We are thrilled to send our collective CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Caroline Korte! She was honored earlier today as this year’s recipient of The Ladd Mathis Award by the United Way of Paducah/McCracken County!
Each year the United Way presents a very special award in honor of Mr. Ladd Mathis. Mr. Mathis was a 25+ year employee of Martin Marietta (USEC). He served as a Loaned Executive and was a devoted supporter of United Way for many years. Mr. Mathis was a well-respected civic leader who lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 53. But he left this community a legacy of service. The Ladd Mathis Award is given each year to an individual in our community who has embodied the care and commitment to Paducah and McCracken County that Mr. Mathis did. The Ladd Mathis Award is the highest form of recognition our United Way can give to an outstanding community member.
Caroline is a former United Way board member and leadership donor since the inception of the donor tracking system in 2008. She volunteered for the original PALS pilot program at McNabb Elementary. She was paired with her original student when they were in the second grade. Caroline mentored that student through graduation at PTHS. She adopted a new second grader this school.
United Way's Ann Bidwell said "There are countless stories of Caroline going above and beyond to assist her students outside of school. My favorite story is how Caroline worked with her student's part-time job management team to solve transportation and employment coaching needs. She is always the first to offer something for students - the WOW Wagon celebration treats to contributions for graduation gifts. Caroline leads by example."
About Paducah Bank:
Paducah Bank is an award-winning, locally owned bank with banking centers in six locations in Paducah and Louisville and employs more than 140 people. Paducah Bank received a 5-star rating from BauerFinancial, the nation’s premier bank rating firm. The bank has earned this 5-star rating for 48 consecutive quarters! The bank also received the distinction of exceptional performance bank, a status reserved for banks that have earned Bauer’s highest rating for 10 consecutive years! Paducah Bank was named as the #1 Best Place to Work in Kentucky among medium-sized companies and was chosen by the Wall Street Journal as one of the nation’s Top 15 Small Workplaces. It was named Best Bank in the Paducah Sun Readers’ Choice Awards from 2012-2021 and has won the Louisville Mayor's Worksite Wellness Award numerous times. In 2019, Paducah Bank won the Governor’s Service Award. In 2020, they won the William. H. Natcher Award by the Kentucky Library Association. They won three Telly Awards in 2021 as well as the Governor’s Business Award for the Arts.