Building Community Through Hands-on Learning

George W. Norton left a legacy of philanthropic giving through the Norton Family Foundation. His compassion, belief in our community and love of Louisville, embraced by his wife Jane and their descendants, continue to guide the family in their charitable endeavors.

The Norton Family Foundation seeks to improve the lives of Greater Louisville’s children and families by supporting organizations that foster hands-on education, regenerative agriculture and a healthy, local supply of good food.

We are committed to supporting those who believe that education should inspire and guide our city towards social health and a strong sense of community. We partner with those who understand that Kentucky farmers, and Kentucky-farmed food, provide a healthier quality of life for us all. 

In 1958, George W. Norton, founder and President of WAVE Radio and TV in Louisville Kentucky, established and incorporated the WAVE Foundation. After Mr. Norton’s death in 1964, the WAVE Foundation was primarily operated by the Norton family. In 1981, the Nortons sold WAVE Radio and TV, and the Foundation was renamed the George W. Norton Foundation to honor its founder. Jane Morton Norton, widow of Mr. Norton, was named President of the Foundation, and served in that position until her death in 1988. In 1991, the George W. Norton Foundation was again renamed the Norton Foundation in honor of both Mr. and Mrs. Norton. Today, the foundation is named the Norton Family Foundation to reflect the generations of family members that have sustained the family’s charitable legacy.

Janey Newton, grandchild of the Nortons, and Maggie Keith, great grandchild, as well as Brandon Coan, a trusted family friend, now serve as the current directors of the Foundation.