Beshear’s coronavirus fund has raised nearly $400,000 so far. How will it be spent?
Gov. Andy Beshear’s Team Kentucky Fund has raised nearly $400,000 in 9 days to provide financial help for people whose livelihoods have been harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but his administration still can’t answer basic questions about how the fund will operate.
“We hope to have more details about the fund soon, probably this week from the governor,” said Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman Tuesday in a phone interview.
As of Tuesday, she said the fund had collected more than $390,000 from more than 4,600 donors. Donations can be made at donate.ky.gov.
Left unanswered are such questions as who will make decisions on spending money from the fund, how quickly the money will be distributed, how requests for its money can be made and whether the names of donors will be made public.
“I would err on the side of transparency and say the donations likely will be made public,” Coleman said.
She said major details about how the fund will be administered are still being worked out.
“Answers to such questions will be announced soon, probably this week, during the governor’s 5 p.m. news conferences to update Kentuckians on the coronavirus,” she said.
Coleman said the Public Protection Cabinet’s legal team has been working on “making sure everything is done right.”
The lieutenant governor said she will co-chair the fundraising effort with another co-chair to be announced soon by Beshear. She said Public Protection Secretary Kerry Harvey will oversee the fund.
Initial fundraising has been boosted by the help of celebrities “and more are on the way,” said Coleman.
“You will see more well-known, notable Kentuckians pushing the fund, people whose names you know,” she said.
So far, Beshear has aired video announcements for the fund featuring University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball Coach John Calipari and University of Louisville Football Coach Scott Satterfield.
“We hope to help as many people as we can,” said the lieutenant governor, a former public school educator and basketball coach.
All donations will be tax-deductible and 100 percent of the money raised will go to needy Kentuckians, she said.
“We will gladly take any amount of donation. Every dime counts,” she said. “Many Kentucky families are on hard times. This will provide some help.”
She added: “We won’t be able to supplement everyone’s income but we want to be as compassionate as possible.”
Beshear signed an executive order March 23 creating the unique fund.
In his order, Beshear said the fund will consist of money received from public or private sectors to provide “supplemental financial assistance” to persons who are severely financially impacted due to the COVID-19 emergency.
“Helping people stay safe and navigate through crisis is the heart of public service, and the Public Protection Cabinet in particular,” Harvey said. “We know government can’t cure all the problems associated with the pandemic, but this fund is one way to help those who’ve lost wages. I encourage everyone to answer the governor’s call of joining Team Kentucky. Giving to the fund is a great way to get on the team.”
