Former Razorback and current Detroit Piston Isaiah Joe and his Isaiah Joe Family Foundation officially presented the Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute with a $150,000 gift on Thursday.
Joe started at Fort Smith Northside and helped lift the Arkansas basketball program back to national prominence under Eric Musselman before being taken with the 49th overall pick of the 2020 NBA draft by Oklahoma City. He played five seasons with the Thunder and was a member of its 2025 NBA title team before being traded earlier this year to Philadelphia.
The inaugural Isaiah Joe Family Foundation Children’s Classic Golf Tournament, held recently at Oak Tree National Golf Course in Edmond, Oklahoma, raised $300,000, which was split between Oklahoma Children’s OU Health in Oklahoma City and Arkansas Children’s. The Arkansas check presentation was held Thursday inside the new Champions Pavilion at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Joe’s older brother, Jon Joe, was a cardiac patient at Arkansas Children’s, requiring several surgeries before the age of four for a congenital heart defect that was identified early, thanks to prenatal screenings.
“Arkansas Children’s means a lot to my family,” said Joe. “Thanks to their lifesaving care, my brother is healthy today. I am thrilled to be able to use my platform to support early detection of heart problems for the children and families in Arkansas.”
Joe’s gift will support the Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute and go toward early detection and intervention for children with congenital heart anomalies, according to a press release.
“Isaiah and his family have entrusted us with a remarkable gift,” said Marcy Doderer, president and CEO of Arkansas Children’s. “We are grateful for their support and their belief in our mission, our community and the future of pediatric health in Arkansas.”
Feature image: Members of the Joe family present a check to Arkansas Children’s CEO Marcy Doderer and Arkansas Children’s Foundation President Enid Olvey. Pictured left to right are Derrick Joe, Marcy Doderer, Jon Joe, Isaiah Joe, Jacob Joe and Enid Olvey. (Photo courtesy of Arkansas Children’s)
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