Gov. Beshear Presents $1.9 Million To Support Childhood Cancer Patients as Team Kentucky Leads Fight To Find a Cure
Governor secured record $14 million for pediatric cancer research and support in 2024-2026 state budget
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 27, 2025) – Today, at Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Gov. Andy Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Senior Advisor Rocky Adkins joined leaders from the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund (KPCRTF) Board to present more than $1.9 million in financial and psychosocial support grants for children living with cancer and their families.
The Governor also signed proclamations recognizing Brain Cancer Awareness Month, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Awareness Day and the fifth annual David Turner Jr. Ice Cream Day.
“All Kentucky kids deserve to grow up healthy and happy. And no parent whose child is facing cancer should have to worry that they might lose their home because of overwhelming medical expenses,” Gov. Beshear said. “Today, many leaders in D.C. are sitting back and threatening to leave millions of folks without health insurance. But we are standing up to make sure our children get the treatment they need to save their lives.”
“Kentucky has prioritized pediatric cancer research and support for families facing this disease, showing we are a national leader working to ensure our children’s voices are heard,” said David Jr.’s mom and KPCRTF President Elizabeth Turner. “Thank you to Gov. Beshear and Team Kentucky for continuing to honor David Turner Jr. Ice Cream Day, giving us hope that one day, children with DIPG will have the opportunity to grow up.”
In the United States, childhood cancer is the No. 1 cause of death by disease in children, and medical debt is the No. 1 cause of bankruptcy.
In 2024, Gov. Beshear worked with legislators to secure a record $14 million to fight childhood cancer over the biennium: $10 million for research funding through House Bill 6 and $4 million to support the families of Kentucky’s pediatric cancer patients through House Bill 1.
Today, the Governor and the KPCRTF Board awarded seven grants to hospitals and nonprofits, including:
- $976,333 to Norton Children’s Cancer Institute to launch the new Norton Children’s Cancer Institute Family Resource and Survivorship Center.
- $500,000 to the University of Kentucky (UK) Markey Cancer Foundation to create the Care Advancing Treatment Succession (CATS) Financial Assistance Fund for pediatric cancer patients and their families.
- $220,000 to Book for Hope for its Just Imagine a Cure Project, which includes financial and in-kind support to childhood cancer patients and caregivers with critical needs, like car repairs so they can get to treatment, or medical equipment that is not covered by insurance.
- $160,000 to Kids Cancer Alliance (KCA) to expand its Financial Assistance Program. The organization also hosts summer camps and retreats for pediatric cancer patients and their siblings, along with fun activities for kids who are receiving treatment in the hospital.
- $31,000 to Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana to expand its Pediatric Financial Assistance Program, which helps cover basic expenses for childhood cancer patients and their families, like groceries and transportation. Gilda’s Club provides social and emotional support for families living with cancer, offering more than 190 programs per month, all at no cost to participants. To learn more, visit gck.org. To become a member or refer a family, click here.
- $24,000 to Super Drew’s Crew, which provides financial support directly to families facing childhood cancer. Super Drew, 10-year-old childhood cancer survivor Drew Esposito, and his dad, Jeremy, joined the Governor to accept the award.
- $11,800 to Seth’s Squad, which provides psychosocial support programs for childhood cancer patients and their loved ones, including family nights out and support groups. The organization also delivers meals and toys to the hospital to provide hope and build community for families battling this illness. The Governor first met Seth, a five-time cancer survivor at just 10-years-old, at Childhood Cancer Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in February.
“Childhood cancer impacts families far beyond diagnosis and treatment,” said Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare. “By offering resources alongside great medical care, this center will help families heal during their journey, providing hope and support during an incredibly challenging time.”
“Pediatric cancer imposes a significant financial burden on families—a challenge felt acutely in Kentucky, where childhood cancer incidence rates are 7.2% higher than the national average,” the UK Markey Cancer Foundation shared in a statement. “The CATS Fund is designed to reduce financial stress for families navigating a childhood cancer diagnosis — ensuring that no child’s care is compromised by economic hardship. By reducing out-of-pocket expenses and related costs, this fund will provide direct support to patients and empower families to focus on healing, not financial strain.”
