Parent Profile: Rachel Trout

Tell us a little about yourself (family, pets, etc.) 

I was born and raised in Corydon, KY yet had to travel all the way to Kansas to find my love and have been married to him (Brandon) for 17 years. He’s blessed me with an amazing bonus kid, Jaxson, who’s 21 and we have three kids together: Kamryn (16), and twins Luke and Olivia who are 8. We also have three fur babies: Piper, Leo and Henry. 

What do you do for a living, and how long have you been in that position?

I serve as the Outreach and Development Coordinator for Matthew 25 and have been with
the organization for 3.5 years.

Tell us a little about Runway Red, and what is it like to see the community come together to show support for this organization?

Runway Red is a long-standing Matthew 25 event that combines fashion and philanthropy to support individuals affected by HIV. We select diverse community members to serve as models for many area boutiques to model their spring and summer fashions. The models partake in a friendly fundraising competition for a chance to be crowned King/Queen of the Runway. Aside from raising additional funds, our goal from the competition is to get more people in the room who may not otherwise know much about the work we do or the impact it has on our community. The event also features a VIP Experience that consists of dinner and a few other surprises this year, as well as an assortment of delicious desserts, silent auction, cash bar and photo opportunities. 

It’s not just a fashion show—it’s a chance for the whole community to come together to raise awareness, show support, and make a positive impact supporting our client base of nearly 900 individuals.

It is important to us with planning Runway Red to create an inclusive and welcoming environment that offers something for everyone to enjoy, as well as a chance to learn about our life-changing work. It’s about celebrating unity, raising awareness, breaking down stigma, and showing that when we work together, we can make a real difference in people’s lives as HIV truly impacts everyone in our community. This past year the event brought 640 guests, so to see that level of support from our community is truly amazing. 

When you aren’t helping others in the community, what hobbies do you and your family enjoy? 

I’m a huge foodie and don’t like cooking often, so my family and I enjoy trying new restaurants. You can often catch us strolling downtown shopping at our local boutiques or enjoying area parks. We all have very busy schedules, so any chance we get to just hang out at home together watching tv or partaking in fun TikTok trends is a perfect day. We’re a simple and low-key family.

How do you balance work and family life? 

Creating a good work-life balance has always been tough for me, but Matthew 25 truly supports that balance for their employees through a generous PTO package, no overtime and stressing the importance of mental health and self-care. Being in a community driven role often makes it hard to disconnect as I’m always representing the organization even in my personal time, but I try to be diligent with keeping my work and home life separate as much as possible. Learning to say no has been a goal of mine this past year and has helped me detach and become more intentional in my involvement with things.

If there is someone in need of your services or interested in learning more about what Matthew 25 offers, what steps do they need to take? 

I think the first step is always the hardest and that is simply reaching out and seeking help. We offer a judgement free atmosphere, so call any of our four clinic locations to make an appointment. We offer online scheduling through our website for a free HIV or Hepatitis C test. 

As the trusted experts in HIV care and prevention, we recommend anyone living with HIV who’s not connected to care to reach out. Our clinic team will get you scheduled quickly for an intake appointment which opens up our vast range of support services in addition to HIV care. We strive to eliminate any barriers to healthcare for each individual we serve.

I’d encourage anyone who’s never been tested for HIV to do so. The CDC recommends anyone between the ages of 13-64 to be tested at least once. Testing is always free with us and we have gift card incentives at times. Knowing your HIV status is an important step towards taking charge of your health. 

Follow us on all the socials or on our website, www.matthew25clinic.org to learn more.