Maker’s Mark will produce commemorative bottles of its bourbon featuring legendary University of Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp as part of a fundraising effort to expand the school’s support center for student-athletes.
UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart announced the initiative Tuesday, which also will be aided by Keeneland, to raise as much as $4 million over five years for the expansion.
“Serving our student-athletes, as well as positioning them for success after they leave UK, remains our primary goal as a department,” Barnhart said in a statement.
The effort is aimed at expanding the university’s Center for Academic and Tutorial Services (CATS) with a new tutorial center that will be housed in the new football training facility next to Commonwealth Stadium.
“Education was so important to my grandparents, who created Maker’s Mark,” sMaker’s Chief Operating Officer Rob Samuels said. “They also believed in giving back to the community, and the CATS program is a great way to do that.”
As part of the initiative, Maker’s Mark plans to produce a series of commemorative bottles, beginning this spring with one celebrating Rupp.
“Coach Rupp was not only a peerless basketball coach, but also a dedicated educator,” Barnhart said. “We can’t think of a better figure to kick off this series, and we’re so glad that Maker’s Mark agreed.”
Maker’s Mark and Keeneland also are spearheading effort to get area businesses to match $2 million in contributions for the expansion.
“Keeneland is proud to kick off the fundraising campaign by pledging $100,000 over the next five years to the initiative,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason. “We ask 19 other organizations to join us in this worthy effort. ”