Play Yellow Ambassadors Tee Up for Children’s Healthcare
Rising Stars and Fan Favorites in the professional golf world join Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® to Drive Critical Funds
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (September 29, 2025) – When professional golfers step onto the green, they’re often just playing golf, but for some, every swing also carries the weight of a child’s future. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is thrilled to announce its newest roster of Play Yellow Ambassadors, a powerful team of golfers dedicated to raising awareness and funds for children’s hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. This initiative, inspired by Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara to honor their young friend’s battle with a rare bone cancer, Ewing Sarcoma, sees golf’s brightest stars turn their passion into vital support for kids needing specialized care.
This year’s roster includes rising PGA TOUR player Neal Shipley, LPGA major champion Jennifer Kupcho, golf content creator Hally Leadbetter, and golf broadcaster Smylie Kaufman. Each ambassador brings a unique connection and dedication to the Play Yellow movement, translating their influence on the course into tangible support for countless families.
The impact of these ambassadors has been immediate and far-reaching, especially after last week’s busy events. Shipley proudly represented Play Yellow during the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Kupcho was part of a special check presentation at the Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship, alongside Dr. Rustin Morse from Arkansas Children’s, highlighting how vital funds are directly supporting pediatric healthcare. Details regarding Hally Leadbetter and Smylie Kaufman’s ambassador activities will be announced soon, promising more exciting opportunities for fans to engage and support.
“Every child deserves the chance to live a full and healthy life,” says Aimee J. Daily, Ph.D., President & CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Our Play Yellow Ambassadors aren’t just incredible athletes; they are champions for children, using their platforms to make a profound difference. Their involvement helps ensure that our member hospitals can continue to provide the best possible care, driving us closer to a future where every child can thrive.”
Play Yellow is a fundraising program of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals that is uniting the golf community around a growing movement to champion children’s healthcare. Whether it is hosting a golf fundraising event, partnering through merchandise, spreading the word, or simply wearing yellow at tournaments, Play Yellow transforms a passion for golf into a brighter future for all kids.
“I’m excited to join Children’s Miracle Network as a Play Yellow Ambassador,” shares Jennifer Kupcho. “It’s great to be able to help bring awareness on and off the course to change kids’ health! I’m honored to be able to use my platform to join Play Yellow and the golf community in making a difference in the lives of the millions of kids treated at these hospitals every year.”
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is the largest network of children’s hospitals in the U.S. and Canada partnering with leading healthcare organizations and is on a mission to engage local communities in increasing fundraising for their local member children’s hospitals.
Through unrestricted fundraising, local member children’s hospitals can fulfill their most urgent needs. Whether that’s critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays, and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ funds are used where they are needed most.
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About Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals:
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was founded more than 40 years ago with the vision to Change Kids’ Health, Change the Future. We’ve raised over $9 billion for 170 children’s hospitals by empowering and engaging with local communities and businesses – and we’re not done yet. All donations benefit local member hospitals to fund what’s needed most, like critical life-saving treatments and healthcare services, innovative research, vital pediatric medical equipment, child life services that put kids’ and families’ minds at ease during difficult hospital stays, and financial assistance for families who could not otherwise afford these health services.
Together, we can change kids’ health. Together, we can change the future. To learn about Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and your local member children’s hospital, visit cmnhospitals.org.
Media Contact:
Christina Vitale
Communications Manager
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
O: 801-214-7400
cvitale@cmnhospitals.org
CMNHospitals.org