“If you’ve ever met Savannah, there are two things you know about her. She loves cats and has a lot of really great hair,” said Danira Garner, mom of Savannah, who has been fighting a brain tumor, optic glioma, since she was 2 and a half years old. “Savannah is currently on her seventh treatment, and she doesn’t know what it is to have a normal life. Even when the treatments are over, the battle itself is not over due to life-long side effects and complications. On top of that, Savannah’s medical journey has caused a financial hardship to this day. I really hope that these programs that help pediatric oncology patients continue to be supported.”
Apply for Pediatric Cancer Research and Support Funding by Sept. 2
The Governor and KPCRTF encourage eligible hospitals, nonprofits, research and educational institutions and government agencies to apply for the next round of pediatric cancer research and support grant funding. Applications are due Sept. 2, 2025. To learn more and see both requests for applications, visit the KPCRTF’s website.
Team Kentucky Leads Fight Against Childhood Cancer
In 2015, the commonwealth became one of the first states in the nation to dedicate funding for childhood cancer research. That year, the KPCRTF was established by Senate Bill 82 and was funded with $2.5 million each year of the biennium as part of the 2018 budget. In 2022, the budget bill included $2.5 million in base funding per fiscal year, as well as an additional one-time allocation of $3.75 million per fiscal year.
Gov. Beshear has supported childhood cancer research since his first days in office. In February 2020, he and First Lady Britainy Beshear met David Turner Jr., who was battling DIPG, an aggressive form of brain cancer. That day, David Jr. said he wanted to use the Governor’s proclamation pen to declare National Ice Cream Day.
During the last year of his life, David Jr. visited the state Capitol many times to advocate for other children with cancer and for all Kentuckians who were at higher risk for COVID-19 complications. He even joined one of the Governor’s press briefings and shared a message on his social media pages.
On May 21, 2021, David Jr. passed away from DIPG at age 9. Just a few hours later, Gov. Beshear proclaimed May 21, 2021, as the first David Turner Jr. Ice Cream Day in the commonwealth, a tradition he will continue every year he is Governor.
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Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 29, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update on economic development, severe weather recovery, funding awards to support communities recovering from February’s severe storms and floods, summer food assistance and medical cannabis. The Governor named all Kentucky families fighting childhood cancer, as well as medical professionals and advocates, as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.
Economic Development
Today, Gov. Beshear joined local officials and representatives from Aerospace Composites Solutions, a comprehensive composite design and manufacturing company focused on boosting aircraft performance and capabilities, as the company celebrated the grand opening of a new $16.8 million facility in Morgantown, adding 72 full-time jobs to the community.
This month, Gov. Beshear joined local officials and leaders from Zoetis, a world leader in animal health services, for the ribbon cutting of the company’s new diagnostics reference laboratory at the UPS Healthcare Labport in Louisville.
The Governor highlighted new investment in Kentucky’s workforce development initiatives to further maintain and advance the commonwealth’s thriving economy, as over 11,700 Kentuckians will receive skills training thanks to support provided through the Bluegrass State Skills Corp., which oversees programs attached to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development that help private-sector businesses establish industry-specific training initiatives.
Severe Weather Recovery
Gov. Beshear provided an update on severe weather that took place May 16-17 and hit South Central Kentucky particularly hard, with six tornadoes touching down in the commonwealth. Tomorrow, the Governor will be travelling to Laurel and Pulaski counties to assess progress with the intermediate housing program where Team Kentucky houses displaced families in travel trailers, as well as visiting the London and Somerset Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs).
“We’ll be there for the families and communities that are mourning and trying to recover – every step of the way, for as long as it takes,” said Gov. Beshear.
The Governor said the number of confirmed deaths connected to severe weather remains at 19. The fatalities include 17 people in Laurel County, one in Pulaski County and one in Russell County. There are six injured people at the University of Kentucky Hospital: two in critical condition and four in good condition.
Gov. Beshear reminded Kentuckians and anyone else who would like to help that the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund is there to support survivors, including paying for funeral expenses for those lost in the disaster. To donate, click here. So far, the fund has raised more than $1.5 million in donations from 6,692 donors.
