Kisner Foundation gives $1.2M to hospital, announces other grants

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The foundation created by Aiken professional golfer Kevin Kisner and his wife gave another $1.2 million to Children’s Hospital of Georgia and announced grants to other organizations across the CSRA.

The Kevin and Brittany Kisner Foundation made the announcement Friday, saying the 2022 grant award process is now complete.

“What an honor it was to review the outstanding work occurring all over the Central Savannah River Area,” said a statement from foundation Executive Director Leanna Wanta. “Without the generous support of our community, the funding for these organizations would not be possible.”

The grant recipients are:

• Aiken County YMCA
• Aiken Futbol Club
• Aiken High girls lacrosse program
• Aiken High golf program
• Apparo Academy
• Augusta Arsenal Soccer Club
• Augusta Heritage Academy
• Chukker Creek Elementary
• North Augusta Cultural Arts Council
• North Augusta Elementary
• South Aiken High girls golf program
• Salvation Army Kroc Center
• The First Tee of Aiken

“Grant funding, in general, is imperative to the success of our program. Our program impacts children in a profound way,” said Heidi Hoffman, First Tee Aiken.

She says the $5,000 donation does much more than what meets the eye, providing opportunities for local families who otherwise wouldn’t have them.

“Provide participation scholarships to kids. So there may be families that experienced financial hardship for whatever reason, and this funding allows us to provide our program to them for the full year at no cost to the family,” she said.

And the money will be split two ways, funding much more than the scholarships. Hofman says it supports what they call the “full athlete”.

“We use different sports equipment to promote things like balance, agility, coordination, and those types of things. So the foundation grant funding supports the participation, scholarships, and equipment that we use for our programming,” said Hoffman.

In an area with a love for golf, the grant money also helps First Tee push its mission forward.

“We wouldn’t want a family to be turned away for any sort of financial barrier,” she said.

As part of the children’s health pillar, the Kisners presented a $50,000 gift to Children’s Hospital in December 2020 to help start a part-time clinic for children with these health challenges.

A year later in November 2021, the Kisners pledged $5.3 million to help establish and name a center for pediatric development, behavioral health, and wellness.

Another $1.2 million was given this week as the second installment of this commitment.

Since the foundation began in 2016, it has contributed more than $700,000 through 70-plus grants to various organizations throughout the CSRA and donated over $2.5 million to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

“We look forward to continuing our efforts for years to come,” Wanta said.

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