Every New Year’s Eve, millions watch as the iconic Times Square ball drops. What many don’t know is that the “ball-drop” has historic roots dating back to the 1830s where the first “time-ball” was installed atop England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich to help captains of nearby ships set their chronometers for navigation.

As the ball drops for 2025 and signals our entry in 2026, I cannot help but reflect on Bloom Kentucky’s major milestones from the past year: 

 

  • We kicked off with a bold agenda for the 2025 Legislative Session that centered on kids and advocated for common sense changes to promote housing stability, establishing utility standards, ensuring children with special needs have access to child care, and enacting caregiver consideration in sentencing. 
  • We worked to deepen understanding of the power of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and how Kentuckians are making these experiences possible through out of school time programming, mentorship, community traditions, and more.
  • We worked to increase public awareness of the powerful impact of positive experiences in fostering resilience and demonstrate how leaders can take meaningful steps to support Kentucky’s children through our Positive Childhood Experiences campaign.
  • We traveled across the state, from Paducah to Harlan, to educate leaders, policymakers, and key decision makers on the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), the importance of prevention, how to use data to inform solutions, and how opioid settlement dollars can be leveraged to promote healing and resilience. 
  • We hosted our first “Together We Bloom Summit” which featured an incredible lineup of speakers including Dr. Wendy Ellis, researcher who coined the term, “The Pair of ACEs”; Dr. Robert Sege, researcher who helped develop the HOPE Framework; Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silver with “Pantsuit Politics”, and Criscillia Benford and Anna Marie Trester with Frameworks Institute. This event galvanized leaders across the Commonwealth and equipped them with the tools and knowledge to advance change in their respective communities.
  • We released the Economic Impact of ACEs in Kentucky Report that highlighted Kentucky’s nearly $300 million annual economic burden due to adversity and provided solutions for advancing resilience. 

Just as time-balls once guided ships to recalibrate, our work this year helped Kentucky charter a clearer course toward a healthier, more resilient future. As we look toward 2026, we know the journey isn’t over.

England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich

When the ball drops this New Year’s Eve, our hope is that the coming legislative session brings focus, alignment, and a shared commitment to smart policy and budgetary investments for Kentucky’s children and families. We look forward to continuing to work to build a brighter future for all Kentuckians.