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Named after | Einar "Jimmy" Gustafson |
---|---|
Formation | 1948 |
04-2263040 [1] | |
Purpose | Cancer research and patient care |
Headquarters | Brookline, Massachusetts [1] |
Chairman | Larry Lucchino |
Affiliations | Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Red Sox |
Website |
jimmyfund |
The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, is made up of community-based fundraising events and other programs that benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since 1948, millions of people have given money to the Jimmy Fund to help save lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. [2]
The Jimmy Fund holds fundraising events including Jimmy Fund Golf, the nation's oldest and largest charity golf program, [3] and the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. [4] The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, [5] the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, [6] the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. [7] [8]
In 1947, Sidney Farber founded the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The following year he launched the Jimmy Fund to raise money to support the hospital. [9] [10] The fund was named after a patient who was named "Jimmy" to protect his identity – his real name was Einar Gustafson and his identity was revealed in 1998. [9] [10]
On May 22, 1948, "Jimmy" inspired a movement on Truth or Consequences, a national radio program hosted by Ralph Edwards. [10] [11] During the program, "Jimmy" was visited in the hospital by star players from the Boston Braves; the visit was arranged by future New England Patriots owner Billy Sullivan. [10] [11] [12] Listeners were moved to act when asked to send in money to buy Jimmy a TV so that he could watch the Boston Braves. [11] [13] More than $200,000 was raised for the Jimmy Fund that year. [10]
Beginning in 1949, some movie theaters began showing a Jimmy Fund trailer before movies and asked audience members to contribute to the fund. [14]
The Jimmy Fund’s baseball origins later evolved into a longstanding partnership with the Boston Red Sox after the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953. [15] [16]
In 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge, a charity bicycle race, was founded to benefit the Jimmy Fund. [17] In 1983, the Jimmy Fund began holding the Scooper Bowl, an ice cream festival, in Boston. [18] Also in 1983, the fund began organizing golf tournaments to raise money. [19] In 1989, the fund began organizing the Jimmy Fund Walk, which runs in conjunction with the Boston Marathon. [20]
In 2002, the first WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon was held. [21] In 2003, NESN joined the event and simulcasted it around New England. [22]
In 2013, the Jimmy Fund held its first Big Ideas Contest asking the public to submit new fundraising ideas for the fund. [23] [24]
![]() | |
Named after | Einar "Jimmy" Gustafson |
---|---|
Formation | 1948 |
04-2263040 [1] | |
Purpose | Cancer research and patient care |
Headquarters | Brookline, Massachusetts [1] |
Chairman | Larry Lucchino |
Affiliations | Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Boston Red Sox |
Website |
jimmyfund |
The Jimmy Fund, established in Boston in 1948, is made up of community-based fundraising events and other programs that benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Since 1948, millions of people have given money to the Jimmy Fund to help save lives and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and families worldwide. [2]
The Jimmy Fund holds fundraising events including Jimmy Fund Golf, the nation's oldest and largest charity golf program, [3] and the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. [4] The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, [5] the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, [6] the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. [7] [8]
In 1947, Sidney Farber founded the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. The following year he launched the Jimmy Fund to raise money to support the hospital. [9] [10] The fund was named after a patient who was named "Jimmy" to protect his identity – his real name was Einar Gustafson and his identity was revealed in 1998. [9] [10]
On May 22, 1948, "Jimmy" inspired a movement on Truth or Consequences, a national radio program hosted by Ralph Edwards. [10] [11] During the program, "Jimmy" was visited in the hospital by star players from the Boston Braves; the visit was arranged by future New England Patriots owner Billy Sullivan. [10] [11] [12] Listeners were moved to act when asked to send in money to buy Jimmy a TV so that he could watch the Boston Braves. [11] [13] More than $200,000 was raised for the Jimmy Fund that year. [10]
Beginning in 1949, some movie theaters began showing a Jimmy Fund trailer before movies and asked audience members to contribute to the fund. [14]
The Jimmy Fund’s baseball origins later evolved into a longstanding partnership with the Boston Red Sox after the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953. [15] [16]
In 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge, a charity bicycle race, was founded to benefit the Jimmy Fund. [17] In 1983, the Jimmy Fund began holding the Scooper Bowl, an ice cream festival, in Boston. [18] Also in 1983, the fund began organizing golf tournaments to raise money. [19] In 1989, the fund began organizing the Jimmy Fund Walk, which runs in conjunction with the Boston Marathon. [20]
In 2002, the first WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon was held. [21] In 2003, NESN joined the event and simulcasted it around New England. [22]
In 2013, the Jimmy Fund held its first Big Ideas Contest asking the public to submit new fundraising ideas for the fund. [23] [24]