Charity Program
You can Run for a Cause!
If running 13.1 or 26.2 miles isn’t inspiration enough, there are hundreds of participants in the GE Appliances Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon & Marathon who not only give of themselves physically, but give to others as well. For years, runners have used this race as a vehicle to raise awareness and funds for many local and national charities. The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation is honored to be a part of this worthy outreach to so many deserving causes.
The Foundation created a committee to help oversee the efforts of the Charity Program. Foundation board members and volunteers are assigned as liaisons to help coordinate the fund-raising efforts. Since the online program was created in 2005, more than $2 million has been raised for participating local and national charities.
For more information on the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation: CLICK HERE
2023 Charity Partners are:
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, KY. The one thing we had in common… kids 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.
To fundraise for Cure CF, Inc.: CLICK HERE
At the Fund for the Arts, we believe that art is a right, not a privilege, because art is a fundamental expression of the human condition. We envision a healthy and vibrant community where everyone embraces the art that exists in our lives every day, where everyone contributes to the well-being of our arts community, and where everyone belongs.
Our mission is to contribute to the overall health and well-being of our community by generating resources for, investing in, and supporting our local arts, artists and arts organizations. We achieve our mission through FOUR MAIN INITIATIVES
Arts in Institutions
Arts in Neighborhoods
Arts in Learning
“I Am An Artist”
To fundraise for Fund for the Arts: CLICK HERE
Our Mission: Empowering individuals with disabilities and their families to lead fulfilled and productive lives.
At Harbor House, our vision for the future is formed by the needs and dreams of the participants and families we serve. The founding parents of Harbor House envisioned an organization that would provide their songs and daughters with challenging, enjoyable, and productive work. In the same way, the current Harbor House leadership seeks to provide a growing array of supports and services that will ensure participants have appropriate choices for self-fulfillment while making a meaningful contribution to society.
To fundraise for Harbor House: CLICK HERE
Hope Scarves is an international nonprofit with the mission to support people facing all types of cancer through scarves, stories, and research.
Since our founding in 2012 Hope Scarves has sent nearly 30,000 scarves and stories to people in active treatment for cancer to all fifty states and 34 countries. In addition, Hope Scarves has raised $1 million dollars to invest in metastatic breast cancer 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 group has evolved to be a group of runners, walkers, and friends. We are dedicated to hosting fun, affordable events for the running community.
The Iroquois Hill Runners have established a community grant program open to local High School, Middle School, and Elementary School Cross Country and Track & Field Teams to stimulate public interest and participation in the sport of running as an athletic endeavor and as a non-competitive athletic pursuit.
To fundraise for Iroquois Hill Runners: CLICK HERE
The Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation is the non-profit 501(c)3 charitable arm of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
To further the Festival’s mission, the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation was founded in 1998. The Foundation, a 501(C)3 not-for-profit charity, receives and manages charitable contributions on behalf of the Kentucky Derby Festival, Inc., its supporters and the general public.
The Foundation perpetuates the Festival’s impact on the community by developing projects that highlight the Festival’s influence on the area’s cultural heritage. It works to further the Festival’s educational and charitable mission through exhibitions and performances and producing educational programming on the Festival’s schedule of events, such as a STEM Robotics Competition, JusticeFest and the Derby Festival Royal Court Program.
To fundraise for KDF Foundation: CLICK HERE
The mission of the Kentucky State Police Foundation is to support the Kentucky State Police agency and its employees through partnerships with the community and the private sector to promote the interest of the Kentucky State Police in service to the citizens of the Commonwealth. Through the financial support of public and corporate partnerships, the foundation provides necessary equipment, training and other resources to the Kentucky State Police when normal funding streams are not sufficient.
To Fundraise for Kentucky State Police Foundation: CLICK HERE
Kosair Charities mission is to protect the health and well-being of children in Kentucky and Southern Indiana by providing financial support for social services, research, pediatric healthcare, education, and child advocacy.
Since 1923, Kosair Charities has believed in showing children their potential, instead of their obstacles. Through selecting Kosair Charities as your KDF Charity of Choice you can help make this belief a reality.
To fundraise for Kosair Charities: CLICK HERE
Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation is the philanthropic arm for Norton Children’s pediatric facilities and services. The foundation raises funds exclusively for Norton Children’s Hospital, Kentucky’s only full-service, free-standing hospital created “Just for Kids”; Norton Children’s Medical Center; and pediatric services at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital to support programs, equipment, new technologies, clinical research, child advocacy and health education for patients, families, medical staff and the community.
Norton Children’s Hospital serves all families regardless of their ability to pay. As part of a not-for-profit organization, Norton Children’s facilities rely on the generosity of the community to help fulfill our mission to provide for the physical and emotional health of children, from birth to adulthood. It takes the generosity of everyone in the community to enable Norton Children’s to be here for all children when they need us.
To fundraise for Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation: CLICK HERE
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana provides a “home away from home” for families of children receiving healthcare at area medical facilities while also lending support to other organizations who aid children.
Since we opened on September 10, 1984, our Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms have served over 25,000 families. Our staff and volunteers offer love, strength, and support, when families need it most.
To fundraise for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana: CLICK HERE
St. Vincent de Paul Louisville partners with individuals and families in crisis and helps them navigate a path to stabilize their lives and reach their full potential.
SVDP operates a community kitchen (Open Hand Kitchen), a client-choice food pantry, Ozanam Inn men’s emergency overnight shelter, St. Jude women’s recovery center, four local thrift stores, an enrichment center for at-risk youth in an after-school setting (Family Success Center) for at-risk children, as well as supportive housing for homeless families and adults.
To fundraise for St. Vincent de Paul: CLICK HERE