PADUCAH — Kentucky’s Be Kind license plate has raised a total of $18,510 over the past two years, the Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation announced Friday. Money raised from license plate sales are used to fund 13 youth mental health drop-in centers across the state.
The foundation aims to spread a message of kindness and support through the plates anywhere a Kentucky vehicle travels.
“The Be Kind plate supports youth mental health, but it also serves as a moving billboard for kindness,” said Susan Guess with the Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation. “Our hope is that this visual reminder will inspire kind acts and remind people of the power of kindness. Our cars travel across Kentucky and across the country, and we hope Kentuckians will stand with us to show that our state is committed to creating kinder schools and communities.”
To date, 1,180 Kentuckians have selected the Be Kind plate, representing 106 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, the foundation said in a news release. The top five counties for participation are Fayette with 91, McCracken with 79, Jefferson with 62, Kenton with 51, and Warren with 41.
Funds generated by the license plates go toward the state’s 13 youth mental health drop-in centers, which aim to provide walk-in support services for youth and young adults, according to the foundation. One of the centers is The Zone at Paducah’s Four Rivers Behavioral Health, which is part of the facility’s Center for Transitional Aged Youth.
“Adolescents and young adults ages 16 to 25 are at a higher risk for mental health concerns and substance use disorders because their brains are still forming,” Sarah Trover, vice president of clinical services at Four Rivers Behavioral Health, said. “When you couple that with things like peer pressure and the everyday rigors of simply growing up, it’s important youth have a place to go to feel safe and accepted… To be able to provide snacks or a place to do a load of laundry goes a long way in giving them stability. We would not be able to do those things without additional funding from programs like the Be Kind license plate.”
The foundation began the license plate project in 2020, with the plates becoming available in county clerks’ offices statewide in January 2024. The plate raised $11,880 in 2025, up from $6,630 in 2024, the foundation said.
“When we started our anti-bullying work, Kentucky led the nation in teen suicide attempts, and children as young as 7 were self-harming,” said Morgan Guess with the foundation. “A recent report from the Kentucky Commission on Women shows nearly 1 in 10 high school girls attempt suicide. We have a lot of work to do, and we hope more Kentuckians will support youth mental health by selecting this plate.”
Kentucky drivers may obtain the license plate at a county clerk’s office. Drivers may take their current license plate and exchange it for a Be Kind plate, according to the foundation. The annual renewal cost for every plate is $21. The Be Kind plate is an additional $23, with $10 from each plate supporting youth mental health initiatives.