Back in 2010, Rob Riggle called fellow Shawnee Mission graduates Paul Rudd and Jason Sudeikis with an idea. "Let's host a poker tournament to raise money for Children's Mercy." Without hesitation, they each agreed and immediately called upon their family and friends to help pull it off. With only nine weeks of planning, the first Big Slick Celebrity Weekend was born.
The guy's friends like Will Ferrell, Director Adam McKay, Bobby Cannavale, George Wendt and SNL Alum Will Forte helped them raise over $120,000 that first year. Since then, the guys and other celebrity guests have raised more than $17 million through sponsorships, a live auction, branded merchandise and various other fundraising campaigns.
A few years later, Rob, Paul and Jason invited Big Slick alumni and area natives Eric Stonestreet and David Koechner to join them as hosts. This year, Big Slick regular & familiar KC hometown friend Heidi Gardner joins the guys as the official sixth host!
Every dollar raised goes directly to Children's Mercy to advance Big Slick's goal of eradicating pediatric cancer. Big Slick tries very hard to keep expenses to a minimum and dollars directly to the kids at a maximum. Over the years, the attention that Big Slick has brought to Children's Mercy has helped with their recruiting efforts attracting top medical and research talent from around the globe. Big Slick also helped to expose an even larger audience to the nationally recognized work being done at Children's Mercy.
Through patience, creativity and a whole lot of fun, Big Slick is once again making an impact on the lives of children and their families in one of the community's most valuable assets - Children's Mercy. We are excited to bring you Big Slick 2023 ... here's to making #14 the biggest slick yet!
Founded in 1897, Children’s Mercy is a leading independent children’s health organization dedicated to holistic care, translational research, educating caregivers and breakthrough innovation to create a world of well-being for all children. With not-for-profit hospitals in Missouri and Kansas, and numerous specialty clinics in both states, Children’s Mercy provides the highest level of care for children from birth through the age of 21. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked Children’s Mercy as one of “America's Best Children's Hospitals.” For the fifth consecutive time in a row, Children’s Mercy has achieved Magnet nursing designation, awarded to only about 8% of all hospitals nationally, for excellence in quality care. More than 850 pediatric subspecialists, researchers and faculty across more than 40 subspecialties are actively involved in clinical care, pediatric research and education of the next generation of pediatric subspecialists. Thanks to generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s Mercy provides hope, comfort and the prospect of brighter tomorrows to every child who passes through its doors. Visit Children’s Mercy and the Children’s Mercy Research Institute to learn more, and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest news and videos.
Children's Mercy is a leading independent children's health organization dedicated to holistic care, translational research, breakthrough innovation, and educating the next generation of caregivers.
Together, we transform the health, well-being and potential of children, with unwavering compassion for those most vulnerable.
To create a world of well-being for children.
For more information about Children's Mercy and its research, visit childrensmercy.org.
