No more tickets available for Drew Brees UC speech

If you were hoping to see NFL Super Bowl champion and MVP Drew Brees when he speaks on Tuesday, April 5, at the University of the Cumberlands Excellence in Leadership Series, which is sponsored by The Forcht Group of Kentucky, then you are probably out of luck.

While the event is free, tickets are required for admission and have all been distributed.

Over 2,500 tickets have been spoken for including about 1,250 tickets issued to students and the remainder were allocated to community, faculty, staff and special guests.

The 2009 Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback for the New Orleans Saints was expected to be the keynote speaker at the university in 2020, but his appearance was canceled due to the pandemic.

In his two-decade professional football career, Brees made 13 Pro Bowls while being named 2004 Comeback Player of the Year, 2006 All-Pro Team, 2006 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, 2008 and 2011 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and Super Bowl XLIV Champion and MVP.

Off the field, he and his wife, Brittany, established the Brees Dream Foundation in 2003 and since then have contributed over $33 million to help improve the quality of life for cancer patients and provide care, education and opportunities for children and families in need.

In July 2020, the couple donated $5 million through the foundation in a partnership with Ochsner Health System to help build healthcare centers in Louisiana. Brees has also proudly participated in five USO trips visiting Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Turkey, Djibouti, Dubai, Okinawa, and Guantanamo Bay.

Brees retired from the NFL in March 2021. He is now a broadcaster with NBC Sports.

In addition to honoring Brees, UC will also be honoring Derrick Ramsey with a leadership award during the April 5 event.

Ramsey attended the University of Kentucky, played professional football and most recently served the Commonwealth of Kentucky as Secretary of the Labor Cabinet and Secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

UC’s annual lecture series is made possible by an endowment from local business owners Dr. Terry and Mrs. Marion Forcht, who founded The Forcht Group of Kentucky Center for Excellence in Leadership in 2006.

The purpose of the Center is to provide programs and activities that enhance the development of leadership, character and good citizenship.