UK HealthCare

2024 Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Gala donates $1 million to UK Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center

of
The Barnstable Brown family present the 2024 Gala's $1 million donation to Dr. Simon Fisher, director of the Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center. Photo by Mark Mahan.
The Barnstable Brown family was recognized for the Gala's 2024 donation during the Kentucky-Vanderbilt football game at Kroger Field. Photo by Mark Mahan.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 15, 2024) — The Barnstable Brown Gala, the premier Kentucky Derby party, announced that it has donated $1 million to the University of Kentucky Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center, from proceeds of its 2024 Gala. The Barnstable Brown Gala has now donated more than $21 million for diabetes treatment and research from the proceeds of the annual party, held in Louisville, Kentucky each year, including the proceeds from this year’s 35th Gala.

The Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center has grown considerably since it was established in 2008, and in 2023 alone treated more than 22,000 patients, and its focus on diabetes research has led to significant advancements in diabetes treatment and care.

“This $1 million donation from the Barnstable Brown Brown Gala is another transformative donation for the Center and the battle against diabetes,” said Simon Fisher, M.D., director of the University of Kentucky Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center. “The Barnstable Brown family’s longstanding support has made a tremendous impact on the care we provide here in Kentucky and on the research we conduct to advance diabetes care around the world.”

The Center was first established when twins Patricia Barnstable Brown and Priscilla Barnstable, along with their mother, Wilma, pledged the initial funding to support the center in memory of Patricia Barnstable Brown’s husband, David, who passed away from complications of diabetes in 2003.

“When we started the Barnstable Brown Gala over 36 years ago, our goal was to build something lasting to help the millions of people who suffer from diabetes. Our 2024 Gala was in honor of my granddaughter Catherine, who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center has exceeded all of our expectations,” said Tricia Barnstable Brown. “This gift is only possible because of the generosity and kindness of our many ticket buyers, sponsors and celebrity guests.”

About the Barnstable Brown Gala

The Barnstable Brown Gala is internationally recognized as the “premier” Kentucky Derby gala and counted among the “10 Best Parties in the World” by Condé Nast. The Barnstable Brown Gala is famed for its musical extravaganza and annual celebrity lineup, with past guests including Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Janet Jackson, Morgan Wallen, Peyton Manning, Tracy Morgan, Jeff Bezos, Boyz II Men and many more.

                                                                                                                                                                         ###

Barnstable Brown Gala Media Contacts:  Chris Barnstable-Brown chris.barnstable.brown@gmail.com  

Corky Coryell ccoryell@wyattfirm.com

UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky. But it is so much more. It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond. It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns, the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and Kentucky’s top hospital ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

As an academic research institution, we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures, treatments, protocols and policies. Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes. Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care professionals, spreading the highest standards of care. UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky, now and for generations to come.