(Up)Beat (Up)Date
Summer is officially here! At JAF, we’re taking a short—and well-deserved—pause over the Fourth of July holiday before launching into one of our busiest seasons of the year.
Our Programs team is already hard at work planning one of our favorite (Up)Beat Events: the annual Codzilla ride in Boston Harbor. This high speed, splash-filled adventure offers our patients and their families a break from hospital rooms and treatment schedules—replacing them, even for just a moment, with wind, waves, and wide smiles. We can’t wait to share this year’s photos!
We’re also gearing up for a special milestone: Joe’s 50th birthday this August! Our staff is having a lot of fun collaborating with supporters on ways to mark the occasion, and we’ll be sharing more soon—so stay tuned!
We know summer is a season for rest and relaxation, for beach days, barbecues, and family time. But we also know that for so many facing cancer, the challenges don’t take a vacation. That’s why we’re here—to bring light, joy, and support when it’s needed most.
Thank you for continuing to walk with us in this mission. We wish you a safe, sunny, and meaningful start to the summer.
Sincerely,
Jen Andruzzi
President and CEO
JAF Returns to New Hampshire
Earlier this month, Joe and Jen Andruzzi, along with Program Manager Kirstin Borczynski, traveled to New Hampshire to connect with JAF families, partners, and supporters. The visit began with a moving memorial service for beloved JAF recipient Rudy Longo, whose joyful spirit left a lasting imprint on the Foundation community.
That evening, the team co-hosted an (Up)Beat event at Ryan’s Family Amusements in North Conway, where patients and families—including Heather Brown’s—enjoyed a night of fun, laughter, and connection. The trip concluded with a meaningful visit to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Cancer Center, where they met with staff and patients—made possible through the support of JAF Healthcare Council member Casey Carson.
This visited coincided with NH Gives – the Granite State’s Day of Giving. We’re so grateful to the Granite State donors who supported JAF’s first-ever NH Gives campaign this month—raising $750 to help fuel this work and deepen our roots across the state.
These moments on the ground in New Hampshire reflect the heart of JAF’s mission: walking alongside cancer patients and their families, wherever they are.
Tips to Take Care of YOU!
For patients and families facing a cancer diagnosis, the summer months can be a time to rest, reflect, and restore. We believe that wellness is about caring for the whole person, and suggest the following tools to support your well-being this summer:
Soak Up Some Sun. A little sunshine can lift your spirits and boost your vitamin D levels. Whether you’re in treatment or recovery, taking a moment outdoors, safely and with sunscreen, can go a long way.
This year alone, JAF has helped over 550 patients and families find moments of peace by easing their financial burdens during treatment.
Breathe. Try a few minutes of intentional breathing or quiet reflection. This can help reduce stress, calm your nervous system, and lower blood pressure.
Try this box breathing technique: Inhale for a four count, hold for four, exhale for four, pause for four. Repeat this exercise several times.
Nourish with In-season Food. Hydrating summer fruits like watermelon, berries, and cucumbers are gentle, nutrient-rich, treatment-friendly, and supportive of strength and healing.
Last year, 40% of JAF grant recipients used their funding to help cover basic living expenses, like groceries.
Move in a Way That Feels Good. Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. A short walk, stretching, or chair yoga can reduce fatigue, improve mood, and reconnect you with your body.
Connect with Others. You’re not alone. Whether it’s a phone call, a journal entry, or a check-in with a loved one, connection is a vital part of the healing process.
Since 2020, JAF has supported over 13,000 individuals, helping families stay strong, connected, and focused on their healing.
This summer, give yourself permission to slow down, care for yourself deeply, and reach out when you need support. JAF is here for you in every season.
At the Table for Change
Jen Andruzzi, President and CEO of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, has served on the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center’s Community Advisory Board since spring 2022. The mission of the board is to ensure that Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center’s activities reduce the cancer burden for residents of Massachusetts and beyond through community outreach and engagement (COE) efforts.
Jen was assigned to the colorectal group, which aims to address gaps such as increasing screening in underperforming counties, targeting outreach for high-incidence populations, developing culturally tailored programs, implementing community-based interventions, and enhancing data tracking by race and ethnicity.
Save the Date: JAF’s Annual Gala Returns to Gillette Stadium October 8
This fall, on October 8 at Gillette Stadium, we’re flipping the script on our 18th Annual Gala—it’s Late Night with the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. Forget the ballroom tables and plated dinners; we’re bringing the energy of a late-night talk show and the edge of live sketch comedy center stage. Picture comfortable audience-style seating, a vibrant cocktail hour, powerful patient stories, surprise guests, and entertainment that keeps the spotlight where it belongs—on the mission. You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind experience.
But first… we’re looking for some marquee sponsors ready to step into the spotlight with us. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Barbara Foley at barbara@joeandruzzifoundation.org.
