Sponsor an Event

Events are an exceptional opportunity for businesses and corporations to partner with the Hospital and demonstrate to new and diverse audiences, or reaffirm to your current clients, your dedication to improving our community.

Learn more about our signature events below and how event sponsorship can benefit your business. For all of our events, visit our event calendar. 

Rock ‘N Bowl

BENEFICIARY: The Center for Family Safety and Healing and Lawyers for Kids

ORGANIZER: Development Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital

EVENT MONTH: February

EVENT TYPE: Bowling

INVITEES & DEMOGRAPHICS: Columbus legal community, building and construction companies, open to the general public and other central Ohio businesses

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Rock ‘N Bowl is a great day of bowling for co-workers, family and friends. Teams of five raise funds to support child abuse treatment and prevention programs at the Center for Family Safety and Healing. Teams raise $500 or more by collecting donations or making a corporate gift. Then, teams celebrate their success during two hours of bowling fun.

Interested in a sponsorship of Rock ‘N Bowl? Contact Kenna Scaife.

BuckeyeThon

BENEFICIARY: Hematology, Oncology & Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit

ORGANIZER: The Ohio State University

EVENT MONTH: February

EVENT TYPE: Annual, student led, on and off campus engagements with a cumulative Dance Marathon celebration

INVITEES & DEMOGRAPHICS: Ohio State campus, Ohio State Alumni, Columbus community

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: BuckeyeThon is the largest student philanthropy at The Ohio State University. They engage the entire campus with fundraising initiatives throughout the entire school year. Thousands of students take part in BuckeyeThon's largest event, the Dance Marathon at the Ohio Union. As of 2022, this group has raised $13,152,906.72 for Nationwide Children's Hospital.

For sponsorship information about BuckeyeThon, please contact Robbii Miller.

Legends Luncheon

ORGANIZER: the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday

EVENT MONTH: April

LOCATION: The Ohio Union at Ohio State University

EVENT TYPE: Luncheon

INVITEES & DEMOGRAPHICS: Columbus Area Businesses

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: The annual Legends Luncheon presented by Nationwide has swiftly become a cherished and important fundraising event for Central Ohio. Guests experience a unique and entertaining charity event featuring an opportunity to enjoy a rare and special conversation with the Memorial Tournament Host and a legend of the game. The event culminates with the “Nicklaus Youth Spirit Award,” presented by, and in the name of, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus.

For sponsorship information about the Legends Luncheon, please contact Cynthia Laux. 

The Memorial Tournament Benefit Concert

BENEFICIARY: the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

ORGANIZER: the Memorial Tournament presented byWorkday

EVENT MONTH: June

EVENT TYPE: Concert

INVITEES & DEMOGRAPHICS: Private concert by invitation only

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Every year, a benefit concert featuring a national recording artist is held benefiting the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Since its inception in 2007, the annual benefit concert has raised more than $660,000 for the Memorial Tournament NICU.

For sponsorship information about the Memorial Tournament Benefit Concert, please contact Cynthia Laux.

Woody Hayes Celebrity Classic

BENEFICIARY: The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

ORGANIZER: Development Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital

EVENT MONTH: June  

EVENT TYPE: Golf Outing

INVITEES / DEMOGRAPHICS: Woody Hayes Celebrity Classic participants and their guests, corporate executives, young professionals, corporate donors to Nationwide Children’s Hospital and hospital leadership

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Legendary Buckeye football coach, Woody Hayes, taught those he coached to “pay forward.” With this mentality, a group of inspired local volunteers, the Development Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital, volunteer their time to organize The Woody Hayes Celebrity Classic. During this 5-person scramble, foursomes are paired with a local celebrity. The outing has become one of central Ohio’s favorite golf events thanks to the dedication of the volunteers, celebrities, sponsors and players who make it a success year after year.

For sponsorship information about the Woody Hayes Celebrity Classic, please contact Kenna Scaife.

The Great Columbus Duck Race

BENEFICIARY: The Research Institute of Nationwide Children’s Hospital

ORGANIZER: Development Board of Nationwide Children’s Hospital

EVENT MONTH: July

EVENT TYPE: Rubber duck race

INVITEES / DEMOGRAPHICS: Open to general public

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: This rubber duck race will attract thousands of participants for not only the race but for a family and children’s activities and fun. The duck race itself will be a mass splash of thousands of ducks and truly something to see. The Great Columbus Duck Race gives you and your company the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children while reaching out to the thousands of people who have either purchased ducks and/or attending the event.

For sponsorship information about The Great Columbus Duck Race, please contact Kenna Scaife. 

Sunny 95's Nationwide Children's Hospital Day of Thanks

ORGANIZER: Sunny 95

EVENT MONTH: November

EVENT TYPE: Radiothon / Pledges / Fundraiser

INVITEES / DEMOGRAPHICS: Sunny 95 Listeners, Patient Families and Columbus Community

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: Stacy and Dino thank their Sunshine Squad for donating throughout the year to the Sunshine Fund and now On Our Sleeves. Listeners tune in to hear stories from patient families cared for at Nationwide Children's. During the day, listeners are encouraged to call in to make their pledge and even share their personal connection to the hospital. Community partners also stop by the station to present Stacy and Dino with their donations live on air.

For sponsorship information about Sunny 95's Radiothon, please contact Robbii Miller.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon

ORGANIZER: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon

EVENT MONTH: October  

EVENT TYPE: Marathon and ½ Marathon

INVITEES / DEMOGRAPHICS: 18,000 athletes, 3,000 volunteers and 100,000 spectators

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon is held every year in the month of October. As the largest marathon in Ohio and the 16th largest in the United States, this event attracts athletes from across the US and foreign countries. Nationwide Children’s was named the beneficiary of the event in 2012, and has since raised more than $5.8 Million for pediatric research and care. What makes this race unique from any other are the Patient Champions who line every mile of the course. Athletes attempt to high-five all 24 individual Patient Champions, Angel Mile supports and Encore Mile cheerleaders as they make their way through their 26.2 or 13.1 miles.

For sponsorship information about the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon, please contact Cynthia Laux.

Day of Miracles

BENEFICIARY: Hematology, Oncology, & Blood and Marrow Transplant

ORGANIZER: BuckeyeThon at The Ohio State University

EVENT MONTH: October

EVENT TYPE: On campus event

INVITEES / DEMOGRAPHICS: 4,000 students, on campus staff and community, over 10,000 followers on social media

DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: The students participating in BuckeyeThon have their largest single day push for fundraising in hopes to break records towards making millions of miracles for kids with pediatric cancer and blood disorders.

For sponsorship information about Day of Miracles, please contact Robbii Miller.

Light up the Lawn, Light Up a Life Holiday Campaign

December 2023

Let your generosity shine bright for patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital over the holiday season by sponsoring one of our butterflies at the hospital. The 6ft and 10ft butterflies light up the lawn with support from the community each night in the holiday season.

• Opportunities range from $1,000 - $50,000
• Sponsorships include matching opportunities, community holiday event placement and recognition throughout Columbus, and delivery of sweet treats to the nursing stations in the hospital
• Logo recognition for $25,000 and up on social, digital, and direct mail
• Supports area of greatest need
• Commitment due October 31, 2023 (Direct Mail matches need to be confirmed by August 1, 2023)