The “Bluegrass on Beshear” organizers present a check to Alpha PCC in Hopkinsville in November 2021. COURTESY OF JEFF SMITH
Knights of Columbus councils unite to raise $33,495 for pro-life pregnancy care centers at ‘Bluegrass on Beshear – Pickin’ Life’
The “Bluegrass on Beshear” organizers present a check to Door of Hope in Madisonville in November 2021. COURTESY OF JEFF SMITH
BY JEFF SMITH, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Six western Kentucky Knights of Columbus councils joined forces on Oct. 9, 2021 to host the eighth annual one-day music fest/fundraiser on Lake Beshear, near Dawson Springs. The result was a huge success that smashed previous fundraising records for “Bluegrass on Beshear – Pickin’ Life.”
Knights of Columbus councils representing Madisonville, Hopkinsville, and Dawson Springs/Princeton/Eddyville donated food and volunteers that prepared and served it to the concertgoers. In addition, they helped guests park and get to and from the venue. Also, councils from Murray, Calvert City and the state Knights of Columbus, through its Culture of Life Fund for the Diocese of Owensboro, made large donations to sponsor the music fest.
Life-affirming pregnancy care centers Door of Hope (Madisonville), Alpha PCC (Hopkinsville) and H.O.P.E. Clinic (Benton and Eddyville) were the event’s beneficiaries. Each pregnancy care center received a check for $11,165 – one third of the $33,495 raised at the music fest – an event-record.
“Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear – Pickin’ Life” raised money through sponsorships, donations, food, drink and merchandise sales, and a multiple-item raffle. In 2021, a benefactor matched the first $12,000 of donations. The Knights of Columbus defrayed all event costs up front so that 100% of donations went directly to the pregnancy care centers.
Planning has already started for next year’s “Bluegrass on Beshear – Pickin’ Life” music fest. It will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Your western Kentucky Knights of Columbus hopes many members of the Owensboro Diocese will be able to attend net year.
Jeff Smith belongs to Resurrection Parish in Dawson Springs.
Originally printed in the January 2022 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
