The first half of 2026 was a powerful reminder that creating brighter futures for kids takes more than one event, one program, or one organization – it takes a community.
Over the past three months, Rodman for Kids continued to expand access to life-changing opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and bring people together around a shared mission of empowering youth charities to build brighter futures for kids across Massachusetts. From welcoming thousands of kids to the theatre to celebrating another successful Ride for Kids, every milestone reflects the generosity, collaboration, and commitment of the people who make this work possible.
Here’s a look back at what we accomplished together the last few months:
The Brighter Futures Podcast Continues to Inspire
The Brighter Futures Podcast continued to spotlight the people, partnerships, and ideas shaping brighter futures for kids.
From conversations about accessibility in the arts and nonprofit collaboration to volunteerism, leadership, and youth empowerment, each episode offered meaningful insights for nonprofit professionals, community leaders, and anyone passionate about creating opportunities for young people.
Whether you’ve been listening since Episode 1 or are just discovering the podcast, we invite you to catch up on the latest conversations and hear directly from the changemakers helping move our mission forward.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube, or iHeartRadio.
More than a Ride: The 36th Annual Rodman Ride for Kids
The 36th Annual Rodman Ride for Kids once again demonstrated the incredible impact of collective action. Hundreds of riders, volunteers, and supporters came together to raise critical funds for youth-focused organizations across Massachusetts. Ride Day was filled with energy, community, and countless moments that reminded us why this event has remained a cornerstone of our mission for more than three decades. Watch the Ride Day recap video HERE.
The Ride has always been more than just a cycling event, though. It continues to provide our Charity Partners with a cost-free fundraising platform, allowing them to keep 100% of the funds they raise so they can focus on serving the kids who need them most. Read about how one of our Charity Partners – Foxborough Regional Charter School – embraced the opportunities to fundraise through the Ride, connect with fellow organizations in the Charity Partner Program network, and ultimately created meaningful impact for students and families.
Opening the Curtain for Every Child
This spring, Rodman for Kids enriched more than 10,000 children with live, professional theater through our Theatre for Kids program!
One of the performances we brought kids to was a sensory-friendly performance of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Citizens Opera House. Designed specifically for kids with sensory sensitivities and differing abilities, the performance featured accommodations including adjusted lighting and sound levels, ASL interpretation, audio description, and dedicated quiet spaces to ensure every child had the opportunity to experience the magic of live theatre.
This performance was also a full-circle moment for our Theatre for Kids program. Beauty and the Beast was the very first show we brought kids to back in 2003, and now, more than 20 years later and after reaching the milestone of 100,000 kids impacted, we continue to grow and evolve what access to the arts can look like. Read more about the performance HERE.
This spring also marked another meaningful collaboration with Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) through its Stage2 program. Rodman for Kids helped make attending student matinees of Romeo & Juliet possible for approximately 6,000 students from schools across Massachusetts, introducing young audiences to Shakespeare through an engaging, accessible, and educational theatre experience. The performances were complemented by accessibility accommodations and opportunities for students to deepen their understanding of the production through post-show discussions and educational resources. Read more about our partnership with CSC HERE.
Whether introducing a child to the performing arts for the first time or helping students connect with classic literature in a new way, Theatre for Kids continues to remove barriers and open doors through the transformative power of the performing arts.
Looking Ahead: Celebration for Kids
Planning is well underway for the 24th Annual Celebration for Kids, and we’re excited to share a few highlights as we prepare for another unforgettable evening!
This year’s event will once again bring together supporters from across our community to celebrate the impact we’re making together while raising critical funds to expand opportunities for kids.
We’re proud to recognize this year’s Real Deal Award recipient, Broadway In Boston! For years, Broadway In Boston has been a steadfast champion of our Theatre for Kids program, partnering with us to help remove barriers to the performing arts and create unforgettable live theatre experiences for thousands of young people, making them a truly deserving recipient of this year’s honor.
We’re also thrilled to welcome our 2026 Celebration for Kids Chairs, Mike Botte & Larry Liuzzo, whose leadership and dedication will help make this year’s event a tremendous success.
Stay tuned for additional event announcements, auction previews, participating chefs, and opportunities to get involved in the months ahead! Watch last year’s recap video to get excited for Saturday, November 7th!
Tickets and sponsorship packages are already on sale – get yours now before its too late!
As we enter the second half of 2026, we’re excited to continue expanding access, strengthening partnerships, and creating new opportunities for kids across Massachusetts. Thank you for being part of the Rodman for Kids community. Together, we’re creating brighter futures – one child, one organization, and one opportunity at a time. We look forward to sharing what’s next!