Patriots quarterback Drake Maye traded his helmet hair for a buzzcut on Tuesday, stepping into the clippers at Granite Telecommunications' annual "Saving by Shaving" fundraiser in Quincy. The fresh cut helped push the event's total past $4.1 million for Boston Children's Hospital, as Maye stood alongside his wife and Granite employees during a check presentation to hospital officials. Organizers said the donation will support pediatric research and patient programs at Boston Children's, as per CBC News Boston.
A short clip of Maye getting his head shaved quickly made the rounds online. As CBS News Boston reported, this year's "Saving by Shaving" haul topped $4.1 million, with the quarterback front and center. Maye's wife, Ann Michael Maye, even took a turn with the clippers during the cut, a detail Yardbarker noted. Teammates, local leaders and Granite staff joined in the annual hair-donation push that wrapped with the oversized check presentation to hospital leaders.
How Saving by Shaving Works
Granite's "Saving by Shaving" campaign asks volunteers to either shave their heads or donate at least eight inches of hair. For every participant, the company donates $2,500, and the Hale family matches that amount dollar for dollar, turning each shave into a $5,000 gift, according to Granite's media advisory via PR Newswire. Over the past dozen years the program has funneled tens of millions of dollars to pediatric research, and the advisory notes the effort has now helped raise more than $58.5 million for hospitals. Tuesday's presentation unfolded at Granite's Quincy headquarters, where company executives and hospital leaders gathered for the latest donation.
Maye's New Foundation and Community Plans
Maye and his wife recently launched the MayeDay Family Foundation and have committed to long-term support for Boston Children's, including a three-year pledge to fund a child-life therapist on the hospital's oncology floor, according to a team announcement from the New England Patriots. To keep the momentum going and bring fans into the mix, the foundation is set to host a Celebrity Softball Classic at Polar Park on May 31, MayeDay Family Foundation notes. The event marks another step in Maye's fast move from rising quarterback to visible New England philanthropist.
Local Impact and Next Steps
Organizers say this year's haul ranks among Granite's larger single-day totals and highlights the company's long-running partnership with Boston Children's. "Every shave and every donation reminds patients and families that they're not alone," Granite Gives Back chair Melanie Richards said in the company advisory, per PR Newswire. Hospital officials and Quincy leaders joined the check presentation, and organizers said the funds will be directed to research and patient support programs at Boston Children's.
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