Keeneland And Make-A-Wish Celebrated 19 Years

Wish families gathered in Lexington to mark a long-standing partnership that has raised $1.7 million.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy

Keeneland And Make-A-Wish Celebrated 19 Years

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Keeneland and Make-A-Wish marked their 19-year partnership with a commemorative event for wish families in Lexington. The collaboration has generated $1.7 million to support children facing critical illnesses.

Why it matters

The partnership highlights the impact of long-term corporate involvement in granting wishes for children with critical illnesses. By providing sustained funding, the initiative creates consistent support for families in need.

The 19-year partnership has raised $1.7 million in total funding. These resources have directly impacted 170 individual wishes for children living with critical illnesses.

The players

Keeneland

Keeneland is a prominent Thoroughbred race course and auction house located in Lexington, Kentucky.

Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish is a non-profit organization that grants wishes to children who have been diagnosed with critical illnesses.

Linda Pauling

Linda Pauling is the mother of Chris Greicius, the boy whose wish inspired the creation of the Make-A-Wish organization.

Cody Dorman

Cody Dorman was a young man whose legacy is honored through a fund supporting children with critical illnesses.

The details

Wish families and Linda Pauling, the mother of Make-A-Wish founder Chris Greicius, gathered at Keeneland to reflect on the organization's work. The event also highlighted the Cody Dorman Legacy Fund, which was established to support children with critical illnesses following the death of Cody Dorman in 2023.

1980: Make-A-Wish was founded.
2023: Cody Dorman passed away.
October 9, 2026: Wish families gathered at Keeneland.

Market Landscape

This partnership reflects a growing trend in corporate philanthropy where businesses form long-term, multi-decade commitments to specific non-profit missions. By aligning with Make-A-Wish, Keeneland secures a sustained role in the local charitable sector while providing reliable support for community health initiatives.

The ongoing partnership ensures that children with critical illnesses in the Lexington area continue to have a reliable local network for granting wishes. Residents and local businesses can monitor the Cody Dorman Legacy Fund for opportunities to provide direct support to these families.

The takeaway

Long-term charitable partnerships demonstrate that consistent, decade-spanning support is often as vital as singular, large-scale donations. Organizations and donors can maximize their community impact by focusing on sustained, multi-year initiatives that provide predictable funding for beneficiaries.