Lifting Lives, Creating Futures
The Geraldine Melton Foundation helps students and classroom educators throughout Eastern Kentucky to improve their circumstances and lead more enriching lives through higher education scholarships.
Established in 2024, the foundation honors the life and legacy of Geraldine "Gerrie" Melton Tackett, a proud native of Leslie County and a graduate of the Leslie County High School Class of 1949. A trailblazer in her own right, Gerrie was a first-generation college graduate, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University in 1963, followed by a Master’s in Reading Education from the University of South Florida in 1969.
Gerrie dedicated over 30 years to education, touching lives in Ohio, Mississippi, and Florida. She was a deeply respected educator, known for her unwavering passion for teaching reading to young children and her enduring commitment to lifelong learning.
