Beloved bluegrass bash raises nearly $75,000 for western Ky. pregnancy resource centers

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (KT) - Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear, an annual fundraiser benefiting four pregnancy resource centers in western Kentucky, broke the previous year's record total, amassing $74,752 to support pro-life ministry.

Jeff and Laura Smith, who organize the fundraiser and host it on their property, said they were "gratified" to surpass their $60,000 goal.

"We were so blessed to have the ultimate combination of great weather, a big crowd, wonderful entertainment, delicious food and generous people," said the Smiths in an email. "It will be hard to top 2025's edition of 'Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear' but we will try."

The October event generated an initial $62,532--yielding four checks worth $15,588 for Alpha Pregnancy Care Center in Hopkinsville, Door of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Madisonville, Pathway of Hope in Greenville and H.O.P.E. Clinic, which has locations in Benton and Eddyville.

The Smiths said the best part of Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear is vising the pregnancy centers to deliver those funds.

"We cannot overemphasize--they are doing God's work!"

Because of generous engagement from attendees that has grown over the years, Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear has been able to increase the support provided to their partner pregnancy centers.

"The support from [Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear] has become large enough to be a budget item that the centers can count on. It is particularly important this year because overall donations from the public in 2025 are down a little. At the same time, demands are up on the centers and they're facing a new challenge--increased use of the abortion pill. For example, Alpha [Pregnancy Care Center] this year provided successful abortion reversal treatments to 3 ladies who had taken abortion pills but immediately regretted their decisions, resulting in the births of 4 healthy babies--including one set of twins!"

Angie Crawford, executive director of Alpha, said the funds provided by the bluegrass bash will help her pregnancy center meet budget this year.

"We are SO THANKFUL for Jeff and Laura Smith and Bluegrass on Beshear! They are one of our larger donors," Crawford said via email. "It is because of support like this that we can continue [to] support the moms and babies in our community."

Representative members of the Knights of Columbus present a check to Diana Anderson, executive director of Pathway of Hope in Greenville, Ky. (Facebook photo)

Diana Anderson, executive director of Pathway of Hope, said her center was "so honored to be a part of this financial blessing."

The donation they received will aid in the implementation of a new educational curriculum and contribute toward building the pregnancy center's men's ministry.

"Having funds like this offers us the opportunity to purchase things that have been the desire of our hearts in order to strengthen and grow our already booming ministry to the benefit of our clients," said Anderson in an email. "To offer more and better educational opportunities. To provide support in areas we may not have been able to before. We believe that anything we can do to be a 'hand up' for our parents to equip them to be the best they can be is wonderful."

The four pregnancy centers received Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear's donation in November, but more funds related to the event will be disseminated in the new year thanks to the partnership of a Catholic fraternal organization.

"The Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) Program offered by the Knights of Columbus nationally is in its 4th year and is based on the amount of funds raised and donated to pregnancy resource centers and the number of local Knights of Columbus councils involved," the Smiths said. "In 2025, 12 Kentucky Knights of Columbus Councils helped us raise a record amount, so we also set a new ASAP record with $12,400."

The Knights of Columbus will send the funds directly to the pregnancy centers in early 2026.

In the 12 years since its inception, Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear has raised and donated $307,557 to western Kentucky pregnancy resource centers.

Next year's event will happen on Saturday, October 10, 2026.