Drake Maye just shaved his head on March 31, raising $4.1 million for Boston Children’s Hospital and launching the MayeDay Family Foundation to support children and families — a sizable single-event haul that places the couple among high-profile athlete-led charity efforts this offseason.
The moment was captured in a video posted to X (formerly Twitter) showing Maye’s wife, Ann Michael Maye, holding the clippers as reporters looked on. Ann Michael laughed before the cut: “I think he’s going to look good. He’ll look good. I’ve never seen it before. So this is going to be a shock.” Drake smiled and added, “We’ll see what I do with the hair, but we’ll find out.”
The fundraiser, part of a “Saving by Shaving” event in Quincy, Massachusetts, netted $4.1 million for pediatric cancer research. Organizers pledged $5,000 for every individual who shaved their head or donated at least eight inches of hair — a simple mechanic that helped drive big gifts and community participation (and yes, it included public head shaves from local figures).
Maye used the event to give a brief health update as well. Asked about the shoulder that drew attention during the 2025 playoffs, he told reporters his “shoulder’s feeling good, feeling great,” and said he’s back to throwing and lifting as he eases into the offseason program.
Beyond the check, the couple announced the MayeDay Family Foundation, which will focus on supporting children and families in New England and North Carolina (their home state). The foundation has already committed to funding a Child Life Therapist on the oncology floor at Boston Children’s Hospital to provide play, music and creative therapies for patients and families.
“Ann Michael and I are excited to launch the MayeDay Family Foundation to give back to the communities that have so strongly supported us,” Maye said in a statement on the foundation’s website. To kick things off they’ll host the MayeDay Family Foundation Celebrity Softball Classic on May 31 in Worcester — an early calendar date for donors and fans to meet the new foundation in person.
The event clip circulated quickly on social platforms and prompted a warm response from teammates, local leaders and fans; the image of a young NFL quarterback letting his partner wield the clippers felt both personal and performative in the best way. Who couldn’t get behind that?
Quick context: athletes shaving their heads for charity are nothing new, but the scale here—millions raised and a named foundation with immediate hospital commitments—signals a deeper, organized approach to philanthropy rather than a one-off stunt. Expect more appearances tied to the foundation this spring and a focus on sustained hospital support rather than singular headline-grabbing events.
What’s next: look for the celebrity softball charity on May 31 and follow updates on the MayeDay Family Foundation website for donor information, volunteer opportunities and how the $4.1 million will be allocated across research and patient services. For now, Maye’s haircut is the headline—but the money and the programs are the real story.