Go Gold! Phillies and Nemours Children’s Health Team Up to Raise Awareness for Childhood Cancer on Saturday

Get ready for a very special event – featuring heartwarming moments and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for families affected by cancer – at the Phillies’ ninth annual Nemours Children’s Health Childhood Cancer Awareness Night being held on Saturday, September 13, at Citizens Bank Park, before and during the game against the Kansas City Royals.

The on-field ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. and celebrate the courage, patience and resilience of childhood cancer warriors and their families with participants including those receiving treatment from Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware.

Also represented are children affiliated with Kisses for Kyle Foundation, which assists families in the Delaware Valley region who are battling childhood cancer with a variety of programs, services and special events, and Michaels Way, which covers vital non-medical expenses so families can focus on what matters most: their child’s care and healing. Players and other members of the Phillies family who have personally been impacted by childhood cancer will also take part.

The tribute will continue throughout the game, including in the 6^th inning, when fans will be invited to wave their Go Gold ribbon print (received at the entrance gate) to show support for those who have been affected by childhood cancer. Note: In 2025, nearly 10,000 children under the age of 15 are projected to receive a cancer diagnosis in the United States.

Plus, that evening’s Phillies Charities, Inc. 50/50 Drawing will benefit the Nemours Foundation. Players and on-field personnel will wear gold ribbons and wristbands to support the cause, and commemorative base jewels will be featured. Also, children 14 and under will receive a Phillies Bucket Hat.

LINEUP FOR NEMOURS CHILDREN’S HEALTH CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT

5:30 p.m., On-field Tribute Highlights

• Lineup of Courage: Local children who are battling or have battled cancer will take the field with players for the national anthem including Michael Gallagher (age 9, Cinnaminson, NJ), Charlotte Long (age 5, Wilmington, DE), Hadleigh McCarthy (age 4, Aberdeen, MD), Owen McQuillan (age 18), Candace Saxon (age 18, Ulster, PA), Tristan Sheehan (Mount Laurel, NJ), Roman Schmid (age 14), Alex Skumpija (age 14, Warminster, PA), Allayah Tolliver (age 4) and Chloe Winters (age 15, Abington, PA).
• Go Gold Home Run Hitter: Finnegan Ford (age 4, Wilmington, DE) will take a swing and “hit” a home run before rounding the bases in front of Phillies and Royals players.
• Go Gold Ribbon in Center Field: Held by members of the Phillies front office and Nemours Children’s Health.
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Vishaal Addaganti (age 10), which will be caught by his doctor, Nemours Children’s Health pediatric hematologist-oncologist Nicholas Manini.
• National Anthem: Sung by Elisha Rodriguez-Ford (age 21, Pennsauken, NJ).
• PhanaVision Video: How Childhood Cancer has Affected the Phillies Family: Members of the Phillies family who were personally impacted by childhood cancer share their stories. Among those featured: Phillies batboy Adam Crognale, players Bryson Stott, Trea Turner and Weston Wilson, Vice President of Business Operations & Assistant General Manager Ned Rice, and Christie and Chris Phelan, parents of minor-leaguer Corey Phelan, who passed away at the age of 20 from cancer.
• Starting Lineup Announcer: Ayva Dudley (age 15, Lansdale, PA), standing next to Phillies PA Announcer Dan Baker.

In-Game Moments:

• 1^st Inning:
  • Honorary Public Address Announcer, Top 1^st: Maddie Lynam (age 21).
  • Honorary PhanaVision DJ, End 1^st: Madison Hallahan (age 14, Clayton, NJ).
• 3^rd Inning (end) - Honorary Base Change: Mia Gravino (age 13).
• 5^th Inning (end) - Phanatic Skit: Hunter Keller (age 7, Stroudsburg, PA).
• 6^th Inning (end) - Gold Ribbon Moment: Fans will be invited to wave their Go Gold ribbon prints to show support for those who have been affected by cancer.
• 7^th Inning
  • “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, Middle 7^th: Sung by Emilia Isaacs (age 6, Havertown, PA), Frankie Wilson (age 11, Chalfont, PA) and Naomi Karr (age 10, Bryn Mawr, PA).
  • Phanatic Dance on Dugout, End 7^th: Patrick Reithmeier (age 6, Mount Laurel, NJ), Ryan Newman (age 14, Huntingdon Valley, PA) and Sloane Capaldo (age 7, Philadelphia, PA).

ABOUT NEMOURS CHILDREN’S HEALTH:

Nemours Children’s Health, the official Children’s Hospital of the Phillies, is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two freestanding children's hospitals and a network of more than 70 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children's seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also addressing children’s needs well beyond medicine. In producing the highly acclaimed, award-winning pediatric medicine podcast Well Beyond Medicine, Nemours underscores that commitment by featuring the people, programs and partnerships addressing whole child health. Nemours Children's also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.

The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.