Beyond creating fun, the Festival’s mission is about improving the quality of life for this community. In 2001, many organizations worked with Derby Festival® volunteers to produce events that raised money for various charities or received direct financial contributions from events produced by the Derby Festival® Foundation.

The Passport Health Plan Puppetry Pageants took the Derby Festival to those who could not attend. Puppet shows entertained seniors at nursing homes to infants at daycare centers throughout the city during the month of April.		Children in the Success by Six program received an $8500 check from the proceeds of the Arthur Anderson KDF Foundation Pro-Am Golf Tournament.		Through proceeds of the KDF Foundation, the Crusade saw a $10,000 check for its many programs. This was their 27th largest single donation.

Events on the Festival’s schedule helped raise more than $300,000 for various projects, causes and other non-profit organizations:

Don Fightmaster Golf Tournament For Exceptional Children Children’s Youth Forum by 100 Black Men Knights Of Columbus Charity Dinner Lincoln Foundation Barbecue LVVA Boat Race Party Pro-Am Golf Tournament Ramble for the Roses® Urban League Moonlight Cruise Passport Health Plan Puppetry Pageants Taste of Derby Festival® Thunder Over Louisville Fundraisers Actors Theatre, Easter Seals, Kentucky Center for the Arts, Louisville Ballet, Louisville Science Center, Waterfront Development Urban League Moonlight Cruise Wheels of Justice Bike Ride

Children’s groups At risk youth Mentally-challenged citizens Foundation programs LVAA special arts programs Success by Six Holy Rosary Academy Urban League Guild programs Daycare centers and nursing homes Dare to Care Third leg of Cingular Wireless Triple Crown - Rodes City Run WHAS Crusade for Children Louisville Urban League programs Legal Aid Society