SIDNEY — The roots of Kathy Lindsey’s service to humanity can be found at Sidney High School from where she graduated in 1967. During her senior year she wanted to support the children at St. Jude’s Hospital and organized a walk to raise funds for that cause.
Almost 50 years later she is set to receive the highest honor bestowed by the Sidney City Schools, induction into the Hall of Honor. The ceremony is set for Friday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the SHS auditorium with a gymnasium reception to follow. Both events are fully open to the public. Joining Lindsey in the class of 2016 are fellow alums Rob Decker (1978), Marj Dunnavant (1954), and Charles G. Rhyan (1961). With their inclusion the Hall will have 119 members.
Right out of high school, Lindsey found work in the banking and publishing fields but yearned for a more personally gratifying vocation. A job with Sidney Municipal Court was the catalyst as she saw people in tough circumstances who needed help. She saw herself as part of the solution.
By 1980 she became the first director of New Choices, providing shelter, support, and advocacy to victims of domestic violence. She nurtured the program for almost seven years, departed for other opportunities in human services, and then returned in 2012 to stabilize a declining situation at New Choices where she remains today.
“The early years were really tough,” Lindsey recalled recently. “As awareness increased, more donors came forward. Our United Way affiliation was a big step. More recently, governmental sources have helped. The overall picture is much better.”
During and between her tenures with New Choices, Lindsey has added to her education, licensures, and certifications while leading two other organizations that launched in late 1999. For almost three years she took the lead for Shelby County Juvenile Court in establishing the Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) program to assist children who are parties in cases of abuse, neglect, and/or dependency.
She was also the first director of Shelby County Victim Services as she designed the program, procured funding, and implemented assistance. In almost 11 years, Lindsey secured collaborations and partnerships both inside and outside Shelby County to assist victims of crime and their survivors.
Her pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church has known, observed, and respected her for three decades. “She has stepped up to the plate as an advocate for victims of crime and abuse before it was the expected thing to do,” said the Rev. Jonathan Schriber. “Kathy clearly understands her calling in life. She works tirelessly to help victims move into healing so they do not have to live the rest of their lives as a victim.”
Her resume includes many other experiences, memberships, and affiliations. She holds Adjunct Faculty status at Edison State Community College and advises programs in Human Services and Criminal Justice. Other activities include her Church, United Way and aiding the homeless.
Kathy Lindsey has an adult daughter who is an extension of her caring mission. Breonna was adopted from out-of-state as a teenager. Kathy is the fourth member of the 1967 graduating class to be elected to the Hall of Honor, joining William M. Dodd, Chuck Price, and Douglas Stewart.
