By JAMES BROWN
Glasgow News 1
The message at the Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County ribbon cutting was, “from here, you can go anywhere.”
The messengers included Kelly Craft and Joe Craft, Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope, Kentucky players Trent Noah and Brandon Garrison, and club Chief Executive Officer Mallie Boston on Thursday, April 17.
Kelly Craft told the story of growing up in Barren County, the daughter of a veterinarian and a teacher, and how her boys and girls club was at the homes where she and her friends gathered.
She said the club at a former bank building was a great thing for the children in the community. Kelly and her husband, Joe, gave $2 million to the club through the Craft Foundation in 2023, and so the former New Farmer’s Bank is named the Craft Innovation Campus.
The ribbon cutting hosted by Barren Inc. was accompanied by an open house where children with the club could show the various things they are learning.
Kelly Craft said prior to the open house she looked forward to seeing the skills the children are learning.
“My father always told me if you give a person a fish, they will have a fish for a day, but if you teach them to fish, they will have fish for a lifetime,” she said.
From that lesson, Kelly Craft said she also learned that she could go anywhere in the world. She served as Ambassador to the United Nations during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Pope told the gathered crowd how he first learned he enjoyed competition. He said his family moved to Seattle when he was in the third grade, and his father decided he needed to find something for his son to do in order to make new friends.
Pope recounted how his father signed him up for a 5K that was being offered by a boys and girls club in the Seattle area. “That day I found out how much I loved to compete.”
That love took him from the northwest to playing basketball at Kentucky, the National Basketball Association and to coaching at the college level.
Both Noah and Garrison talked about the importance of being part of team and pushing each other as part of that team to be their best.
Boston said she was excited for everyone to see what the children at the club learn. She said that many of the programs available are for practical living, such as sewing. They also include science and technology programs, and much more.
Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County fold a U.S. flag at the Craft Innovation Campus ribbon cutting. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
Kelly Craft speaks at the Craft Innovation Campus ribbon cutting. The campus of the Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County is named for Kelly and her husband Joe. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County Chief Executive Officer Mallie Boston speaks during the ribbon cutting at the Craft Innovation Campus. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope speaks at the ribbon cutting for the Craft Innovation Campus. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
Kentucky men’s basketball player Trent Noah speaks as Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope and his wife, Lee Anne Pope, look on. They were at the Craft Innovation Campus for a ribbon cutting and open house. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
Kentucky basketball player Brandon Garrison speaks at the Craft Innovation Campus ribbon cutting. In the background, right, Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope reacts to Garrison’s speech. James Brown/Glasgow News 1
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