Exemplifying everything that the #AVGivesBack movement stands for, McCann Systems and nearly a dozen industry partners made the 2nd annual McCann Kids at Heart Charity Challenge a smashing success. The golf event, which supports Boston Children’s Hospital, raised a staggering $45,000. Remarkably, that’s more than double last year’s haul for the first annual golf outing.
This year’s iteration took place on July 14 at The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, Mass.
McCann Systems, Partners Team Up for McCann Kids at Heart Charity Challenge
Photo by Emerald/Commercial Integrator.
In addition to McCann Systems as Event Host, Crestron Electronics served as Presenting Sponsor, while Legrand | AV served as Platinum Sponsor. Additional support at the Gold Sponsor level came from Nanolumens, ADI | Snap One, LED Studio, Logitech, DGC Contracting, Peerless-AV and other partners.
The event attracted 26 foursomes to the links, their high spirits holding storm clouds at bay throughout the morning and afternoon. After playing 18 holes, golfers enjoyed live music while entering a raffle to win valuable prizes from event sponsors.
Then, Josh Bittner, senior vice president of sales and marketing for McCann Systems, played the role of auctioneer. He auctioned off incredible golf experiences all across the country, complemented by fine dining at exclusive gourmet restaurants. Golfers bid up these experiences to $2,000, $3,000 and beyond, each of them clamoring to support Boston Children’s Hospital.
“It feels good to give back,” Bittner told me when I ran into him on Hole 8. Speaking from the heart, he said, “A lot of my friends who are here today have had kids who have had to go to Boston Children’s Hospital. My child had to go to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. So, I’ve lived it a little bit.”
Boston Children’s Hospital: ‘The Best in the World’
“Boston Children’s is the best in the world,” Bittner declared. “Giving them extra money to make these kids’ lives a little bit more comfortable is worth all the time and investment.”
Hillary Muntz at the McCann Kids at Heart Charity Challenge. Photo courtesy of McCann Systems.
Hillary Muntz, senior development officer, corporate initiatives, Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, was on hand to accept the $45,000 donation. “Today, we are supporting the Children’s Activity Fund, which falls under our Child Life Services, which we call ‘the heart of the hospital,’” she told CI.
That fund seeks to nurture the social-emotional aspect of children’s hospital experience. This includes enrichment programs like art therapy and music therapy, as well as Paw Prints, which enlists 30 licensed therapy dogs. “[These programs] offer distraction tools, comfort and joy,” Muntz explained to CI. “Even though it’s within a hospital, it just takes [the children] away from their stressors.”
While perhaps, on the surface, looking like play or diversion, these programs offer clinically proven health benefits — healthier heart rates and blood pressure, reduced pain, improved sleep and mood, increased developmental progress and faster healing — that help make each patient’s stay at Boston Children’s a little brighter.
A Longtime Client
Will Amos, an industry veteran who joined McCann Systems this past May, highlighted that Boston Children’s Hospital is a longtime client of the integrator. But, for McCann Systems, separate and apart from delivering outstanding AV experiences for Boston Children’s, there is deep resonance in the hospital’s work.
The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, Mass. Photo by Emerald/Commercial Integrator.
Speaking of the McCann Kids at Heart Charity Challenge, Amos said it’s all about bringing the industry together for a good cause. “We get engulfed in a lot of technology, overcoming challenges, deadlines, lead times — all of that stuff,” he continued. “Being able to do this with friends in the industry and partners that we work with is super important.”
Matt Wilson, director of marketing at McCann Systems, agreed. He said, “This event brought out the best in our industry — collaboration, generosity and a shared commitment to making a difference. AV is what we do, but this event was about who we are.”
McCann Kids at Heart Charity Challenge: Giving Back
Giving back is entwined in McCann Systems’ DNA. It starts with founder Frank McCann, and it cascades throughout the entire company. “Between what we do for BCH [and] other charitable events, we try our best to be part of the community,” Bittner declared. “Anybody can hang a TV. But what are you doing as a company to make the community better…make the world better?”
McCann Systems and its partners have a record worth being proud of, empowering Muntz and the Boston Children’s Hospital team to continue making a difference in vulnerable kids’ lives.
If your company wants to get involved — either as an event host or as an individual donor — reach out to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, the philanthropic arm of the hospital. You can reach Muntz at Hillary.Muntz[at]chtrust.org.
