Anthony Rizzo’s Second Legacy: Quiet Acts of Kindness and the Fight Against Childhood Cancer
By [JOYCE]
July 2025 — New York, NY
On the baseball field, Anthony Rizzo is a veteran first baseman, a Gold Glove defender, and a three-time All-Star whose name commands respect across the league. But away from the roar of Yankee Stadium, beyond the bright lights and back-page headlines, Rizzo has quietly been building something far more enduring: a legacy of compassion for children fighting a battle he knows all too well.
Long before he donned the iconic pinstripes, Anthony Rizzo was a 19-year-old minor leaguer with the Boston Red Sox organization facing a diagnosis that changed everything — Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In 2008, Rizzo underwent six months of chemotherapy. He beat cancer. He returned to baseball. And he promised he’d never forget what it felt like to be a kid in a hospital gown, unsure of the future.
Seventeen years later, he hasn’t.
The Foundation Built From Pain
Founded in 2012, the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation has grown into one of the most impactful cancer charities in Major League Baseball. Focused on raising funds for pediatric cancer research and supporting families financially and emotionally during treatment, the foundation has donated millions to hospitals across the country.
This summer alone, the foundation pledged over $500,000 to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, covering everything from research initiatives to direct assistance with rent, utilities, and travel expenses for families of young patients. It’s the kind of lifeline Rizzo knows would’ve meant everything to his own family nearly two decades ago.
“It’s never just about the treatment,” Rizzo said in a rare interview at a private foundation event earlier this year. “It’s about making sure families can breathe, even for a moment. Because I remember how heavy everything feels when someone you love is in that hospital bed.”
Unpublicized Visits, Unforgettable Moments
While most athletes use their platform to shine a light on their causes, Rizzo has taken a markedly different approach — choosing anonymity and privacy over cameras and publicity. Hospital staff at Lurie Children’s confirm that Rizzo frequently visits patients unannounced and without media presence, slipping into hospital rooms to talk with children, joke with their parents, and sometimes just sit silently.
“He doesn’t wear a Yankees hat. He doesn’t want recognition,” said a nurse who asked not to be named. “He walks in, introduces himself as ‘Anthony,’ and just listens. And the kids love him for it.”
One such moment, however, did accidentally reach the public eye — and captured hearts around the globe.
The Lullaby That Broke the Internet
Last week, a short video began circulating on TikTok showing Rizzo seated beside a hospital crib, softly singing “You Are My Sunshine” to a toddler receiving chemotherapy. The child — bald, tethered to an IV drip — reached out and touched Rizzo’s hand mid-song.
The caption read simply:
“This man shows up every Thursday. Didn’t know who he was until now. He calls my daughter his sunshine.”
In under 48 hours, the clip had over 8 million views and was shared by stars across sports, entertainment, and politics. Yankees manager Aaron Boone declined to comment on the video directly but said, “That’s just Riz. He’s a great ballplayer, sure — but he’s an even better human.”
Rizzo, for his part, was reportedly “genuinely embarrassed” by the attention.
“He never wanted that out there,” said one foundation staffer. “But I think it’s important. People need to see that empathy still exists in this world — especially from those in the spotlight.”
More Than Baseball
Rizzo’s career has had its share of highlights. A World Series ring with the Cubs. The respect of fans in Chicago, New York, and beyond. But for those closest to him, it’s what he’s done off the field that defines him.
“He still calls my son every month,” said Maria Lopez, whose child, Diego, passed away from leukemia in 2022. “Even after Diego died, Anthony kept in touch. He sent flowers on his birthday. He didn’t forget us. And that’s something we’ll never forget either.”
Those kinds of stories don’t appear in box scores or player profiles. But they resonate in hospital rooms, in grief-stricken living rooms, and now — thanks to a 25-second TikTok video — in the hearts of millions.
A Legacy Beyond the Game
As Rizzo enters the twilight of his career, many wonder what’s next. Coaching? Broadcasting? Retirement?
“I’ll always be connected to baseball,” he told ESPN earlier this season. “But the foundation… that’s where my heart is.”
And if the game ever does fade from his day-to-day life, one thing is certain: Anthony Rizzo will not fade from the lives of those who need him most.
“He didn’t just survive cancer,” said Dr. Sophia Patel, pediatric oncologist at Lurie. “He turned it into a mission. And now that mission is changing lives.”
BOX: Anthony Rizzo’s Foundation by the Numbers
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$500,000+ donated in 2025 alone
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$4.5 million in total grants since founding
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Over 1,300 families directly assisted
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Supports hospitals in Chicago, New York, Florida, and Boston
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Annual “Walk Off for Cancer” 5K raised $1.2 million in 2024
QUOTABLE:
“If I can give these kids just one moment of hope or comfort — even five minutes — then it’s worth it. Every single time.”
— Anthony Rizzo