Fourth Annual Poker Run a success!

The Upper Cumberland Community Foundation held its Fourth Annual Poker run on August 5th, raising over $10,000 to support organizations caring for the most vulnerable residents in Bell, Clay, Knox, Laurel, and Whitley Counties. The Clay County Cruisers publicized the Poker Run—a fundraiser where flights of vehicles drive to locations to pick up playing cards and then return to play a game of poker for a winning pot of $200. Drivers went to their first stop in Barbourville as part of a five-stop, four-hour tour of Southeast Kentucky's back roads. This year marked the ambitious effort to launch five flights of vehicles from five different cities simultaneously. Mayor Steve Collins and the Clay County Cheerleaders greeted the motorcycle flight out of Wildcat Harley Davidson in London. The top three hands and the worst hand received prizes at all locations. Randy Craft, an Upper Cumberland Board member, said, "We are so excited to see Manchester launch a flight and join the region in supporting the Foundation."
In the past few years, the Upper Cumberland Community Foundation supported six local small businesses with COVID relief and provided immediate financial support to our flood-impacted families in Oneida. Clay County's board representatives are Vanda Rice of The City of Manchester, Randy Craft from AdventHealth, and Terry Gray from Eastern Kentucky University. “We are helping the Foundation that helped us during our time of need,” said board member Vanda Rice.
Sponsors of the Poker Run included Manchester Tourism, AdventHealth of Manchester, The First National Bank of Manchester, Manchester - Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Volunteers of America Mid States, Century 21's Heather Barrineau, Orthodontist Dr. John Newcomb, Wildcat Harley Davidson, Backroads of Appalachia, Whitley County Tourism, Bell County Tourism, Walmart 1189 Barbourville, Knox County Chamber of Commerce, Barbourville Tourism, Bell County Chamber of Commerce, City of Pineville, Hearthside Bank, and Tim Short Auto Mall. Donating In-Kind were EKU Manchester Campus, Clay County Cheerleaders, Appalachian Jeep Outfitters, Edward Jones - Beth Davis, Cumberland Valley RECC, Whitley Cooperative Extension, London Laurel Chamber, Charles Schwab - Marc Taylor and the Middlesboro Main Street Program.
The Upper Cumberland Community Foundation is a leading and trusted community foundation, enhancing Eastern Kentucky through charitable giving, community involvement, and strategic partnerships by investing assets in our communities. The Community Foundation works to enrich the quality of life for Bell, Clay, Knox, Laurel, and Whitley Counties. Upper Cumberland Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, a network of nationally accredited foundations across the region. To learn more or support this work, donations to the Upper Cumberland Community Foundation can be made by visiting www.appalachianky.org/upper-cumberland-community-foundation.