Dare to Care’s Taste of Derby Festival Raises Funds to Fight Hunger in Kentuckiana

LOUISVILLE, KY (April 22, 2026) – Dare to Care Food Bank celebrated a successful 37th Annual Taste of Derby Festival presented by Brown-Forman on April 21 at Louisville Slugger Field, bringing together more than 1,200 attendees, over 100 of Kentuckiana’s top chefs, restaurants and beverage partners for an evening of food, community and impact. Proceeds from the event will provide over 340,000 meals for neighbors in need.  

The sold-out event marked a strong start to Derby season while raising critical funds to support Dare to Care’s mission of providing pathways to ending hunger across its 13-county service area. 

“We are incredibly grateful to our community for showing up in such a big way,” Dare to Care President and CEO Vincent James said. “Taste of Derby Festival is more than a celebration of local food, it’s a powerful reminder that when we come together, we can make sure our neighbors have the food they need to thrive.” 

Guests enjoyed a wide range of gourmet tastings, interactive photo experiences and raffle opportunities, all in support of Dare to Care’s work to provide meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity. 

Across Dare to Care’s service area, one in seven people experience food insecurity, including nearly 200,000 individuals. Events like Taste of Derby Festival play a critical role in helping meet the growing need, especially as the rate of food insecurity continues to grow. 

In addition to raising funds, Dare to Care partnered with Feed Louisville to ensure that excess food from the event was rescued and redistributed to local shelters and pantries, extending the impact of the evening beyond the event itself. 

Taste of Derby Festival sponsors include: 

Presenting Sponsor
Brown-Forman 

Additional Sponsors
Kroger  

Nationwide
GE Appliances, a Haier company
LG&E and KU Foundation 

Casamigos Tequila 

Oliver Winery
Stock Yards Bank & Trust 

The Storage Project 

Watson’s Furniture  

Churchill Downs
Louisville Business First 

Louisville Slugger 

Omni Hotel 

Yelp 

Cardinal Moving  

Renewal by Andersen 

Toast 

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About Dare to Care Food Bank  

Dare to Care is the largest hunger relief organization serving the greater Louisville and Southern Indiana region serving as a central hub for more than 400 partner agencies, schools, and programs across 13 counties in Kentucky and Indiana. Through operational innovation and community partnerships, Dare to Care works to ensure everyone has access to the food they need to thrive. Our mission is working together to provide pathways to end hunger in our community. For more information on how to give or receive help, please visit DaretoCare.org.