Patriots’ Coach Vrabel, Celtics’ Sam Hauser and Coach Mazzulla and 700+ Granite Teammates Raise $3.55 Million to Benefit Boston Children’s Hospital
Granite’s ‘Saving by Shaving’ Event Has Raised More than $58.5 Million for Health Care Since 2014
QUINCY, Massachusetts – March 11, 2024 – Granite Telecommunications, a leading $1.8 billion provider of communications and technology solutions to businesses and government agencies, announced that more than 700 people, including New England Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel, Boston Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla and Boston Celtics small forward Sam Hauser, participated in its flagship fundraiser, 12th annual “Saving by Shaving” event. The charitable drive raised over $3.55 million for Boston Children’s Hospital, bringing the total raised in the history of the event to more than $58.5 million.
“Saving by Shaving” proceeds support Boston Children’s mission of unmatched care and world-class science and commitment to healing children, helping families and fueling lifesaving research for every child, putting kids from around the world on the path to a healthier, more promising future.
At today’s event, Granite CEO Rob Hale, along with Granite teammates, families and friends, were joined by community leaders, celebrities and athletes. In addition to Coach Vrabel, Coach Mazzulla and Sam Hauser, the fundraiser’s special guests included Allison Feaster, Vice President of Team Operations and Organizational Growth, Boston Celtics; Joe Andruzzi, former New England Patriots offensive guard; Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch; Kevin Churchwell, MD, President/CEO of Boston Children’s Hospital; Dick Argys, Executive Vice President, Hospital, Satellite and Ambulatory Operations and Chief Culture Officer, Boston Children’s Hospital; and radio personality Greg Hill of WEEI.
“What started as a lighthearted dare over 10 years ago has grown into one of the most meaningful traditions of the year,” said Hale. “I’m incredibly proud of the Granite team and our community for uniting once again in support of Boston Children’s and its life-changing work. I’m also deeply grateful to the special guests who lent their voices and presence to this event, shining a brighter spotlight on this worthy cause. Their support, along with the generosity of everyone involved, allows us to support a mission that brings hope and healing to families near and far.”
“I look forward to Saving by Shaving every year. Seeing so many folks from Granite, local government and our Boston sports teams come together to support the work we do for Boston Children’s patients is just incredible,” said Boston Children’s President and CEO Kevin B. Churchwell, MD. “We are grateful for Rob Hale and Granite’s leadership in helping us find life-saving answers for families.”
In the past 12 years, more than 12,000 people have participated in the “Saving by Shaving” event by shaving their heads and donating their hair, raising over $58.5 million for charitable organizations.
For each person who shaved their head or donated at least 8 inches of hair, Granite donated $2,500, which the Hale family matched dollar for dollar, for a total of $5,000 per head to pediatric research and treatments for The Every Child Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Additionally, all locks of hair will be donated to Hair We Share, which creates custom wigs free of charge for those affected by medical hair loss.
Plus, a donation of $100 was made for every “chemo cap” (a hat for cancer patients who’ve lost hair due to chemotherapy) created by the Granite Fiber Art’s team. This year the team handcrafted 250 hats for children and adults, for a running total of 3,500.
The “Saving by Shaving” event also was supported by Granite’s business customers and local businesses, such as:
- Dunkin Donuts, which provided coffee and breakfast for the volunteers and barbers/stylists and Sodexo, which provided lunch.
- Professional barbers and stylists, who volunteered their talents, hailing from Hairplace One, Mackie’s Barber Shop, Milton Barber Shop, Paul’s Barber Shop, Salon Matteo, Shear Excitement and Supercuts.
The “Saving by Shaving” event was closed to the general public, but Granite encourages like-minded individuals to support funding for pediatric cancer research by donating to Boston Children’s Hospital. Click here to donate.
Granite’s annual “Saving by Shaving” fundraiser began 12 years ago when CEO Rob Hale playfully dared a member of his team to shave his ZZ Top-style beard for a $1,000 donation to a cancer hospital. Soon after, hundreds more joined in, shaving their heads or beards in solidarity with chemotherapy patients. Since then, the event has grown into a movement, drawing sports icons and leaders like Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, David Ortiz, former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey—all united in giving patients and families a brighter future on their medical journeys.
About Granite
Granite delivers advanced communications and technology solutions to businesses and government agencies throughout the United States and Canada. The $1.8 billion company serves more than two-thirds of Fortune 100 companies and has 1.75 million voice and data lines under management, supporting more than 650,000 locations. Founded in 2002, Granite has become one of the largest competitive telecommunications carriers in the U.S. by simplifying sourcing and management of voice, data and cellular service with a single point of contact and consolidated invoicing for all locations nationwide. Today, Granite supports customers with a wide range of services, including access, UCaaS, mobile voice and data and MSP solutions for SD-WAN, monitoring and network management. Granite employs more than 2,220 people at its headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts, and 10 regional offices nationwide. For more information, visit www.granitenet.com.
Media Contact:
Jeremy RobisonPR Manager
Granite
617.837.4027
