It was The Legends for Charity gala and dinner benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It took place during Super Bowl LX week on Thursday, February 5, 2026 in San Francisco’s Marriott Marquis. The event featured the presentation of the 2026 Pat Summerall Award to ESPN/ABC and Amazon Prime Video analyst, Kirk Herbstreit who was the 20th Annual Pat Summerall Award recipient, plus he accompanied by his beloved golden retriever, Peter.
Hosted by Laura Rutledge and featuring Chris Berman, it brought together sports industry leaders to support this great cause. Also in attendance: Hannah Storm 2026 Award Presenter & Current Anchor – ESPN, 2025 PAT SUMMERALL AWARD RECIPIENT (NEW ORLEANS), Kaylee Hartung – NFL Prime & Today Show, Chris Fowler – ESPN, Tony Thomas, the son of St. Jude Children’s Research hospital founder Danny Thomas. Sibling actresses Terre and Marlo Thomas, Cheri Summerall, Wife to the late Pat Summerall, Earl Smith, Invocation – Chaplain for the Warriors and the Niners for 30+ years, Kelechi Osemele, Former NFL Player who Won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, Kevin Burkhardt, Lead NFL Play-by-play Announcer & MLB Studio Host – FOX Sports, Mike Madden, Son of the late John Madden (former NFL Broadcaster with Pat Summerall on CBS Sports & FOX Sports), Ron Sellers – Retired NFL Wide Receiver Member of Super Bowl VIII champion Miami Dolphins, who also played for the Cowboys and the Patriots Hall of Fame – Florida State University, Steve Ackels – ESPN.
The dinner is renowned for bringing the sports broadcasting world and NFL players together to support the mission of St. Jude. Information regarding tickets, sponsorships, and donations can be found through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the official event website at www.legendsforcharity.com.
Events like Legends for Charity help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.
Since its inception 20 years ago, Legends for Charity has raised more than $14 million for St. Jude. Past honorees are James Brown, Greg Gumbel, Jim Nantz, Chris Berman, Cris Collinsworth, The NFL ON FOX, Al Michaels, Archie Manning, Michael Strahan, Joe Buck, John Madden, Rich Eisen, Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, Jim Kelly, Erin Andrews, Howie Long, Tony Romo and Hannah Storm.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (https://www.stjude.org/cancercenter) devoted solely to children.
When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered largely incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate in the U.S. from 20% to more than 80%, and it won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire (https://www.stjude.org/inspire.html) to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@stjude), and subscribing to its YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/stjude) channel.
About Legends for Charity
Legends for Charity® is an annual national event held during Super Bowl Weekend to present The Pat Summerall Award to a deserving broadcaster. Created by Cheryl DeLeonardis of Ocean 2 Ocean Productions, it is annually held at the prestigious NFL headquarters hotel and celebrates national sports legends having raised over $14 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since its inception in 2005, it has become a cornerstone event during the biggest weekend in professional sports earning eight national Telly Awards and opening the world of sports broadcasters to the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
We would like to thank:
Kurt Rossler, Caroline Gonzalez and Cheryl DeLeonardis for the invitation to this amazing yearly event as we look forward to 2027 in Los Angeles, California.
BKonthescene 