Gov. Beshear recently announced that President Donald Trump approved his request for Individual Assistance for individuals and households in Caldwell, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Trigg and Union counties affected by the most recent storms. Click here for a fact sheet on how to apply. Public Assistance is still under review for the May event, as is Hazard Mitigation for the entire state. Since the commonwealth received approval, FEMA has approved over $340,000 for 41 applications. At least 162 survivors have registered for Disaster Survivor Assistance.
The Governor has been working with FEMA to open DRCs, where those affected can go to apply for FEMA aid and receive other assistance. Click here to view the current hours and locations of the DRCs for the February and April floods, or click here for the DRCs related to the recent severe storms and tornado.
At Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, 13 households are being housed in travel trailers. Three more trailers are ready for survivors, one is pending installation and 105 more are coming to the site.
There is an estimated 400,000 cubic yards of debris in need of removal in affected areas. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, city and county governments and emergency management are working together to develop a plan to have debris removed as quickly as possible.
For those who lost vital documents during the storms, the Governor signed an executive order that suspends certain requirements for ID cards, driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations and titles. During the May state of emergency, residents of any county included in a presidential major disaster declaration can get a duplicate of any of these documents – at no cost.
$25 Million in SAFE Fund Awards
The Governor announced the first 14 awards from the State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) 4860 fund to assist communities impacted by February’s severe storms and floods, declared as FEMA Disaster 4860. The Governor signed legislation in March to create this new SAFE fund.
The awards total more than $25 million. They include two awards for specific projects or required match funding and 12 awards to assist with financial strains caused by the natural disaster.
In 2022, the Governor worked with legislators to establish the West Kentucky and East Kentucky SAFE funds to respond to devastating tornadoes in the west and floods in the east. Since then, he has awarded more than $118 million to Western Kentucky and $143 million to Eastern Kentucky to help these communities recover.
Summer Food Assistance
Gov. Beshear announced that, thanks to approval by the federal government, healthy meals will continue to be provided to 450,000 Kentucky children while school is out this summer. Each eligible student will receive a one-time benefit of $120 to purchase nutritious food throughout the summer. Support comes through the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, which began in 2024.
“Every child deserves access to nutritious meals year-round,” said Gov. Beshear. “Building on last year’s success, our continued effort with this program is a crucial investment in our children’s health and well-being. I’m proud to see this growing initiative provide support to families when they need it most.”
Medical Cannabis
On Wednesday, Gov. Beshear helped break ground on the first medical cannabis safety compliance facility in the commonwealth. With a roughly $1 million investment, State38 LLC will employ around a dozen Kentuckians. The new safety compliance facility will be one of seven in the state dedicated to ensuring the safety and quality of medical cannabis products.
Team Kentucky has confirmed locations for 39 of the 48 planned dispensaries throughout the state. The Office of Medical Cannabis has launched a Dispensary Directory so cardholders can see how close dispensaries will be to them. To find a dispensary that will be open near you, visit kymedcan.ky.gov. Patients were able to start applying for medical cannabis cards on Jan. 1, 2025. Since that time, 10,224 medical cannabis cards have been issued, along with 15,108 written certifications.
To ensure Kentuckians are not paying for a card they cannot use in 2025, today, Gov. Beshear signed an executive order that waives the 2026 renewal application fee for any Kentuckian that received a card in 2025.
Team Kentucky All-Stars
On Tuesday, Gov. Beshear joined leaders from the Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund Board to present more than $1.9 million in financial and psychosocial support grants for children living with cancer and their families. Today, the Governor named all Kentucky families fighting childhood cancer, as well as medical professionals and advocates, as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.
“A childhood cancer diagnosis is something most of us can’t imagine. These families experience the worst kind of pain and suffering, paired with overwhelming medical expenses,” said Gov. Beshear. “All Kentucky kids deserve to grow up healthy and happy. We’re committed to supporting these families and fighting for a cure.”
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Gov. Beshear: Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Available for Those in 6 Counties Affected
by Severe Storms in May
Kentuckians in counties that received federal approval
for Individual Assistance may be eligible
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 29, 2025) – Gov. Andy Beshear announced today that the state will accept applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from individuals in six counties who are out of work as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that occurred in Kentucky on May 16-17, 2025.
