Angie Crawford, executive director of Alpha Pregnancy Care Center in Hopkinsville, holds a check for $12,864 from the Pickin’ Life Project. It is a donation from the proceeds of Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear, which was held on Oct. 8. With Angie are (from left) Fr. Richard Meredith, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish; Ken Buckner and Tom O’Hagan from the Hopkinsville Knights of Columbus; Sheila O’Hagan from the Alpha Board of Directors; Joe Mezzoni (Hopkinsville Knights); Bill Rush, president of Christian County Right to Life; and Jeff Smith, co-host of the bluegrass event. COURTESY OF PICKIN’ LIFE
‘Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear – Pickin’ Life’ raises $38,592 for pro-life pregnancy care centers
BY JEFF SMITH, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
The Pickin’ Life Project and seven Kentucky Knights of Columbus councils joined forces on Oct. 8, 2022 to host the 9th annual one-day music festival fundraiser at Lake Beshear, near Dawson Springs. The result was a huge success that smashed previous fundraising records for “Bluegrass on Beshear – Pickin’ Life.”
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 $12,864 – one third of the $38,592 raised at the music fest – an event record. Additionally, the Pickin’ Life Project donated $1,000 to the St. Gerard Life Home for moms and babies, which is in Owensboro and operated by Catholic Charities.
Knights of Columbus councils from Madisonville, Hopkinsville, and Dawson Springs/Princeton/Eddyville donated food and volunteers who prepared and served it to the concertgoers. In addition, they helped guests park and assisted people with mobility issues. Also, councils from Murray, Calvert City, Hardin/Aurora and the State, through its Culture of Life Fund for the Diocese of Owensboro, made large donations to sponsor the music fest. The participation of these councils will also lead to an additional $7,200 in donations to the pregnancy centers through a new Knights of Columbus program called Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP).
“Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear – Pickin’ Life” raised money through sponsorships, donations, food, drink and merchandise sales, and a multi-item raffle. A benefactor matched the first $12,000 of donations and the Pickin’ Life project donated $3,000. Event hosts defrayed all costs up front so that 100% of donations went directly to the pregnancy care centers.
Planning has already begun for next year’s 10th anniversary “Bluegrass on Beshear – Pickin’ Life” music fest. It will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Follow www.bluegrassonbeshear.com or facebook/bluegrassonbeshear for details.
Jeff Smith belongs to Resurrection Parish in Dawson Springs.
The Lighthouse Vocal Band plays at Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear – Pickin’ Life” on Oct. 8, 2022. COURTESY OF PICKIN’ LIFE
Originally printed in the December 2022 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
