For years, SMU and Children’s Health have worked together to care for the community’s youth, nurturing their minds and health. Both century-old organizations are rooted in North Texas, and they are committed to nurturing young adults now and for generations to come.

And over the course of the partnership, the Hilltop — an affectionate nickname for SMU — has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to advance the hospital system’s mission to make life better for children.

In 2024, students, athletes and university leaders came together to support Children’s Health in a variety of ways — from hosting a dance marathon to inviting patients to sporting events — further cementing the relationship and expanding the ways the organizations collaborate.

“SMU and Children’s Health are both part of the fabric of the City of Dallas. We each have over 100 years of history with the city, and both play important roles in the lives of its residents,” said Brad Sutton, deputy director of athletics and chief communications and branding officer for SMU Athletics. “We’re thrilled to have this long-standing relationship and appreciate all Children’s Health does to provide incredible care for the next generation of Mustang Fans.”

Last year, SMU donated nearly $40,000 toward unrestricted support to help fund areas of greatest need at Children’s Health and to the new Dallas pediatric campus, which will be one of the country’s largest and most transformative pediatric hospitals.

“We’re proud of our relationship with Children’s Health,” said Jeffrey Koch, a senior and SMU Dance Marathon’s president. “The fundraising event allows the student body to get involved in something that has a huge impact in a young child’s life.”

MUSTANGS RALLY BEHIND CHILDREN’S HEALTH

Each year, SMU’s Student Foundation is tasked with organizing the events hosted throughout Homecoming week. Celebrations include a pep rally, parade, football game and philanthropic event that brings students together to give back to the community.

After Tyler Welch was appointed as the SMU Homecoming Committee’s philanthropy coordinator, he began looking into different potential beneficiaries across Dallas.

The student-led organization planned to host a board game tournament to raise funds for a donation — and Welch, a sophomore at SMU, wanted to make sure the money would benefit the community.

With the Homecoming Committee’s support, Welch ultimately chose Children’s Health after learning more about the care children and their families receive and the life-saving research being done across the hospital system.

“I knew the money was going to an organization we could trust,” he said.

Halfway through the tournament in October, a friend ran up to tell Welch they had surpassed their fundraising goal by thousands of dollars — raising a total of $18,000 in unrestricted giving to Children’s Health. These flexible funds are crucial to allow Children’s Health to fund areas of greatest need and invest in new initiatives and potentially life-saving research.

Welch was blown away by the Mustang community’s generosity.

“Even if it benefits just one kid’s experience at Children’s Health, I will have felt accomplished,” he said. “I’m really glad that we had a part in helping the efforts of Children's Health.”

Students also rallied behind the hospital system through SMU Dance Marathon, an organization that raises funds and awareness for Children’s Health through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

The organization’s culminating event is a four-hour-long dance marathon in the spring, where students have the opportunity to meet a Children’s Health patient ambassador and their family.

“The student body can connect with a child who has faced a lot of health challenges,” said Koch. “The event also helps distract patients from anything that might be going on in their lives.”

Last year, Riley, a patient ambassador for Children’s Health, shared the story of her life-saving heart transplant and how her care team rallied around her to bring fun to her bedside with jokes and pet therapy dogs.

“Today, I’m a straight-A sixth grader, ride my bike, run a mile in PE, swim, play the clarinet and play competitive basketball,” she said during a speech at the event. “I’m grateful to you for my miracle.”

At the end of the event — after students and the patient connected through music, dancing and games — Koch announced SMU Dance Marathon fundraised a total of $13,000 toward the new Dallas hospital, which will meet the rapidly growing health care needs of kids in North Texas.

‘CONTINUE CREATING MORE MEMORIES’

Children’s Health patients enjoyed extraordinary access to SMU’s athletics in 2024, but their invitation extended further than simply attending games at the Hilltop.

Patients had the chance to submit artwork in a helmet decorating competition hosted by SMU Athletics.

The winner? Annabella, whose drawing features Peruna galloping away with the Children’s Health red balloon in its muzzle. Annabella, who was born with a serious, rare liver disease, received a lifesaving transplant surgery as a baby at Children’s Health.

SMU invited Annabella and her family to the Spring Game, where the football team sported the custom helmets with her artwork during a scrimmage.

After fans’ overwhelmingly positive reaction online to Annabella’s drawing, the university worked with local, boutique retailer Horn Legend to release limited-edition merchandise. SMU, which waived its royalties, donated more than $3,700 to Children’s Health.

“The merch has been a really cool, fun project to bring to life,” said Nathan Taylor, associate manager of business development for Mustang Sports Properties. “The opportunity has led to more conversations on how else we can expand our relationship with Children’s Health.”

Patient ambassadors were also invited to private practices, where they interacted with the players and coaches, and games to serve as honorary Kid Captains.

At another game, SMU’s football team pledged to donate $500 to Children’s Health for every touchdown they scored, totaling $4,000 by the end of the match.

Some of the university’s student athletes also visited the hospital over the year to meet patients, play games and brighten their day.

“It’s great to be able to make patients smile and laugh and provide an escape, allowing them to just have some fun,” Taylor said. “Hopefully we can continue creating more memories.”