Red Sox Ace Josh Beckett and Boston's Top Athletes Team Up at Champions for Children's

Beckett Honored for Commitment to Children's Hospital Boston at Annual Fundraising Dinner & Auction Champions for Children's

November 3, 2009

Boston, Mass. -- Children's Hospital Boston, one of the world's leading providers of pediatric research and care, presented Boston Red Sox Ace Josh Beckett with the 2009 "Champion Award" at the hospital's Champions for Children's dinner and auction Tuesday night at the Seaport World Trade Center.

Beckett received the award, which is given annually to a Boston athlete for his commitment to the community, for pitching in to raise funds for cancer research and his dedication to making a difference in the lives of the patients at Children's.

For the last three years, Beckett has named Children's the primary beneficiary of his celebrity charity bowling tournament, Beckett Bowl. Since its inception in 2007, the event has raised more than $350,000 for the Children's Oncology Department. Beckett regularly visits patients at the hospital and, through his charitable efforts, supports cancer care and research at Children's. In 2008, the hospital unveiled the Josh Beckett Cancer Treatment Room, which features Boston Red Sox imagery including murals of Beckett and his teammates, crowd scenes and the historic Fenway Park sign.

"While it's truly an honor to receive this prestigious award, Children's patients, with their positive attitude, strength and perseverance, as well as the doctors and staff, are the real heroes," said Beckett.

More than 1,000 people--including sports legends and players, professional team owners and Boston's business elite--gathered at the Champions for Children's event to raise funds for Children's Hospital. The 2009 event raised an estimated $2.5M for patient care, cutting-edge research and community health programs. Since the event's inception in 1997, Champions for Children's has raised nearly $20M.

Some of Boston's most prominent athletes and celebrities were in attendance including Red Sox stars Josh Beckett and Kevin Youkilis, Principal Owner John Henry, President & CEO Larry Lucchino, Executive Vice President & General Manager Theo Epstein, alumni Joe Morgan and Luis Tiant; Celtics star Glen "Big Baby" Davis, former players JoJo White and Dana Barros; New England Patriots players Darius Butler, Matt Light and Tyrone Mckenzie; former Boston Bruins Lyndon Byers, Gord Kluzak and Tommy Songin; New England Revolution stars Taylor Twellman, Jeff Larentowicz and Chris Tierney; WEEI-AM's Glenn Ordway and many more.

The gala kicked-off with a pre-game, tailgate-themed reception-complete with Ford pickups, plaid-draped picnic tables, and game day fare including sliders, mini sausage subs, fries and chili. Faux scalpers were also on-site to sell raffle tickets for a variety of prizes. The event continued with a high-end sit down dinner and a silent auction filled with sports memorabilia and one-of-a-kind experiences. Just a few included a Las Vegas package of a three-night stay at Caesars Palace and tickets to a Bette Midler or Cher concert complete with a meet and greet; two Grand Cru packages for the 2010 Nantucket Wine Festival; and a book club meeting and dinner with author Ben Mezrich. For more information or to make a donation as a "Virtual Champion," visit www.childrenshospital.org/champions.

Contact:
Keith Gainsboro
Elevate Communications
617-861-3650
keith@elevatecom.com

Children's Hospital Boston, an internationally renowned center for medical research and treatment, is one of the only pediatric hospitals nationwide that focuses on pairing world-class research with clinical resources to develop novel therapies to treat and cure children. Many of the hospital's scientific advancements have far-reaching implications for treating adults, too - they target diseases including prostate and breast cancer, macular degeneration, and Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.childrenshospital.org.

The Josh Beckett Foundation is a charitable organization established in 2007 by Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett to support community-based programs that strive to improve the health and well-being of children, especially children that are seriously ill, disabled, poor, or otherwise disadvantaged. The Foundation provides Beckett with an opportunity to have a direct and permanent impact on the lives of children throughout New England and in his hometown of Spring, Texas. Since its inception in 2007, the event has raised more than $350,000 for the Oncology Department at Children's Hospital Boston.