The Jimmy Fund
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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.[1]
The Jimmy Fund holds fundraising events including Jimmy Fund Golf, the nation's oldest and largest charity golf program,[2] and the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk.[3] The Jimmy Fund is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox,[4] the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association,[5] the Pan-Mass Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England.[6][7]
History
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.[8][9] 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.[8][9]
On May 22, 1948, "Jimmy" inspired a movement on Truth or Consequences, a national radio program hosted by Ralph Edwards.[9][10] 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.[9][10][11] Listeners were moved to act when asked to send in money to buy Jimmy a TV so that he could watch the Boston Braves.[10][12] More than $200,000 was raised for the Jimmy Fund that year.[9]
Beginning in 1949, some movie theaters began showing a Jimmy Fund trailer before movies and asked audience members to contribute to the fund.[13]
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.[14][15]
In 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge, a charity bicycle race, was founded to benefit the Jimmy Fund.[16] In 1983, the Jimmy Fund began holding the Scooper Bowl, an ice cream festival, in Boston.[17] Also in 1983, the fund began organizing golf tournaments to raise money.[18] In 1989, the fund began organizing the Jimmy Fund Walk, which runs in conjunction with the Boston Marathon.[19]
In 2002, the first WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon was held.[20] In 2003, NESN joined the event and simulcasted it around New England.[21]
In 2013, the Jimmy Fund held its first Big Ideas Contest asking the public to submit new fundraising ideas for the fund.[22][23]
References
External links
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- ↑ Boston Braves team ownership history, SABR (Society for American Baseball Research), Bob LeMoine.
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