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 Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon & miniMarathon that 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 $1 million has been raised for participating local and national charities.


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

Official Race Charities:  (If you would like to run for one of our Official Race Charities, just pick one from the list below and click on their name to sign up.)

Alzheimer’s Association
American Cancer Society
American Heart Assocation
American Lung Association
American Printing House for the Blind 
Children’s Tumor Foundation
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
Dare to Care
ElderServe
Gilda’s Club
Harbor House
Home of the Innocents
James Graham Brown Cancer Center
Kentucky Hemophilia Foundation
Kentucky and Southern Indiana Stroke Association
Kids Center for Pediatric Therapies
Kosair Children’s Hospital
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Olmsted Parks Conservancy
Orphan Care Alliance
Ovarian Awareness of Kentucky
Spina Bifida Association
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. LEO Spice