The South Union Bluegrass Band from Bowling Green, Ky., plays at Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear on Oct. 7, 2023. COURTESY OF PICKIN’ LIFE PROJECT
Eleventh annual pro-life fundraiser on Oct. 12
BY PICKIN’ LIFE ORGANIZERS, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
“Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear”, a one-day music festival and fundraiser for life-affirming pregnancy care centers, will be held for the 11th time on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 11:45 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Lake Beshear, four miles outside of Dawson Springs. The Pickin’ Life Project, a charitable organization founded by Resurrection Church parishioners Jeff and Laura Smith, hosts the event with the help of nine Knights of Columbus councils from the Owensboro diocese.
During its 10 years, “Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear” has raised more than $200,000 for four life-affirming pregnancy care centers in western Kentucky. Alpha PCC (Hopkinsville), Door of Hope (Madisonville) and H.O.P.E. Clinic (Benton and Eddyville) have been the beneficiaries. In 2023, the music fest raised $42,156. In addition, Knights of Columbus involvement netted an additional $8,000 for the pregnancy centers through its national Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) program. The pregnancy centers are faith-based and depend on private donations to remain open. They receive no government funding because the centers will never refer clients for abortion.
The Smiths are pleased to announce the addition of Pathway of Hope in Greenville as a beneficiary in 2024. “Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear” is held, rain or shine, at 307 Island Cove Lane in Dawson Springs. The grounds open at 11 a.m. Attendees should bring lawn chairs and are welcome to bring coolers. Volunteers will help people park, get to the venue and back to their cars. Bluegrass, country, gospel, rock and blues music begins at 11:45 a.m. Hot food and cold drinks are available for purchase all day. There will be a raffle with 15 winners and a $700 grand prize.
A benefactor will match total donations up to $15,000 – so every donation or purchase will be doubled. More information about the event and ways to donate can be found on www.bluegrassonbeshear.com, facebook.com/bluegrassonbeshear or (C) 270-399-5018. All donations go to the pregnancy care centers and are tax deductible. Please help the Pickin’ Life Project in its mission, “Saving babies’ lives and families’ hearts.”
A sunbeam or something else? A ray of light seems to emanate from a life-affirming poster at the start of Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear on Oct. 7, 2023 COURTESY OF PICKIN’ LIFE PROJECT
Originally printed in the October 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
