Kosair for Kids pledges $5 million to support advancements across four neonatal intensive care units
Louisville, KY (Dec. 16, 2025) – As part of a continued partnership centered on care for Baptist Health’s tiniest patients and their families, Kosair for Kids is investing $5 million to enhance services at four neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), the health system’s foundation announced today.
The investment will support renovations and expanded capacity, allowing for increased patient volumes and more accommodating spaces for NICU patients and families at Baptist Health Floyd and Baptist Health Louisville. Additionally, at Baptist Health Corbin, the renovation will create private rooms for its 10 NICU beds while Baptist Health Lexington, which currently is the health system’s busiest baby hospital, will be supported through equipment upgrades.
“We are not only honored to receive this investment in care, but also grateful for the continued partnership we’ve built with Kosair for Kids,” said Roy Lowdenback, Baptist Health system vice president of philanthropy. “As Kentucky’s largest nonprofit health system, also serving southern Indiana, Baptist Health ranks first in the number of births across the commonwealth. The demand for these services continues to grow and this latest investment positions us to meet that need while continuing a legacy of clinical excellence and compassionate care.”
Of the $5 million, Baptist Health Louisville will receive $2 million, while $1 million is allocated to each of the three additional hospitals. In recognition of the support, NICUs at these four locations will be named in honor of Kosair for Kids.
“This partnership will provide resources so that our community’s most vulnerable children have the best chance at a healthy and hopeful future,” said Kosair for Kids president and CEO, Barry Dunn. “For more than a century, Kosair for Kids has delivered on the promise to help all children in Kentucky and southern Indiana. This funding ensures that our most fragile babies are welcomed into the world with the best care possible.”
With this latest investment, NICUs at the following hospitals plan enhancements that align with their ongoing commitment to high-quality care:
- Baptist Health Corbinwill relocate the current NICU to a larger space within the hospital while creating private rooms for its 10 NICU beds. Construction is slated to begin in 2027 after the completion of the hospital’s current 80,000-square-foot patient care wing project.
- Baptist Health Lexington will continue to advance care through equipment upgrades, including but not limited to monitors, incubators, neonatal ventilators, infant light therapy, infusion pumps, humidifiers, blood glucose analyzers, bottle warmers and carts.
- Baptist Health Louisvillewill expand its NICU in two phases and add 11 beds to the hospital’s existing 15-bed unit, along with an increased clinical workspace (the construction timeline is in development). The hospital earned Level III status in 2022, further positioning the unit to care for more critically ill babies closer to home. That same year, the hospital brought on its first maternal-fetal medicine physician – a specialist who diagnoses and manages conditions that can affect a mother or her unborn child.
- Baptist Health Floyd is advancing plans for a NICU renovation and expansion, with project details still in development. The funding will support future updates that enhance accommodations for NICU patients and families.
A continued partnership centered on care
In 2023, Kosair for Kids made what was then the largest single gift received by the Baptist Health Foundation to support Mother & Baby Care services at eight of the health system’s hospitals. The partnership rebranded the service line to Baptist Health Mother & Baby Care supported by Kosair for Kids. Additionally, Baptist Health Hardin (located in Elizabethtown) renamed its NICU in recognition of Kosair for Kids’ commitment.
Today’s announcement marks a total of five Baptist Health NICUs that will be named after the philanthropic partner.