August 2, 2022

Do you know a child, aged 7 to 11, who would love to perform on the field at NRG Stadium with the Houston Texans Cheerleaders? Register them now for Junior Cheerleaders presented by Texas Children’s Hospital! Our Junior Cheerleaders have the chance to perform during the pregame of the Texans vs. Titans game on Oct. 30. Spots will fill fast, register today!

Price
$199 per Junior Cheerleader

Experience Details

  • Official 2022 Junior Cheerleaders uniform, hair bow and poms
  • Opportunity to perform with Houston Texans Cheerleaders on the field of NRG Stadium
  • (1) FREE game ticket per Junior Cheerleader
  • Customized T-Shirt to wear during rehearsal
  • Rehearsal practice with Houston Texans Cheerleaders
  • Meal voucher available for use on Oct. 30 game day
  • 10% discount to the Houston Texans Team Shop the night of rehearsal

Registration Link
https://www.houstontexans.com/cheerleaders/junior-cheer

February 9, 2021

The Houston Texans sent four vaccinated health care workers to Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay as part of the NFL’s celebration of frontline medical heroes. Read more

February 4, 2021

In recognition of their unwavering commitment to our patients and the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, four vaccinated Texas Children’s health care heroes were selected to attend Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Fla. The NFL and Houston Texans are treating our team members to this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Those chosen to attend Super Bowl LV are:

  • Kaitlin Hernandez, Respiratory Therapist
  • Bhumi Patel, RN
  • Dr. Matthew Pesek, Medical Director, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus
  • Matthew Rivera, RN
Dedicated to our patients amid the pandemic

Hernandez, Pesek and Rivera have worked in the Special Isolation Unit (SIU) at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus since March. Patel has worked on 15 West Tower at the Medical Center Campus caring for COVID-positive acute care patients throughout the pandemic.

“I’ve worked in the SIU for many years,” Hernandez said. “This is what we’ve trained for.”

“Because we were prepared, we were able to care for children with COVID-19 effectively and safely very early on in the pandemic,” Pesek commented.

“Working in the SIU has been the most enjoyable work I’ve ever done in my nursing career,” Rivera added. “I can’t say enough about the team we work with.”

They all note that while this past year was challenging, their training and support from the Texas Children’s community and their families helped them get through some of the toughest days.

“I’ve had so many opportunities to grow and become the nurse I am now,” Patel said. “I love working for Texas Children’s and can only imagine what the future will hold.”

Gearing up for the big game

On Tuesday, TORO and the Houston Texans Cheerleaders surprised our health care heroes with a special send off, complete with Texans gear, a travel kit and more.

“I’m not really an emotional guy, but when they told me I was going to the Super Bowl, I was emotional and shocked,” Rivera said.

Health care workers from across the country, including our four selected health care heroes, will have completed their COVID-19 vaccination prior to traveling to the big game.

“I feel blessed to be vaccinated,” Rivera said. “I trust the science and the doctors around me.”

“I’m so grateful that we were able to get vaccinated so quickly,” Patel added.

Each team member received a roundtrip flight on United Airlines, two-night hotel stay and a ticket to the game, among other items.

All activities during Super Bowl week, including game day, will be conducted in accordance with CDC and local health guidelines. Health and safety precautions, such as increased physical distancing, face coverings, hand hygiene stations, first aid areas and directional signage will all be in place to create a safe environment for all individuals in attendance.

“It’s incredible that people are noticing and recognizing the work we do. It makes us all feel so good,” Hernandez said.

“This is a huge morale boost for all of us who have been working so hard throughout the pandemic,” Pesek added. “It’s amazing that the NFL is going out of its way to recognize thousands of health care frontline workers who are doing an incredible job, day in and day out.”

Texas Children’s is the Official Children’s Hospital of the Houston Texans. To learn more about our partnership, visit texaschildrens.org/texans.

October 12, 2020

Texas Children’s celebrated PLAY 60 by cheering on the Houston Texans as they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 5th Annual Kids Day game presented by Texas Children’s Hospital.

Kids Day highlights the National Football League’s PLAY 60 initiative, a campaign that encourages kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to reverse the trend of childhood obesity. Texas Children’s, the local presenting sponsor of PLAY 60, was featured throughout Sunday’s game.

Texas Children’s surgery patient, Matthew, served as the Coin Toss Captain. Sitting in his room at Texas Children’s in the Medical Center, he said “Go Texans! Beat the Jags!” To watch the coin toss, click here.

