Kentucky, Louisville renew rivalry to combat campus food insecurity
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 24, 2025) — The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville are channeling their longtime athletic rivalry into a fundraising competition aimed at addressing food insecurity among students.
The two schools will face off in the second annual Cats vs. Cards Challenge from Nov. 24 through Dec. 2 — Giving Tuesday — with donations supporting campus food pantries at both institutions.
At UK, contributions will go to Big Blue Pantry, which provides groceries, dairy products, bread, canned goods and personal care items at no cost to students facing financial hardship. The service addresses what administrators describe as a growing problem on college campuses nationwide.
“Food insecurity is a major issue on college campuses, which is why Big Blue Pantry is so important,” said Andrew Perkins, Big Blue Pantry program coordinator. “We’re grateful to receive support from the Cats vs. Cards Challenge because it will help us provide more meals for our students so they can focus on what matters most: their education.”
“When students are worried about where their next meal is coming from, it’s hard to focus on anything else,” said Jake Lemon, vice president for philanthropy and alumni engagement at UK. “This challenge is about Wildcats taking care of Wildcats — and yes, beating the Cardinals along the way. In this season of thanks and giving, we’re asking our community to show what generosity looks like when it really matters.”
The competition will be decided by total donor count rather than dollar amount. The school with the most donors by 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 2 will be declared the winner. Last December’s inaugural challenge ended in a razor-thin Kentucky victory, with the Wildcats finishing just two donors ahead of the Cardinals.
The fundraising drive coincides with the annual Kentucky-Louisville football game on Nov. 29 at noon ET at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium in Louisville, extending the rivalry from the field to philanthropic efforts.
Donors can contribute online to Big Blue Pantry and are encouraged to share their support on social media using #CatsVsCards. Those interested in amplifying their impact can check whether their employer offers matching gift programs.
“We’re grateful for every donor who steps up, whether it’s $5 or $5,000,” Lemon said. “And based on last year’s results, we know Big Blue Nation will show up in a big way. Our friends down I-64 are going to bring it, and so will we.”
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.