Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Gov. Beshear, First Lady Thank Kansas Governor for Beef Donation Resulting from Friendly NCAA Wager, UK Victory

Wildcats’ Defeat of Jayhawks Means 440 Steak Burgers for Lexington Shelter

FRANKFORT, Ky.– Governor Steve Beshear today joined clients of a Lexington shelter as they enjoyed the proceeds of a friendly wager with Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback on the 2012 NCAA basketball title game.

Thanks to the University of Kentucky’s 67-59 victory over the University of Kansas on April 2, and the generosity of Gov. Brownback, Lexington’s Hope Center put on a feast of Kansas steak burgers for its clients.

“We would like to thank Kansas and Governor Brownback for their sportsmanship and this gracious donation,” said Gov. Beshear, who was joined by First Lady Jane Beshear. “Of course we also thank the UK team for thrilling us with their inspired play this season. Our Kentucky farmers also produce excellent beef, but today some of our citizens are enjoying this import and celebrating the Wildcats’ eighth national championship.”

Kansas delivered 440 steak burger patties to the Hope Center, which serves the homeless and those with addiction and mental health issues. The beef donation will help feed more than 400 homeless men and women.

Gov. Brownback also hand-delivered an additional 120 burger patties to a shelter in Lawrence, Kansas. The Kansas City Steak Company helped provide the Kansas steak and the Kansas Beef Council helped arrange the donations.

“While we were cheering for a championship, we are still proud of the great season the Jayhawks had,” Gov. Brownback said.  “In recognition of Kentucky’s victory, we’re also proud to share one of our finest products, Kansas beef, with those in need in both Kentucky and Kansas. Beef is a significant driver of the Kansas economy and an important part of our state’s heritage.”

Gov. Beshear had wagered an equivalent delivery of Kentucky’s finest country ham, in the unlikely event of a loss by the Wildcats to the Jayhawks.

“It’s great to see a national event bring two cities together and help the homeless. We are very grateful to Governors Beshear and Brownback for their passion and generosity,” said Cecil Dunn, executive director of the Hope Center. “This beef will make an immediate impact on the homeless that we serve and is a very creative way to show our clients that our community cares.”

The Hope Center provides emergency shelter, food, and clothing 365 days a year to help the homeless and those with addiction and mental health issues get off the street and stay off the street. To meet those needs, the Hope Center has programs that deal with recovery from addiction (for men and women), mental health issues, employment assistance, transitional housing, social services, a free health clinic, permanent housing and the Hope Mobile (mobile outreach).

The Hope Center provides more than 25,000 meals, 10,000 nights of lodging, 700 healthcare services and 3,000 articles of clothing each month. See www.hopectr.org for more information.

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