Even though our patients couldn’t be there in person to cheer on their team, they were there in spirit as featured cardboard cutouts in the stands at NRG Stadium. View photos of those cutouts below.

The week leading up to the game was filled with fun as well. On October 6, Houston Texans linebacker, Jacob Martin, made a special virtual visit to Cancer Center patients ahead of Sunday’s game. A robot dressed in Martin’s jersey went room to room as if he was on-site at the hospital. During this time when in-person interaction is limited, this surprise brought many smiles to patients and their families. View photos from Martin’s visit below.

Additionally, the Houston Texans Foundation donated $250,000 to Texas Children’s in support of our Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU). The IRU works to heal patients physically and emotionally following a severe illness or traumatic injury. This gift named the unit’s gym and transformed it with encouraging phrases and Texans colors. The donation will also provide resources to help enhance the quality of life for these patients.

Click here to see a video about the IRU and Martin’s visit, and see photos of the unit below.

Texas Children’s Hospital and the Houston Texans are two winning teams that share one goal – keeping Houston kids healthy and encouraging them to be more active. To learn more about our partnership, visit: texaschildrens.org/texans.

Cutouts in the stadium

Jacob Martin’s virtual visit

Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

 

September 8, 2020

Smith Legacy Tower is lit red, white and blue – the official colors of the Houston Texans – in honor of our partner’s first regular season game on Thursday, September 10 against the defending Super Bowl Champs, the Kansas City Chiefs. Texas Children’s is the Official Children’s Hospital of the Houston Texans and local sponsor of PLAY 60, the NFL initiative encouraging kids to get 60 minutes of active play per day.

June 15, 2020

For the past several years, Texas Children’s Hospital and the Houston Texans have challenged kids of all ages and abilities to be active at least 60 minutes every day through PLAY 60, the NFL initiative encouraging kids to start healthy habits young – an initiative that Texas Children’s serves as the local sponsor of. That mission has not changed – and has become even more important – amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

To help motivate kids to get moving, Texas Children’s and the Texans are hosting a Get Fit with TORO Week this week (June 15-19) and Junior Cheerleaders Online Dance Parties (every Friday for the next few weeks). Details about each event are below. Have fun and keep moving!

Get Fit with TORO Week
Get Fit with TORO is the elementary school program that Texas Children’s sponsors each academic year. With school suspended to COVID-19 and now out due to summer, TORO wanted to bring the curriculum to kids at home.

June 15-19

  • Every day this week at 5 p.m.
  • Daily filmed Zoom calls with TORO and “Coach Ryan” – each day focused on a new key to fitness, with a recap and special guest on Friday.
  • The videos will be live streamed each night on HoustonTexans.com/TORO, TORO’s Facebook and on TORO’s Twitter. The videos will be available afterwards on TORO’s Instagram and YouTube.

Event schedule
Monday: Flexibility
Tuesday: Muscular Strength
Wednesday: Cardio
Thursday: Nutrition
Friday: Recap with special guest

Junior Cheerleaders Online Dance Party
Calling all dancers … the Houston Texans Cheerleaders invite you to join the Junior Cheerleaders Dance Party, presented by Texas Children’s! Practice along with them, record your routine and share with us using #TCHPlay60 #TCHJuniorCheer.

Texas Children’s Hospital is the Official Children’s Hospital of the Houston Texans. To learn more about our partnership, visit: texaschildrens.org/texans.

December 23, 2019

On December 17, PLAY 60 Kid of the Month winners met for their special NRG Stadium experience, which included Houston Texans prize packs, a stadium tour, radio interview with the voice of the Houston Texans, Marc Vandermeer, and a walk on the field.

PLAY 60 is the National Football League’s campaign to encourage kids across the country to get off the sidelines and be active for an hour a day to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity and be healthier. The program is presented locally by Texas Children’s Hospital.

The 2019 PLAY 60 Kid of the Month winners participated in an online/social media contest. The winners are:

March: Abel Gonzalez
April: Jaydin Kane
May: Alexandra and Elizabeth Lowenberg
June: Hayden Holloway
July: Alix Meza
August: Marc Armendariz
September: Kaydence Haymon
October: Greyson Moreida
November: Jesus Olivarez

Thank you to everyone who applied to be a PLAY 60 Kid of the Month by showing us how you get your 60 minutes of play each day. View photos below of the winners’ special NRG Stadium experience.

To learn more about Texas Children’s partnership with the Houston Texans, visit: texaschildrens.org/texans