Volunteering at Children's Hospitals as the Leprechaun
On St. Patrick's Day 2026, I had the honor of volunteering as a leprechaun at LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis. I went there hoping to bring a few smiles to the kids, but I walked away with much more.
I was blown away by everything LeBonheur does—not only providing incredible medical care, but also making sure these children still get opportunities to simply be kids. They have people dedicated to activities, special events, and creating moments of happiness for children going through some of the toughest days imaginable.
One of the moments that affected me most was visiting a floor where some of the children were too sick to come downstairs for the St. Patrick's Day activities. I was able to spend some time with them and their families, take pictures, laugh, and hopefully give them a few minutes of fun. Walking into those rooms changed my perspective. So many things we consider problems in our everyday lives suddenly seem very small when you're standing beside parents whose biggest concern is getting their child healthy and bringing them home.
I left LeBonheur that day incredibly grateful. Being the leprechaun is usually about Notre Dame football, having fun, traveling, and meeting amazing people—but this day was different. If putting on a green suit and a leprechaun hat can make a child smile during one of the hardest times of their life, then that may be one of the best reasons I'll ever have to wear it.
If you ever feel led to give your time and help someone else, I encourage you to do it. Sometimes you go there thinking you're going to make a difference in someone else's day, only to discover they made an even bigger difference in yours. ☘️