Louisville PGA TOUR event to benefit Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute – how you can help
ISCO Championship will give back to programs, research for diabetes
When the PGA TOUR’s ISCO Championship returns to Kentucky in 2025, the community benefit will reach beyond great golf and tourism. This not-for-profit tournament will donate proceeds to support Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, a part of Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s.
Each PGA TOUR tournament, including the ISCO Championship, is able to support its charity partner thanks to the community attending the event, volunteering or donating money. To date, the numerous tournaments held by the PGA TOUR have provided more than $3.93 billion in donations to charitable causes.
The ISCO Championship is an official FedEx Cup event on the PGA TOUR schedule, providing the winner with FedEx Cup points, a winner’s exemption on the PGA TOUR and entry to the PGA Championship.
“The 2025 ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville not only brings us a premier venue, but a new charity partner,” said T.R. Hollis, tournament director. “Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute provides world-class diabetes care and is well on its way to becoming one of the foremost centers for patients.”
The institute was created with a $15 million lead gift from the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation to the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation. It was the starting point for a $60 million vision to expand diabetes care for children and adults, as well as to build the top diabetes institute in the country.
The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation was established in 1999 through a charitable trust by David Novak and his late wife, Wendy Novak. It funds innovative, high-impact projects that are led by passionate leaders committed to outstanding execution. It first gave $5 million to the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation in March 2013 to establish the Wendy Novak Diabetes Center as part of a $12 million initiative to create of a comprehensive diabetes care center offering education and treatment for Type 1 diabetes to thousands of children and young adults.
“We are grateful to the PGA TOUR and ISCO Championship for continuing to build upon our vision for this institute,” said Ashley Novak Butler, executive director of the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation. “Making a true difference for both children and adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes requires investments that fuel innovation, research and programs. This support and attention will allow great things to happen.”
In the United States, 11.6% of the population has diagnosed diabetes, which is equal 38.4 million people, according to the American Diabetes Association. An additional 1.2 million are diagnosed each year. Norton Healthcare and Norton Children’s provide care to nearly 100,000 patients with diabetes, spanning 137 counties in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Of those, approximately 1,700 are children. Most patients with Type 2 diabetes have their care managed by a primary care provider.
Volunteer registration will open in early 2025.