Charity Program

You can Run for a Cause!

Make your miles count even more through our Race Charity Program. Hundreds of participants in the GE Appliances miniMarathon & Marathon not only give of themselves physically but give to others as well. For years, runners have used the race to raise both awareness and funds for many local and national charities.

The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation – the charitable arm of the Kentucky Derby Festival – oversees efforts of the Charity Program. Foundation Board Members and volunteers are assigned as liaisons to help coordinate the fundraising efforts. Since the online program was launched in 2005, more than $2 million has been raised for participating local and national charities.

(Runners can pick their Charity through their Race Profile on RunSignup during or after registration)

NEW FOR 2025: The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation will offer a matching donation to Official Race Charities. For every $500 raised by each participating charity, the Foundation will donate $100 (up to a maximum $1,000 donation per charity).

Through funding and support for charitable, educational, cultural activities and historical preservation, the Foundation fosters inclusive experiences for the community that inspire individual and community growth.

For more information about the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation: CLICK HERE

2025 Charity Partners include:

The Alzheimer’s Association leads the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

The Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association provides service and education to 125 counties across greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Over 5 million Americans are living with the disease and more than 90,000 of them reside in our service territory. Services provided include education programs for persons with dementia, caregivers, professionals and the general community, as well as support groups and a 24/7 Helpline. Further, the Chapter advocates at the state and national level of government for research and support services on behalf of the people of Kentucky who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. The Association’s vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease and all other dementia.

To fundraise for the Greater Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association: CLICK HERE

The American Lung Association’s mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, research and advocacy.

To fundraise for the American Lung Association in Kentucky: CLICK HERE

In early 2015, a small group of parents who didn’t know each other particularly well decided to meet over a cold beer at a local brewery in Louisville. The one thing they had in common… children battling cystic fibrosis. That night, the Klausings (Luke – 8 years old at the time), the Foushees (Alex – 2 years old at the time) and the Sweeneys (Samuel – 8 months old at the time) decided to work tirelessly to rally their city to join the fight to save their kids and beat CF once and for all.  Cure CF, Inc.  is 100% volunteer based: no employees, no salaries, no overhead; therefore, 100% of all money raised goes to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Cure CF’s mission is to fund research at the national and local level and to create a local center of excellence, both of which will increase the quality of life for people with Cystic Fibrosis.

To fundraise for Cure CF, Inc.: CLICK HERE

 

The Friends of the Ohio River Greenway was established in 2009 by members of the communities in Southern Indiana interested in supporting the Ohio River Greenway Project. The group consists of local volunteers who seek to increase public and private awareness of, and support for, the Greenway through advocacy, educational outreach, social networking and fundraising.

The organization provides support to the Ohio River Greenway Commission by assisting in fundraising as well as providing management of events and grants.

Friends of the Ohio River Greenway’s mission is to raise awareness of the Ohio River Greenway and promote its ongoing use, development, and maintenance for the good of communities on both sides of the river.

To fundraise for Friends of the Ohio River Greenway: CLICK HERE

Girls on the Run Kentuckiana (“Girls on the Run”) is a physical activity-based positive youth development program for elementary and middle school girls in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The mission of Girls on the Run is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Through intentionally designed programs, Girls on the Run empowers girls in grades 3-8 to recognize their inner strength, increase their levels of physical activity, and imagine their possibilities through the innovative integration of physical activities, life-skills lessons, and impactful community projects.

Participants receive 30 hours of programming over 10 weeks led by trained volunteer coaches. In addition to running and other physical activity, Girls on the Run’s dynamic lessons instill valuable life skills, including the important connection between physical and emotional health. At the end of the program, participants are physically and mentally prepared to accomplish their goal of completing a 5K run, a first for most participants.

To Fundraise for Girls On The Run: CLICK HERE

Established in 1880, Home of the Innocents enriches the lives of children and families with hope, health, and happiness. Programs include residential and community-based behavioral health services, therapeutic foster care and adoption services, supportive services for young adults experiencing homelessness, and long-term care for children with complex medical needs.

Thanks to our many supporters, Home of the Innocents operates world-class facilities that impact children’s lives throughout our region.

The Home really is the heart of our city.

To Fundraise for Home of the Innocents: CLICK HERE

Hope Scarves is an international non-profit organization based in Louisville. The mission is to support people facing all types of cancer through scarves, stories and research. This is done by collecting scarves & stories from cancer survivors and passing them on to others in treatment.

Since 2012, over 37,000 Hope Scarves have been shared with people facing over 90 types of cancer in every state and 37 countries. The oldest recipient is 97 and the youngest, 10 months old. Hope Scarves has received national accolades for its creative approach to supporting cancer survivors and has become lovingly known as the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarves.

Realizing research is key to truly changing the way people experience cancer, Hope Scarves also invests in metastatic breast cancer research – raising and investing $1.5 million dollars since 2016 in basic, translational, and clinical research.

To fundraise for Hope Scarves: CLICK HERE

Iroquois Hill Runners was founded in August 1979 by an avid group of South Louisville Runners. Since that time, the non-profit running club has evolved to be a group of runners, walkers, and friends. They are dedicated to hosting fun, affordable events for the running community throughout the year, including the largest Thanksgiving Day run in the area. Every dollar raised goes back to the community.

