This story first appeared in Volume 1, Issue 2 of the Owensboro Times quarterly newspaper.
Known around the world as the “Kentucky Kid,” 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden was celebrated not only for his blazing speed on the track but for his humility, kindness, and deep-rooted pride in his Owensboro hometown.
Though his life was tragically cut short in 2017 following a cycling accident in Italy, Hayden’s legacy lives on through the Nicky Hayden Memorial Foundation — a nonprofit established by his family to continue the quiet generosity he was known for.
“Our goal is to grow this Foundation and keep giving back to this community and continue touching people’s lives just as Nicky would have done if he was still here,” Nicky’s older brother Tommy Hayden said during the unveiling of Nicky’s bronze statue at the Owensboro Convention Center on June 9, 2018.
The date of the unveiling — 6/9/18 — was chosen to honor Nicky’s iconic racing number, #69. That same day also provided the perfect opportunity for the family to present the Nicky Hayden Memorial Foundation’s first two community grants: $15,000 to the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club to purchase a transport van, and $5,000 to two Family Resource Centers in Daviess County Public Schools.
And that was just the beginning.
A lasting legacy of support
Seven years later, the Foundation is still going strong thanks to donations and support from fans, family members, friends, and organizations in the racing community. The Foundation has made contributions to Puzzle Pieces, Fresh Start for Women and Children, Habitat for Humanity, and St. Benedict’s Homeless Shelter, among other local institutions.
The most recent win came in February, when the Foundation was selected as the beneficiary of the first-quarter 10,000 Reasons fundraising dinner. At the event, 100 attendees each donated $100 and voted on which local nonprofit should receive the proceeds. After a heartfelt presentation by Nicky’s younger brother Roger Lee Hayden, the Foundation was selected and awarded $8,541.
“I heard someone say after the event, ‘Wow, I didn’t realize the Foundation did that much in the community,’” said Nicky’s younger sister Kathleen Hayden McFadden. “That’s why community events like 10,000 Reasons are so important. It really helps get the word out about local non-profits.”
Building for the future
One recent donation the Hayden family is particularly proud of is providing a brand new accessible playground for the Wendell Foster Campus residents. The parts have been delivered and plans are in the works for installation as soon as weather allows.
Every December, the Foundation also distributes $10,000 in grants to local nonprofits as part of its annual holiday giving initiative. But some of the Foundation’s most impactful contributions are visible in two major construction projects that now serve vulnerable youth and families in Owensboro.
Those that knew Hayden best say he had a soft spot for children. At the height of his racing career, Hayden took time to deliver strider bikes himself to the Daniel Pitino Shelter, where he spent time with the children as they rode their new bikes around the yard.
Today, directly across the street from the Pitino Shelter and in view of that backyard play area, the Nicky Hayden Apartments stand on a tract of land that was purchased and donated by the Hayden family. The Nicky Hayden Apartments opened in 2020 and serve as transitional housing for families from the Pitino Shelter until they can sustain permanent housing on their own.
A few blocks away, the Hayden Home for Girls opened in 2019 as part of a long-awaited project for St. Joseph’s Peace Mission for Children. The central green space now includes The Nicky Hayden Commons Area, featuring a full basketball court with the “Kentucky Kid” logo and a safe outdoor space for kids to play and heal. The Hayden family also provided the land for that project.
Nicky Hayden Day set for June 8
Each year, the Nicky Hayden Memorial Foundation hosts a charity motorcycle ride in honor of Nicky’s birthday and racing number. While Nicky Hayden Day officially falls on June 9, this year’s ride will take place on June 8 since the 9th lands on a Monday.
The ride begins at 1 p.m. with an opening ceremony at the “Kentucky Kid” statue. Riders will then follow a one-hour route through Owensboro and Daviess County, stopping to pay respects at Nicky’s and his father Earl’s gravesites.
At the 2024 event, which drew nearly 200 motorcycle riders, the Foundation gave $5,000 grants to two local nonprofits: Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Breaking the Cycle. The family plans to announce two more grant recipients at the 2025 ride.
The celebration will include food trucks, music, and socializing at the conclusion of the ride. Merchandise from the Hayden Brothers General Store pop-up shop will also be available. All donations and proceeds from the event benefit the Nicky Hayden Memorial Foundation.
“It’s special to see the turnout for the ride,” Kathleen Hayden McFadden said. “People come from quite a few different places to show support for his legacy. Nicky never forgot where he came from. He traveled the world, but any weekend he could, he came back to Owensboro.”
