Vacuum Authority Donates Vacuum Cleaners to Louisville's Family Scholar House

December 19, 2014 - Being a positive part of the community is central to the mission at Vacuum Authority, a locally-owned vacuum retailer with stores in Louisville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Greenwood, and Indianapolis, Indiana. As part of this commitment to the community, Vacuum Authority has enjoyed offering free vacuum cleaners and other support to a variety of agencies over the years. During this holiday season, Vacuum Authority is focusing on the residents at the Family Scholar House.

With a mission to end the cycle of poverty and transform the community by helping families and youth gain education and skills for life-long self-sufficiency, the Family Scholar House provides residential and non-residential services and support to single parents pursuing higher education. This year, the Family Scholar House has already served more than 2,250 families with over 3,350 children. Hundreds of additional single-parent families are on a waiting list hoping to be able to participate in this unique and special program.

According to Kate Brackett, Community Integration Specialist at the Family Scholar House, household cleaning supplies are an important need for Family Scholar House residents. Juggling all the responsibilities involved in being college students and single parents to young children, the Family Scholar House residents welcome things that might help make the day-to-day a little easier, and this includes vacuum cleaners!

Responding to this need in the community, Vacuum Authority owner Russell Gay is excited to be able to support the residents of the Family Scholar House by donating 25 high quality vacuum cleaners to the organization. The vacuum cleaners that Vacuum Authority is donating are refurbished Oreck vacuums that are just like new. Vacuum Authority is also providing a year's supply of free vacuum bags with the vacuum cleaners.

Family Scholar participants attend more than a dozen area colleges including Spalding University and the University of Louisville. So far, participants have earned a total of 176 college degrees.

As a graduate of the University of Louisville, Vacuum Authority owner Russell Gay is thrilled to help out an organization that focuses on the importance of higher education. As a father of three school-age children, Russell is reminded every day of the importance of education, while recognizing the challenge of balancing the competing demands of family life and work.

"I'm really happy to have the chance to make a donation to Family Scholar participants that might have a positive impact in their lives. I'm a big believer in the importance of education and am really excited to support such an innovative program." Russell goes on to explain, "Being the owner of a locally owned business, I see this type of community involvement as my responsibility. I want to give back to a community that I love and to play a role in making the Louisville community a positive place to work and live."

Born in Kampala, Uganda, Russell Gay earned his B.A. in 1989 and M.B.A. in 1997 from the University of Louisville. In his free time, he enjoys coaching youth lacrosse, fishing, and spending time with his family. He has been in the vacuum cleaner business for many years, originally as a franchise owner of the Oreck Vacuum stores in Louisville, KY and Indianapolis, IN, and currently as the President and Founder of the Vacuum Authority.