Children’s Hospital to help the dads in our community raise children who mature into supported, engaged, and successful adults.”

Additionally, to support Fathers of Frankfort resources and personnel, Buffalo Trace Distillery will donate an ultra-rare O.F.C. Vintage 3-bottle flight, including OFC '93, OFC '94, and OFC '95, for auction during a private event next month hosted by University of Kentucky Football Coach Mark Stoops.