Professional basketball player Isaiah Joe and the Isaiah Joe Family Foundation have made a $150,000 gift to the Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute following the inaugural Isaiah Joe Family Foundation Children’s Classic Golf Tournament.
Joe is a Fort Smith native and former Arkansas Razorback who recently signed with the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. His 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.”
Arkansas Children's Heart Institute is one of the best in the region, according to U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals rankings. The gift will support the Heart Institute and go towards early detection and intervention for children with congenital heart anomalies.
The announcement of the gift was made August 13 in the new sports medicine facility in Champion’s Pavilion, a part of Arkansas Children’s expansion effort. The facility includes multiple sports surfaces, including a half basketball court, to provide specialized, more comprehensive care for growing athletes.
Joe played two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers before joining the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he was a part of the Thunder’s 2025 NBA championship-winning team. Even though his career has taken him around the country, he has stayed connected to his home state, hosting youth basketball camps and giving back to his community.
The Children’s Classic Golf Tournament, which was held July 13 in Edmond, Oklahoma, pulled together many of Joe’s former teammates and friends. The event raised a total of $300,000, benefiting both Arkansas Children’s and Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.