Champions for Children's Celebrates 20 Years

WHAT DOES IT TAKE to bring together Boston’s biggest names in sports, business and medicine for one night every year? It’s a layup when the evening benefits sick kids through the Champions for Children’s fundraiser. Founding chair and current Trust Board chair Rob Griffin has partnered with a dedicated committee and scores of sponsors to grow the initiative into a star-studded affair that has raised over $80 million to help the hospital serve families around the globe.

Since becoming an annual event in 2004, Champions for Children’s has elicited unwavering support from all local professional sports teams and become one of the most successful fundraisers in the city’s history. Over the years, attendees have arrived to discover everything from duck boats recreating a victory parade to appearances by the Dropkick Murphys and Jay Leno.

But it’s not just Boston’s A-list who takes home the “W.” The evening’s true champions— our patients—sashay into the event ready to create peak-childhood memories. The heart of Champions for Children’s is a tradition rooted in connection as athletes and kids get to know each other before the show. The sports-tacular occasion carries on with dinner, a spirited live auction and the annual “Champion Award” to recognize all-stars who enrich the lives of children. Past recipients have included Patrice Bergeron, Devin McCourty, Tim Wakefield and Paul Pierce. Newly formed bonds continue long after the lights dim.

“Champions for Children’s energizes many of the more than 1,000 guests to get involved with Boston Children’s in other ways, too,” says Griffin. “This event instills a commitment that extends far beyond the night.”

Looking ahead, longtime Champions ambassador, title sponsor and five-time chair John Fish is confident the event’s legacy will live on: “Champions for Children’s will attract the next generation of leaders to carry forward its extraordinary mission. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re not just commemorating the past—we’re laying the groundwork for a future where every child has the chance to thrive.”