On May 23, 2025, President Donald Trump approved part of Gov. Beshear’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to the devastating May severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes. The declaration includes Individual Assistance for Kentuckians in Caldwell, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Trigg and Union counties affected by the May storms.
The Governor will request that additional designations and counties be added to the declaration through an amendment as ongoing assessments are completed.
Individuals – including unemployed and self-employed individuals who were living or working in the affected areas and became unemployed or had work interrupted as a direct result the severe storms that occurred in Kentucky on May 16-17, 2025 – are eligible to apply for DUA benefits through the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance.
DUA is available to individuals who:
- Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work;
- Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of a disaster, which can also include the physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state or local government in immediate response to the disaster;
- Establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;
- Do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state;
- Cannot work or resume self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or
- As a result of the disaster, became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of the household.
In order to qualify for DUA benefits, claimants in eligible counties must show that their employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster and that they are not otherwise eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits under state or federal law. Farmers and other self-employed individuals who traditionally are ineligible for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits may qualify for DUA.
To receive DUA benefits, the federal program requires individuals to provide documents, including a copy of their most recent federal or state income tax forms or check stubs, a bill showing their physical address at the time of the disaster and a photo ID. All required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the individual’s DUA application is filed.
DUA is available for up to 27 weeks of unemployment beginning May 18, 2025, until Nov. 22, 2025, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster.
How To File a Claim
Affected individuals should visit the Kentucky Career Center website at kcc.ky.gov or call 502-564-2900 to file their initial claim. The deadline to apply for assistance is July 22, 2025.
Updated information will be communicated on the Kentucky Career Center website and through future press releases with detailed information. DUA is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and benefits are not charged to employers.
Following the storms, the Governor urged local officials to start the federal Individual Assistance and Public Assistance damage assessments and asked Kentuckians who experienced storm damage to take photographs to document damages before cleaning up and to report those losses to their local emergency management officials.
Gov. Beshear also activated the State Emergency Operations Center and activated the state’s price gouging laws to protect Kentuckians from overpriced goods and services as they cleaned up from the severe weather.
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Gov. Beshear Announces Extension of Summer
Food Program for 450,000 Children
Program helps feed children during their break from school
FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 23, 2025) – Gov. Andy Beshear announced that, thanks to approval by the federal government, healthy meals will continue to be provided to 450,000 Kentucky children while school is out this summer.
Each eligible student will receive a one-time benefit of $120 to purchase nutritious food throughout the summer. Support comes through the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, which began in 2024.
The program will automatically enroll students 6 to 18 years old who are current recipients of SNAP, KTAP or Kinship Care benefits, as well as children attending schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. For families with students not automatically enrolled, applications are available until Aug. 15 at kysebt.ky.gov. Assistance is also available by calling the Department of Community Based Services at 855-306-8959 or by visiting a local office.
“Every child deserves access to nutritious meals year-round,” said Gov. Beshear. “Building on last year’s success, our continued effort with this program is a crucial investment in our children’s health and well-being. I’m proud to see this growing initiative provide support to families when they need it most.”
“Food isn’t just a necessity – it’s a building block for strong, thriving communities,” added Gov. Beshear. “By extending this program, we are not only fighting hunger but also laying the groundwork for a healthier future for our families. I want to thank the many individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to feed our people through efforts like these.”
Last year, Summer EBT provided food benefits for nearly 400,000 kids in Kentucky. Providing families with grocery money to make up for the loss of school meals is a proven approach to address the spike in child hunger that occurs during the summer break.
For additional details on the Summer EBT Program and other food assistance options, please visit the CHFS website at chfs.ky.gov.
Today’s action furthers the administration’s commitment to solving hunger in the commonwealth.
At the height of the pandemic, the administration used funding to eliminate a waitlist for about 7,000 meals. In total, more than 5 million meals for seniors were delivered.
Last year, the Governor included $10 million in his budget proposal, in each fiscal year, to continue providing this nutritious food and to make sure the commonwealth never has a waitlist. And he has fought to protect tens of thousands of Kentuckians from having their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits cut by members of the General Assembly. Thousands of Kentuckians rely on this program, and 40% of the households receiving SNAP include school-age children.
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