For the last decade, the winner of the Heisman Trophy has visited patients at Kravis Children’s at Mount Sinai in New York City, and provided a shout-out from their Lion’s Den Room to patients across the country.

However, this year, the NCAA expanded the college football playoffs to 12 teams, and that sent the schedule by the Heiman Trust into an audible. Instead of hosting a gala dinner to celebrate the winner’s success, the Trust had to move to a Sunday Brunch. That meant the hospital visit had to be amended.

When Travis Hunter of the University of Colorado was named the 2024 winner, the consolation would be that he’d sign a couple of dozen footballs for the patients at Kravis. To complete the hospital event, COO of the Mount Sinai Hospital, Jonathan Kyriacou hosted CiC Executive Director Jim Johnson in the hospital’s KidsZone for a Heisman Trivia broadcast.

Patients texted and called in their answers to questions like, “How much does the Heisman Trophy weigh?” “Who was the first winner of the Heisman Trophy?” “What Heisman winner is a two-time MVP in the NFL?”

Guesses and footballs were flying through the studio as the patients vied for the prized balls (even if they didn’t guess correctly, they still got a football!) Johnson said, “This was a great job by the Heisman Trust, Travis and Kravis Children’s to make this unusual year work. Our relationship and events with the Trust is one of the favorites of the year. Good luck to all the Heisman finalists as they head into this new playoff format, and may all the children be able to head home for the holidays healthy and happy!”