Rebecca L. Conn

In Memoriam 1941 - 2023

and

Henry P. Conn

In Memoriam 1941-2023

Josephine Sculpture Park (JSP) was founded in 2009 by artist Melanie VanHouten on land that was her grandparents' farm. It is Kentucky’s only sculpture park and features over 80 ever-changing artworks spread across 40 acres. The Park’s mission is to connect people to each other and the land through the arts. JSP provides the community and visitors from around the world with creative arts and environmental education, plus transformative opportunities to artists, all while conserving Kentucky’s rural and native landscapes.

Growing up in Kentucky, Hank and Rebecca met in high school, where he was an all-state football player and she was a head cheerleader at Male High. After Hank graduated from the University of Louisville Speed School with an MBA, he began a career as a process engineer at Ford Motor Company. A knack for business and the precision of an engineer’s mind meant that he was in demand as a business consultant. He spent two decades with global management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, launching over 25 start-ups and co-authoring two books on management and workplace culture. Hank and Rebecca founded the Conn Center for Renewable Energy at the University of Louisville and named the prestigious Conn Prize for their daughter, Leigh Ann Conn. 

In his consulting practice, Hank coached executives and led them through strategic plans. He has a reputation of having a down-to-earth style, which helped him quickly establish trust. Melanie VanHouten remarked, "Hank had a level of sincerity and a willingness to help us financially and he saw the big picture. We need that kind of support and belief in what we are trying to do.” A former colleague remarked of Hank, "He sees where organizations should be decades out.”

Although the Conns resided in Atlanta, they recognized the potential of JSP and the impact it can have on Kentucky residents, visitors, the arts, and the environment with the support of their philanthropy. As Hank shared, “I believe in education and in the value of exploring new ideas. JSP is a place of inspiration and we connect it with Rebecca’s memories of good times spent on her grandparents’ farm. We want to help Melanie and the team ensure it is here for generations to come.”

Establishing The Rebecca Fund, and growing the endowment, will allow JSP to transition from a start-up organization to an institution whose future is secured for generations to come. The Park’s board and staff intend to grow the endowment to $2.5 million by 2029, the park's 20th anniversary.

Once at $2.5 million, proceeds of The Rebecca Fund will support operations while the corpus remains intact and is allowed to grow through wise investments. An Investment Committee of the Board oversees and manages JSP's institutional funds.

Hank and Rebecca Conn join dozens of donors that believe in the Park’s mission, and the JSP staff and board are grateful for each and every one. Melanie adds, "Hank and Rebecca not only see the legacy that JSP will have, they are willing to help us get there."

We invite you to join us in investing in the Rebecca Fund.

For more information please contact Josephine Sculpture Park or phone Melanie at 502-352-7082 ext. 1.