The Thanksgiving season reminds us to publicly recognize all you who share our mission and as a result donate your time, money and creativity to the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. Joe and I feel both humbled and blessed.
Most recently, 800 of our friends and supporters filled the ballroom at Christina’s in Foxboro on Monday, November 7 and helped us raise over $375,000. This made the fourth annual New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer gala an overwhelming success. We also appreciated the dozen Patriots players and another dozen Patriots alumni, who walked the red carpet to enter the event, posed for photos and signed footballs for eager attendees. Bidding on the nearly 100 silent auction items and 12 live auction prizes kept everyone guessing on who would be the big winners. At the end of the evening, a two-minute football drill selling goody bags raised $6000 alone.
Many attendees kicked off the evening by attending the medical briefing. Thanks to Dr. Mark Kieran, a pediatric oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, for talking about the Joe Andruzzi Foundation’s contribution to pediatric brain cancer research. Additional thanks to Diane Thompson and Dr. Robert Cohen for their perspective on survivorship. Then, master of ceremonies Steve Burton from WBZ-TV kept the crowd engaged. Julie Mullen, mother of five-year-old cancer survivor Jackie, made everyone laugh and cry as she touched the hearts of all attendees by bravely sharing her personal story.
We are so grateful to those who sponsored our event:
Credit Union Kids at Heart (presenting sponsor)
Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company (title sponsor)
Friends of Zach, Stop & Shop and The Home Depot (touchdown sponsors)
Team Impact, Burgess Steel and RBS Citizens (extra point sponsors)
Bob’s Discount Furniture, New England Charitable Patriots Foundation, Soares Pumping, Building Automation, Lightspeed MFG, Jeff Parker Charitable Fund, East Commerce Solutions, Hocmock Area YMCA, Lelas/Madigan/Curtis Wealth Management Group, UBS Financial Services, ProMedDx, Peter Riddle, Digitas, Grampy’s Charities, Verizon, The Teuber Family (safety sponsors)
Coastway Community Bank, Ashworth Awards, Fraternal Order of Eagles, RTN, DCU, J.M. Service Company, Rockland Federal Credit Union, Specialized Roofing, Liberty Bay Credit Union (gold advertisers)
Hillview Autobody and Seasons 4 (silver advertisers)
Quincy Credit Union, Tri-Town Chamber, Barrows Insurance, Hanscom Federal Credit Union, Pediatric Dental Center of Mansfield, H.T. Berry, New Hampshire Credit Union, The Paper Store, Bridgewater Credit Union, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Triumph Modular (bronze advertisers)
Also a special thanks to 90+ Cellars, Avon, Bob Jean RJ Video Productions, Boston Beer Company, Christina’s, Coca Cola, Dan Stapleton (AV Presentations), Daniel McLaughlin, David Jacobs (Jacobs Communication), Elevate, Gary Minsky (Flexicon Graphics), Goslings, Judy’s Village Flowers, Martignetti Companies, Members Mortgage, NECTC Honorary Committee, Quality Beverage, Reebok, Rentals Unlimited and Stanley Goldberg (Hunt’s Photo & Video).
Our heartfelt appreciation also extends to our corporate sponsors and third-party event organizers. Not only have you helped us raise funds through your own campaigns, but also increase awareness with new communities.
A very special thank you goes to our dedicated Board of Directors and office staff, who continue helping the organization strive for excellence. Without your guidance and clarity, we couldn’t keep the Foundation growing and flourishing.
Overall, we’re proud of everyone joining together to make a difference for the many families still fighting their battles with cancer. If the Joe Andruzzi Foundation can help pay a mortgage, phone or cable bill that alleviates their worries than we’re doing our jobs. This is a team effort and we appreciate all of you rallying with us on Team Andruzzi. Let’s continue to rally together and help more families each year!
–Jen Andruzzi