The Jimmy Fund

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. 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.

On May 22, 1948, "Jimmy" inspired a movement on Truth or Consequences, a national radio program hosted by Ralph Edwards. 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. Listeners were moved to act when asked to send in money to buy Jimmy a TV so that he could watch the Boston Braves. More than $200,000 was raised for the Jimmy Fund that year.

Beginning in 1949, some movie theaters began showing a Jimmy Fund trailer before movies and asked audience members to contribute to the fund.

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.

In 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge, a charity bicycle race, was founded to benefit the Jimmy Fund. In 1983, the Jimmy Fund began holding the Scooper Bowl, an ice cream festival, in Boston. Also in 1983, the fund began organizing golf tournaments to raise money. In 1989, the fund began organizing the Jimmy Fund Walk, which runs in conjunction with the Boston Marathon.

In 2002, the first WEEI Jimmy Fund Radiothon was held. In 2003, NESN joined the event and simulcasted it around New England.

In 2013, the Jimmy Fund held its first Big Ideas Contest asking the public to submit new fundraising ideas for the fund.

References

References

1. "Contact Us".
2. "Saugus residents to participate in Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk".
3. (November 15, 2017). "Western Mass. Jeffrey Vinick Memorial Jimmy Fund golf tournament helps contribute to record-breaking $7.68 million raised for 35th season (photos)".
4. Serrano, Alejandro. (September 24, 2018). "Walkers participate in 30th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk - The Boston Globe".
5. (March 5, 2020). "Jimmy Fund cancels trip to Red Sox spring training over coronavirus concerns".
6. Rattigan, David. (September 10, 2009). "For police chiefs, this year's walk against cancer is personal". Boston.com.
7. (July 29, 2015). "Help 'Strike Out Cancer' with the Jimmy Fund".
8. (May 17, 1998). "He's alive and well".
9. (January 23, 2001). "Einar Gustafson, Jimmy Fund inspiration".
10. (May 17, 1998). "He's alive and well".
11. (May 17, 1998). "Jimmy Fund gets 50th anniversary gift: 'Jimmy'".
12. (May 17, 1998). "A mystery story with a happy ending".
13. (January 25, 2001). "Einar Gustafson '40s cancer survivor, famous as Jimmy".
14. "Dedham movie theater to raise money for the Jimmy Fund".
15. [https://sabr.org/research/boston-braves-team-ownership-history Boston Braves team ownership history], SABR (Society for American Baseball Research), Bob LeMoine.
16. (April 10, 1953). "Red Sox Replace Braves".
17. (November 3, 2013). "Pan-Mass Challenge raises $39M for Jimmy Fund".
18. (June 4, 2019). "Annual Scooper Bowl benefiting Jimmy Fund returns to Boston's City Hall Plaza".
19. Aicardi, Robert. "Frazier receives Jimmy Fund Extra Mile Award".
20. (September 24, 2017). "Thousands Turn Out for Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk".
21. (August 23, 2002). "'67 Sox backdrop for fund-raiser".
22. (August 23, 2003). "$1 million is all in a day's work for WEEI".
23. (March 4, 2013). "Share your BIG ideas with the Jimmy Fund".
24. Edes, Alyssa. "Jimmy Fund hopes Big Ideas game will have a big payoff - The Boston Globe".