champion is active in many charitable organizations in the new york city area including the national multiple sclerosis society, march of dimes, and "stopping aids together". he co-hosted the new york city project's 2002 "courage awards". on 20 february 2013 "the wall street journal" reported that a former mets teammate of baseball player mike piazza's said in 2000 that piazza and champion were involved in a homosexual relationship. piazza denied this in 2002. champion and his longtime partner rubem robierb were married on december 21, 2012.