Foxboro, Mass. (November 7, 2011) - Three-time New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion and cancer survivor, Joe Andruzzi, united with former teammates, current Patriots players, celebrities, family and friends for the New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer Gala tonight at Christina’s in Foxboro, Mass. The fourth annual event raised more than $325,000 for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, which offers financial assistance to cancer patients and their families. The Foundation also raises funds for ongoing pediatric brain cancer research at the Children’s Hospital Boston.Joining Joe and his wife & Foundation Executive Director Jennifer at the gala were special guests including New England Patriots Stars Matt Light, Dan Koppen, Rob Gronkowski and Rob Ninkovich. The evening featured food tastings as well as live & silent auctions with highlights including a VIP Dominican Republic vacation for 14 guests, signed sports memorabilia, dinner for 12 with Joe and Jennifer Andruzzi, Patriots and Bruins luxury box tickets and more.
“As a family who has survived cancer, we personally understand the daily issues affecting families during treatment,” said Joe Andruzzi. “Since May 2009 we have been committed to tackling cancer’s impact by providing financial assistance for patients and their families, as well as funding pediatric brain cancer research. For the fourth consecutive year, we’ve rallied support from the community for our signature Gala, and we owe a debt of gratitude to current and former Patriots, our sponsors, especially our presenting Sponsor Credit Union Kids at Heart, and our friends for making this event such a huge success. We’re proud to make a real difference in the lives of so many cancer patients and their families.”
During an inspirational speaking program, Joe Andruzzi addressed the importance of helping families dealing with the cancer, especially touching on his own fight with non-Hodgkins Burkitt’s lymphoma. Julie Mullen, mother of a cancer survivor and financial assistance recipient discussed the impact that the Joe Andruzzi Foundation had on her family while her daughter Jackie was battling Langerhans’ Cell Histiocytosis, a rare disorder primarily effecting children under age 10.
In addition to the gala, the evening began with a symposium hosted by keynote speaker, the Director of Pediatric Medical Neuro-Oncology at the Dana-Cancer Institute, Dr. Mark Kieran and LICSW at Women & Infants’ Hospital, Diane Thompson.
Since its inception in 2008, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation has provided financial assistance to 85 cancer patients and their families, helping them make rent, mortgage and utility payments so that the families can focus on their loved ones getting well. It has also donated $175,000 to Dr. Mark Kieran at Children’s Hospital Boston to help fund pediatric brain cancer research. Andruzzi regularly invites current players and former teammates to join him on hospital visits to personally support patients who are helped by the foundation.
The fourth annual New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer Gala was supported by Credit Union Kids at Heart, Millennium, The Home Depot, Stop & Shop and Christina’s.
About The Joe Andruzzi Foundation
Contact: Jonathan Fine, Elevate Communications, 617-861-3657, jfine@elevatecom.com
About Greg Sampson
I am the Sales and Marketing Manager for NEGM. I am a member of the International Network of Golf & the Golf Writers Association of America. I specialize in customized all-inclusive programs across a multi-media platform.
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