Dennis Gaines of Lexington has been named the Special Olympics Kentucky 2012 Coach of the Year. Gaines has coached basketball, flag football, softball and golf with the Fayette County Special Olympics program for four years. In addition to coaching, he is the Fayette County coordinator for golf and flag football and serves as a Global Messenger mentor. Andrew Gomez, a Special Olympics Kentucky athlete nominated Gaines. In his nomination letter, Gomez said, "Coach Dennis is a special man. He is truly an angel from God. There are not many people who understand me or special needs kids. ... Coach Dennis is not just a coach, he is my dearest friend!"

Komen affiliate accepting grant funding applications

The Lexington Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is accepting applications for grant funding to support collaborative and innovative programs to reduce breast cancer disparities and mortality across Kentucky.

Komen Lexington encourages applications that provide new or expanded projects that: increase knowledge about breast cancer, regular self-checks and mammograms; extend services to the underinsured and the uninsured in a 58-county service area; increase screening, diagnostic, treatment and support services to low-income women; and ensure that education programs enhance the awareness of breast cancer in males and females in all counties of the service area.

The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Jan. 3. To apply, visit Komenlexington.org/grants/how-to-apply-for-funding/. Contact Eileen Levy Smyth with any questions at missions@komenlexington.org.

Blood donors can get gift cards, movie tickets

Donors at the Kentucky Blood Center who donate through Jan. 4 will receive either a $10 gift card or movie tickets. Those who give at blood drives will receive a gift card; donors at KBC's four donor centers will receive two passes to an area cinema. Donor center locations are: Beaumont Donor Center, 3121 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington; Andover Donor Center, 3130 Maple Leaf Drive in the Andover Shoppes, Lexington; Pikeville Donor Center, 472 S. Mayo Trail, Pikeville; and Somerset Donor Center, 120 South Highway 27, Somerset.

All blood types are needed, but especially O negative and other negative blood types.

To encourage winter blood donations, KBC will reward one donor with an entertainment package, consisting of a 60" Smart TV with Wi-Fi, 3D Blue-ray entertainment center, a PlayStation 3 with Call of Duty, and a Triple Dipper slower cooker. Anyone who registers to donate through Feb. 1 is automatically entered.

To find a blood drive or to schedule a donation, visit Kybloodcenter.org or call 1-800-775-2522.

Items needed for homeless veterans

The Community Action Council is seeking donations of the following items for homeless veterans in Bourbon, Fayette, Harrison, Jessamine and Nicholas Counties: new and used backpacks, trial-size personal hygiene items, new white socks, and 12-ounce bottles of water.

Drop off items by Jan. 18 at all of the following Council locations: 913 Georgetown Street, 3439 Buckhorn Drive, 1902 Cambridge Drive, 1169 Winburn Drive, and 520 Toner Street, all in Lexington; 1414 South Main Street, Millersburg; 1113 Main Street, Paris; 216 Old Lair Road, Cynthiana; and 149 Scrubgrass Road, Carlisle.