 Rice was associated with a variety of charitable organizations during his career, primarily on behalf of children, some of which have carried on into his retirement.He was named an honorary chairman of The Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm of the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, in 1979, and in 1992 was awarded that organization's "Jimmy Award", which honors individuals who have demonstrated their dedication to cancer research.Rice is also active in his support of the Neurofibromatosis Foundation of New England.