Kansas governor makes good on NCAA wager,
delivers 440 steak burgers to Hope Center

Thanks to the University of Kentucky’s 67-59 NCAA Championship victory over the University of Kansas April 2, as well as the generosity of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Lexington’s Hope Center put on a feast of Kansas steak burgers for its clients Tuesday. The steak burgers were the result of a friendly wager on the game between Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Brownback.
 

The state of Kansas had 440 steak burger patties delivered 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.
 

“We would like to thank Kansas and Gov. Brownback for their sportsmanship and this gracious donation,” said Beshear, who was joined by First Lady Jane Beshear at the Hope Center. “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.”
 

Brownback also hand-delivered an additional 120 burger patties to a shelter in Lawrence, Kan. 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,” 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.”
 

Beshear had wagered an equivalent delivery of Kentucky’s finest country ham, in the 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). It provides more than 25,000 meals, 10,000 nights of lodging, 700 healthcare services and 3,000 articles of clothing each month.
 

From the Office of Gov. Steve Beshear

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