Ever since Lenae McKee Price joined the staff of the Jewish Community Center in 2012, CenterStage has benefited from her energy, enthusiasm and creativity. She has developed and implemented comprehensive fundraising, marketing and outreach campaigns to engage program participants, community partners and donors for CenterStage’s main stage shows and educational programs.
Now, Price has been promoted to Development and Special Events Director for the Jewish Community of Louisville. She will use her talents to enhance programs throughout the JCC and the Federation.
“I will work closely with all programmers, committees and volunteers to cultivate new interest and contributions to support all the good things we’re doing here,” she said. “One of the first initiatives will be expanding our camp scholarship program. Let’s rally the community to help those families with limited means to experience one of the best things our JCC has to offer, our tremendous summer camp.”
She’ll also be working to “focus some effort on those who participate in programs on a daily basis, but are not being asked to help.”
To handle her new responsibilities, Price is turning some of her responsibilities with CenterStage over to Joanna Blieden. “Joanna will be great,” Price said. “I’m delighted to hand the reins over to someone who has lots of energy and great ideas for CenterStage and the agency. She’ll be able to pick up on outreach right where I left off.”
Earlier this year, Price received the Arthur S. Kling Award in recognition of her dedicated work for CenterStage. She also participated in the JCC Association’s Israel Enhancement program, and when she returned from Israel, she was energized and full of ideas about how to incorporate more about Israel into many aspects of the programming at the JCC.
Price graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee in 2008. Her passion for the non-profit world began in college as she developed and managed various initiatives and lobbying efforts as the project coordinator for Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
After graduation Price moved to New York City where she worked for Action Long Island. Initially hired as director of development, she greatly increased membership, board participation, corporate sponsorship and brought the organization a surplus of media attention, new and renewed interest from the community and support from elected officials. Within one year, she was promoted to executive director of Action Long Island.
Price founded the Young Adult Alliance, a coalition of organizations, companies, and individuals working to engage, educate, and mobilize young professionals in the region.
In 2011, Price was honored at the “30 Under 30” Celebration of Long Island’s Young Professionals and received special recognition from Congressman Steve Israel for her work in the community.
Price never left her passion for theater behind. In New York City, she served on the Board of Directors of Roots and Wings Theatrical and continued to participate in numerous productions as a performer, director and producer.
Price has returned to the stage last year, performing at the Bard’s Town in Collected Stories and Other Desert Cities.
Price met her husband, Jordan Price, in New York, and in 2011, she brought her Yankee husband down South so she could take a position as director of development and marketing at Kentucky Shakespeare.
Jordan Price, who is also an actor, has become a regular member of the CenterStage company.
The Prices have a daughter, Billie, who is enrolled in the JCC’s Early Learning Center.