To fundraise for Iroquois Hill Runners: CLICK HERE

Dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and other blood cancers, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary (nonprofit) health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.

Since 1949, they’ve invested nearly $1.7 billion in groundbreaking research, pioneering many of today’s most innovative approaches. They work tirelessly to find cures and ensure patients can access the lifesaving treatments they need. When someone experiences the fear and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis, they provide hope, compassion, education and support. And we are making an impact in the cancer community.

Their three pillars include Research, Patient Access and Policy & Advocacy

To fundraise for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: CLICK HERE

Little Orphans Kitten Rescue (LOKR) is an all-volunteer animal rescue dedicated to saving the lives of motherless, nursing kittens, also known as ‘bottle babies.’

These vulnerable kittens are often euthanized or turned away by shelters due to the intensive, around-the-clock care they require, similar to that of a human infant. Our compassionate foster volunteers provide this specialized care, bottle-feeding and nurturing the kittens until they are healthy and ready to be adopted into loving homes. Our mission is to give these tiny orphans a chance at life they otherwise wouldn’t have.

To fundraise for Little Orphans Kitten Rescue: CLICK HERE

For more than 130 years, Norton Children’s Hospital has served as Kentucky’s only full-service, free-standing hospital created “Just for Kids,” treating all families regardless of their ability to pay. Norton Children’s serves over 215,000 children each year from all over Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds exclusively for Norton Children’s Hospital, Norton Children’s Medical Center, and pediatric services at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. Funds are raised to support programs, equipment, new technologies, clinical research, child advocacy and health education for patients, families, medical staff and the community.

To fundraise for Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation: CLICK HERE

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) leads the way in accelerating critical progress for pancreatic cancer patients. PanCAN takes bold action by funding life-saving research, providing personalized patient services and creating a community of supporters and volunteers who will stop at nothing to create a world in which all pancreatic cancer patients will thrive. For 18 years in a row, PanCAN has earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator – the highest rating an organization can receive. This rating designates PanCAN as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating strong financial health, ongoing accountability and transparency.

PanCAN’s vision is to create a world in which all patients with pancreatic cancer will thrive.

PanCAN PurpleStride, the ultimate walk to end pancreatic cancer, is a celebration filled with profound inspiration. In nearly 60 communities across the country, PanCAN PurpleStride directly connects the entire pancreatic cancer community to our bold mission – and to our partners. PanCAN PurpleStride is where survivors, families, caregivers and loved ones, healthcare professionals, researchers and our nationwide network of volunteers – all passionate about ending pancreatic cancer – come together to do just that.

PurpleStride is the cornerstone of their fundraising, representing 40% of our annual revenue. Funds raised at PurpleStride fuel life-changing research, critical patient programs and services and amplifies our mission to improve patient outcomes.

To fundraise for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCan): CLICK HERE

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Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana (RMHCK) provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare. RMHCK envisions a world where every family has what they need to ensure the best health outcomes for their children.

RMHCK is built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child – not where they can afford to stay, get their next meal, do their laundry, or lay their head at night to rest. RMHCK is more than a house. It’s a home and support system allowing families to stay together and focus on the healing of their sick children at a critical time. All programs and services are free of charge to families.

To fundraise for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana: CLICK HERE

Rooting for Robert – Robert is a fun-loving and super sweet 8-year-old little boy who has never met a stranger. Ask anybody who knows Robert, and they will beam describing his unique personality, total disregard for his ailments that disrupt his everyday life, and inspirational character. Despite his larger-than-life personality, since being diagnosed over 5 years ago with Multipolysacharides IVA (Morquio Syndrome), Robert has grown less than 2 inches per year, his growth rate is declining, and he consistently faces new health challenges.

This is a rare genetic disease that prohibits the body from breaking down certain sugars. It is severely progressive, and the effects of the disease will get significantly worse with time. The disease affects about 1 in 200,000 people, but the effects are felt in communities through the United States and world. There is one treatment available- a slow weekly intravenous medication that is disruptive, expensive, causes adverse reactions (many cannot take it), and worse, has been proven to have limited effects.

Further, this disease does not stop with effects to the bone. Robert will suffer (and in some instances, has already suffered) from numerous other health defects to his “soft tissues,” including life-threatening trachea, heart, lung, and spinal cord issues, together with hearing and eyesight loss, compromised
immunity and low energy. In summary, Robert’s body fails him every day, and despite all the surgeries, he continues to get worse right in front of our eyes. He will have limits on his quality of life and likely, a more limited life expectancy.

We live in unparalleled times where real medical advances not only can happen, but with the significant amounts of financial assistance are actually happening. Please help us, his parents and founders of A Cure for Robert, Inc., along with countless friends, board members, and family fill the void that currently exists for new treatments, medicines, and advancements for this very rare disease. We must succeed. This is about our child and thousands of others around the world who need our assistance.

To fundraise for Rooting for Robert: CLICK HERE

Uniting Partners (UP) for Women and Children’s mission is to provide day shelter, resources, emotional support, and community connections to women, children, and marginalized genders experiencing homelessness to address the barriers to housing, so they can leave homelessness for good.

To Fundraise for UP: CLICK HERE