Peyton Manning returns for the final Celebration of Caring gala supporting Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis
A signature fundraiser returns to Lucas Oil Stadium
Peyton Manning is scheduled to headline what organizers describe as the final “Celebration of Caring” gala, an annual fundraising event benefiting patient- and family-focused programs at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent. The 18th edition of the gala was set for Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium, with an evening format that includes a cocktail reception, a seated dinner on the stadium field, a program segment reflecting on the event’s history, and a live performance by country artist Riley Green.
The gala has been positioned as a cornerstone philanthropic event for pediatric care in central Indiana, with proceeds directed to hospital services that support patients and families beyond direct clinical treatment.
What “final” means for the long-running fundraiser
The event has been promoted as the concluding installment of the “Celebration of Caring” tradition after 18 years. Organizers have framed the 2026 gathering as a capstone that both honors Manning’s role in the initiative and marks the end of the gala series under its existing identity.
While the hospital’s foundation continues to hold multiple fundraising events during the year, the “Celebration of Caring” brand has been singled out as a distinct annual tradition tied closely to Manning and the children’s hospital.
Context: hospital expansion and recent philanthropic milestones
The scheduled final gala comes amid a period of major capital investment and fundraising activity at Ascension St. Vincent. In 2025, Ascension St. Vincent reported the conclusion of a large-scale fundraising effort that surpassed $48 million to support maternal, infant, and pediatric priorities connected to a new Women and Infants Hospital and related services. That work included updates and expansions to pediatric emergency and intensive care capacity, alongside new patient- and family-oriented spaces on campus.
Recent editions of the gala have also generated significant support for programming at the children’s hospital. The 17th annual event, held in February 2025, was reported to have raised more than $1.6 million for patient and family support programs, drawing more than 1,000 attendees and incorporating an auction and a live entertainment component.
Key details for the 2026 event
Date and time: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, with programming scheduled from early evening through late night.
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.
Beneficiary: Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at Ascension St. Vincent, including patient and family support services.
Program elements: on-field dinner, remarks reflecting on 18 years of impact, live auction, and a private performance by Riley Green.
The final gala is structured as both a fundraiser and a retrospective, highlighting the hospital programs and community contributions associated with 18 years of “Celebration of Caring” events.
Organizers have indicated the 2026 gala will focus on summarizing the event’s legacy while directing new funding toward ongoing patient- and family-centered needs at the children’s hospital.