Stoops Proud to be Part of Foundation That Raised $1.1 Million for UK Children’s Hospital

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops and the Board of Directors for the annual “Coaches for the Kids” fundraising event presented a check to the University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital Monday. (Vicky Graff Photo)

He’s got to worry about the transfer portal, national signing day Dec. 20 and playing Clemson in the Gator Bowl but Kentucky coach Mark Stoops took time before starting his press conference Monday to discuss something even more important.

Stoops and the board of directors for the annual “Coaches for the Kids” fundraising event presented a check to the University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital for $1.1 million.

“It’s my pleasure just to be a part of this organization. I brag on this guy (Dr. Scottie Day of the hospital) all the time because, as I say at the event, all it takes is for one of us to have a child sick, then we’re going to be at the mercy of Dr. Scottie Day and his crew, and he treats everybody like royalty,” said Stoops.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from. It doesn’t matter if you’re Mark Stoops’ child or if you’re anybody from Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, or anywhere in between. They treat everybody like gold and all you have to do is take a couple passes through Kentucky Children’s Hospital and it will open up your heart and will open up your wallet. It is very easy for myself and my staff to be a part of this event every year.”

Stoops credited former UK coach Rich Brooks for starting the foundation and then said he was glad to help rejuvenate it when he got to UK.

“They asked me about it and it was my pleasure to be a part of it. The board does all of the work for our event and a lot of our staff—our coaches, Josh Pruitt, Eddie Gran, all of our staff—we love being part of it,” Stoops said. “It kicks off the football season. It’s a great night to raise money and to celebrate a little bit. Again, I can’t brag enough on Dr. Scott Day and his crew and what they’ve done,” Stoops said.


“I am proud of all of the work and money we have raised over 11 years. You walk through there and you physically see some of the changes just to make it a little bit easier for the people that are going through the trauma that they are going through.

“I have some very, very close friends of mine that are going through it—that were here that are gone (have moved from Lexington) and some that have gone through it here.

“It’s just an honor to be a part of it. This guy [Dr. Day] is an absolute class act, and I am not just saying that. He is just an incredible human being. Makes me better, being a part of this organization and it is our pleasure, it’s our honor, to do this and to have an endowment that will help kick it forward. We are looking forward to the event again this summer, like we always do.”

Stoops said his players “love” going to the children’s hospital to see patients and his staff also regularly makes visits. He also said they do it with no fanfare.

“That’s part of what our players do. They like affecting young people and having an influence. All it takes is for somebody you know to have to spend a day there or need the care from these guys [the doctors], they’re the ones,” Stoops said.

“We’ve had people in my building go through situations this year. Everybody is talking about coaching and everybody’s writing about coaching and players and everything else.  All you need to do is have a little episode and we’re begging for a doctor, and certainly, for a child.”

Stoops said the event has been so successful that it has to be by invitation only and fils up immediately.

“We get over 650 people there that are there for a great cause, and it’s my pleasure to be a part of it and serve throughout the year,” Stoops said.