The 19th annual Legends for Charity® dinner on Feb. 8, 2024 hosted top names in sports broadcasting during Super Bowl LVIII week to present Tony Romo, Lead Analyst for THE NFL ON CBS, with the coveted Pat Summerall Award. The annual charity dinner raised a record $2.1 million to benefit the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®: Finding cures. Saving children.® Everywhere.
Legends for Charity was hosted by Kevin Burkhardt, Lead NFL Play-by-Play Announcer and MLB Studio Host, FOX Sports. Romo was joined on stage by his broadcasting partner, Jim Nantz, Lead Play by Play Announcer, THE NFL ON CBS who presented the award. More than 650 guests attended to honor Romo, the 18th recipient of the award that recognizes a national broadcaster or sports personality with an outstanding career and significant community impact. The event took place at Caesars Palace, the NFL headquarters hotel during Super Bowl week.
“What a truly special night to celebrate our friend Tony Romo’s successes on and off the field – and his support for the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Every year, I’m reminded of how honored we are to help continue Pat Summerall’s legacy through this annual award and the Legends for Charity dinner. Research and treatment by St. Jude is made possible in part by events like this, the NFL community and generous donors who come together to help the 400,000 kids across the globe with cancer and other life-threatening diseases each year.”
The record fundraising amount was reached during an incredible moment when St. Jude supporter and philanthropist, Stella Roy announced to the crowd a $1 million donation, the single largest contribution in the 19-year history of this event. Such donations help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food so they can focus on helping their child live.
Guests heard directly from St. Jude patient Emmanuel who was diagnosed at four years old with retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye. Emmanuel underwent treatment at St. Jude. He is now 19 and the recipient of nearly 20 football scholarships that launched his dream of becoming a college athlete.
Legends for Charity, created and developed by Cheryl DeLeonardis, President of Ocean 2 Ocean Productions is a cornerstone event during Super Bowl week. The late Pat Summerall, his wife Cheri, and DeLeonardis chose St. Jude as their charity partner in 2006. Since then, the event has raised more than $13 million to benefit St. Jude. Attendees participated in a live auction which included Super Bowl tickets and one-of-a-kind curated travel and event experiences.
Honor Pat’s legacy and help St. Jude families by donating at StJude.org or visiting LegendsForCharity.com.