Join Us for Fall Fun on the Fairway!
We’re teeing it up again for a second round of golf this year — and we hope you’ll join us for the inaugural Average Joe’s Golf Classic on
October 27 at Segregansett Country Club, one of Massachusetts’ oldest and most time-honored courses.
And just like Segregansett’s proud tradition of welcoming golfers for more than 130 years, this tournament is all about getting back to what makes golf great: friends, fun, and a relaxed day on the course. Expect plenty of games, a variety of food trucks, and good times!
After golf, enjoy a buffet dinner, raffles and a short program. Best of all, your participation helps us provide financial assistance to cancer patients across New England, easing the burdens they face while undergoing treatment.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this fun-filled first year on such a historic course! Start lining up your foursome and plan to wrap up your golf season at this fabulous event! Registration opens next month.
2025 Golf Tournament a Success!
On June 9 at the beautiful Black Rock Country Club in Hingham, MA, our 17th Annual Joe Andruzzi and Friends Golf Tournament raised more than $356,000 to help cancer patients across New England remove barriers to accessing treatment. A heartfelt Mission Moment was a powerful reminder of our purpose, inspiring over $39,000 in donations that will allow us to expand our financial assistance even further.
This incredible success wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our amazing sponsors and supporters, including
Frankie’s Hospitality Group/Apotho Therapeutics (Presenting Sponsor); Derenzo Charitable Foundation (Dinner Sponsor); Jack and Judi Remondi (Mission Sponsor); and DraftKings (Chance Sponsor).
Special thanks also to Sanlin St. Flowers and Faithway Flowers for the gorgeous bouquets they designed and donated, and to all our at-home participants, whose enthusiastic bidding on auction items brought even more energy and excitement to the day. Every one of you played a vital part in making this tournament a tremendous success!
GFC Golf Marathon: Driving Impact 100 Holes at a Time!
We’re thrilled to celebrate the incredible efforts of our amazing team in the 2025 Golf Fights Cancer Golf Marathon!
On June 5, Jen Andruzzi, John Doran, and Elaine Gebhardt braved the sweltering 90+ degree heat and took to the course for the 100-hole challenge. Chris Checksfield and Joe DeStefano completed their own 100-hole challenge on June 6. We’re proud to have had this dedicated group represent JAF. Thanks to their determination—and the generosity of their incredible supporters—the team raised over $25,000 to help cancer patients across New England!
We are deeply grateful to Golf Fights Cancer for organizing yet another outstanding event. It’s an honor to be a benefiting charity for the sixth consecutive year. Your continued partnership means the world to us and to the families we serve.
Thank You to Project 800 Schools!
JAF’s Project 800 saw incredible growth throughout the 2024-25 school year, with six inspiring events raising over $14,000 in support of cancer patients and their families. We’re especially grateful to the dedicated schools and student groups who continue to return year after year—your commitment is the reason this program continues to expand. We’re excited to grow even more this fall!
Each Project 800 fundraiser this year was connected to someone in the cancer community, creating meaningful and personal experiences for the students who chose to pay it forward by spreading our mission. A huge shoutout goes to Exeter High School Girls Hockey in New Hampshire, who led the way with an incredible $7,443 raised—our top fundraiser of the 2024-25 school year!
We’re also proud to recognize the other amazing teams who stepped up this school year:
Foxborough Youth Football & Cheer (MA)
Mansfield High School Football (MA)
Gardner High School Girls Field Hockey & Soccer (MA)
Longmeadow High School Boys Lacrosse (MA)
Thanks to these passionate student-led groups, JAF’s mission reached new communities across New England, spreading awareness of the real and urgent needs faced by cancer patients and their families. We’re honored to have you on our team, and we look forward to growing this impact together!
As summer kicks off and we take a moment to relax, it’s also the perfect time to start thinking about how you can bring Project 800 to your school next year. Whether it’s a bake sale at lunch, a pink-out football game, or a creative new idea of your own, there are endless ways to get involved and make a difference in your community.
Interested in learning more or hosting an event? Reach out to Hunter Andruzzi at hunter@joeandruzzifoundation.org—we’d love to hear from you!
Team JAF: 2025 ASICS Falmouth Road Race. The road race of the summer along a beautiful seaside course! Charity Bib $1,500 fundraising minimum; Own Entry $500. Now taking applications!!
Sunday, August 17
Joe Andruzzi’s 50th Month-Long Birthday Celebration
August 2025
Events will be posted in July!
JAF’s Annual Gala at Gillette Stadium
Sponsorships now on sale.
Wednesday, October 8
NEW – JAF’s Average Joe’s Golf Classic
Monday, October 27 – Segregansett Country Club
Registration opens this summer!
