Bevins announce winner of charity auction to implode tower
Gov. Matt Bevin and First Lady Glenna Bevin announced that Andrew “A.J.” Stivers, of Shelbyville, was the winning bidder in the online charity auction to push the ceremonial plunger to implode Frankfort’s 28-story Capital Plaza Tower today.
The five-day auction drew more than 80 bids on eBay this week. One hundred percent of Stivers’ $15,000 top bid will benefit the First Lady’s foundation, #WeAreKY! Inc., that works to support statewide foster care and adoption initiatives.
Stivers operates Quality Care for Kids, a multi-specialty team of board certified ophthalmologists, pediatricians, and trained technicians that provides on-site routine vision and hearing exams to schools across Kentucky.
“The First Lady and I greatly appreciate the generous winning bid from Mr. Stivers and his family,” said Gov. Bevin. “A.J. Stivers provides vital healthcare services to Kentucky students and families through his business, Quality Care for Kids, and his donation to #WeAreKY! will positively impact the lives of our most vulnerable youth. We are honored to have A.J., his wife Michelle and their children, Tucker and Olivia, join us for this historic day. We will be excitedly watching, along with many others in the Commonwealth, as they push the detonation plunger to instantly transform the skyline of Kentucky’s capital city.”
After attending a special #WeAreKY! Foundation luncheon with the Governor and First Lady on Sunday, the Stivers family will join Gov. Bevin and state and local officials onstage during pre-implosion festivities. They will initiate the controlled collapse of the 330-foot office tower at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
Built in 1972, Capital Plaza Tower housed various state offices until its final tenants departed in October 2016. Demolition of the Capital Plaza complex signals the start of a redevelopment effort that will bring architectural and economic renewal to downtown Frankfort.
Today’s implosion ceremony will be livestreamed on Gov. Bevin’s official Facebook page beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. EDT.
