Why Jack and Barbara Play Yellow for Children’s Hospitals
Led by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, the PGA TOUR and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, “Play Yellow for Children’s Hospitals” strives to bring the entire golf world together to help the 10 million kids treated at local children’s hospitals each year.
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Play the Game You Love. Change Kids' Lives.
Join Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus and the PGA TOUR in turning your passion for golf into a force for good.
Since 2019, the Play Yellow community has raised over $130 million to fund critical treatments and research at local children's hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. And you can be part of it! Whether you host a tournament, partner through your business, or simply wear yellow on the course, you can help change kids' health to change the future—one swing at a time.
Get InvolvedJack & Barbara's love for yellow
Play Yellow traces its origins back to a young man and friend of the Nicklaus family, Craig Smith, who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer, Ewing Sarcoma, in 1968. This program is a tribute to Craig, who had a penchant for wearing a lucky yellow shirt to cheer on Jack when he was competing, and his remarkable friendship with golf's greatest champion.
Play Yellow to Raise Unrestricted Funds Locally
Alongside Jack and Barbara Nicklaus and the PGA TOUR, Play Yellow helps to raise unrestricted funds for member hospitals of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Working with local courses, golf pros, celebrities, and pediatric ambassadors, children's hospitals such as Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena, MT, are harnessing the power of golf to fundraise and build awareness for their mission.
PGA of America Birdie Bash
PGA of America golf pros nationwide are teaming up for kids' health in a fun “sprint” format. In this peer-to-peer fundraising model, golf pros pair up for 72 consecutive holes and raise money for each birdie they make that day. It's a great day for a great cause, and it's hard to imagine a more ideal way to spend hours on the course! Reach out to dtincher@cmnhospitals.org to learn more.
Play Yellow Ambassadors: Golf's Top Athletes
Our dedicated ambassadors are the heart of Play Yellow. These individuals, including prominent golfers, celebrities, and families touched by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, use their voices and platforms to raise awareness for children's health needs, inspire others to get involved, share their own personal stories, and drive fundraising efforts that make a tangible difference in local communities.
The Vision of Jack & Barbara
A $100 Million Miracle
A Lifelong Commitment to Children's Hospitals
Barbara and Jack Nicklaus have established a lifelong commitment to saving the lives of children by supporting children's hospitals. Their personal efforts have made enormous impact on hospitals in Central Ohio and South Florida. Both Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and Nicklaus Children's in Miami, Florida are forever improved as a result of their efforts.
Teeing the Vision Forward
To build on this vision, Barbara and Jack are asking the entire golf world to step forward and help change kids' health by raising funds to help children's hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. CMN Hospitals, along with Jack and Barbara Nicklaus and the PGA TOUR, have created a unique cause-marketing platform designed specifically for the golf industry.
Why Children's Miracle Network Hospitals?
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals provides the perfect platform to give back to children's hospitals. Its network of 170 children's hospitals across North America allows the golf community to give back to the communities in which they play and support. CMN Hospitals was built on a premise of keeping funds in local communities and allowing hospitals to use the funds where they are needed most. To learn more about CMN Hospitals, click here.
How about a little history?
A Lifelong Commitment
Jack and Barbara have a love and passion for children’s hospitals. They’ve committed their lives to raising funds and awareness for the 10 million children treated every year. Not only are they actively involved with their own hospital in South Florida, they want to help all children’s hospitals in North America. They set a goal to raise $100 Million for CMN Hospitals.
Enter Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
It’s a tall order to raise $100 Million dollars in five years. With the help of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, a network of 170 children’s hospitals, along with corporate partners, media partner and the phrase “It takes a village” comes to life. Add in Jack & Barbara’s influence in golf and the PGA TOUR and the miracle starts to take shape.
How Play Yellow Began
The idea for playing yellow was born over a plate of chocolate chip cookies. We’re not kidding and yes, Barbara is amazing! Meeting at the Nicklaus home PGA TOUR Commissioner, Jay Monahan, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus and John Lauck, CEO and President of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals asked the question, “how might we get the golf community together under one umbrella to help children’s hospitals?”
