Augusta University's teams will give Wellstar children's hospital patients free tickets and add a Kids' Zone. Here are the game dates already set.
Children treated at Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia will get free tickets to Augusta University home games under a new partnership between the hospital and the university’s athletics department.
Augusta University Athletics announced the deal Thursday. It is the department’s first formal partnership with Wellstar Health System and the children’s hospital, according to the athletics department’s announcement. The hospital was renamed for Paychex founder Tom Golisano after his $50 million gift, the largest in Wellstar’s history. The gift was announced in December 2025, according to the Wellstar Foundation.
What the partnership includes
The athletics department said the hospital will:
- present the Junior Jaguars Club, the department’s club for young fans
- run a Kids’ Zone at Augusta University games, with activities before and during play
- give patients and their families free tickets to Jaguar home games
- sponsor a Youth Day with a jersey giveaway for the first 500 children ages 12 and younger
- support the annual Teddy Bear Toss, whose stuffed animals go to the hospital and other local charities
- share health and wellness information at the annual Education Game for Richmond County and Columbia County fifth graders
Augusta student-athletes will also visit patients in the hospital.
“Children thrive when they are surrounded by a community that supports and inspires them,” said Dr. Valera Hudson, the hospital’s pediatrician-in-chief.
Director of Athletics Brent McMillian said Wellstar had been a partner of the department “for many years.” He said the new deal would bring together “two organizations that share a deep commitment to serving our community.”
The dates already on the schedule
The announcement gave no dates. The basketball schedules already list several of the games it mentions:
| Game | Date and time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s home opener | 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 | Emmanuel University |
| Men’s home opener | Noon Saturday, Nov. 21 | Newberry College |
| Richmond County Education Day | 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7 | Paine College |
| Columbia County Education Day | 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 17 | Chowan University |
| Teddy Bear Toss | 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20 | University of North Georgia |
The women’s home opener is on the women’s basketball schedule. The other four games are on the men’s basketball schedule. Neither schedule names a Youth Day yet, so the date of the jersey giveaway is not known.
What it means for you
- If your child is a patient at the children’s hospital, ask the hospital about the free tickets. The announcement did not say how families sign up.
- For the jersey giveaway, only the first 500 children 12 and under get one. We will add the Youth Day date when the department posts it.
- For the Teddy Bear Toss, bring a stuffed animal to donate at the Jan. 20 game.
More games, concerts and family events are in our things to do guide, and Friday night high school results are on our scoreboard.
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