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Community Corner

Joe Andruzzi Foundation Raises More Than $700,000 for Cancer Patients and their Families at Annual Gala

Gillette Stadium was filled with smiles and inspiration Monday night, as New England sports stars and celebrities gathered once again to help former Patriots player Joe Andruzzi and his wife, Jen, raise money for cancer patients and their families. The Sixth Annual New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer Gala raised a record-breaking $700,000+ for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, with all proceeds going towards assisting families with household expenses during cancer treatment, as well as funding cutting-edge pediatric brain cancer research.

The Joe Andruzzi Foundation attracts immense support from the New England sports community, and many local athletes and celebrities came out for the event, including Julian Edelman, Chandler Jones, Devin McCourty, Rob Ninkovich and Nate Solder. Scott Zolak, a former Patriots and 98.5 The Sports Hub Midday Host/Patriots Color Analyst, served as the evenings emcee. 

“Our aim was to break last year’s fundraising record, and we are thrilled to have exceeded that mark,” said Joe Andruzzi, Foundation President and Founder. “Our gala is such an important night for our Foundation, and we are incredibly grateful to our many generous sponsors and to the Kraft family and Patriots. I’m still in awe of how far we’ve come in six years, and humbled by our collective power to help others. The funds we raised at this year’s gala will continue to help us alleviate cancer’s financial burden on patients and families, as well as fund crucial pediatric brain cancer research, and we’re incredibly grateful to all those who have joined us on this journey.” 

A silent auction and cocktail hour, in which players signed footballs and mingled with donors and supporters, preceded the sit-down dinner and live auction, which featured priceless sports memorabilia, in-demand Boston sports tickets, and luxury dining, spa, entertainment and travel packages. JAF patient family member Shannon McLaughlin also took the stage to share her late mother Noreen’s personal story, explaining how the Foundation’s assistance has impacted her family. 

The Andruzzis draw from their personal experience with cancer to fulfill JAF’s mission: bringing fun and humor to families during treatment, while assisting with critical financial and emotional support. Since its inception in 2008, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation has provided grants to more than 1,000 cancer patients and families, assisting with critical household bills so caregivers and patients can remain focused on treatment. It has also donated more than $400,000 to Dr. Mark Kieran, at Boston Children’s Hospital, to help fund pediatric brain cancer research. 

The Sixth Annual New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer Gala thanks its many loyal and generous sponsors, including VIP Sponsor Credit Unions Kids at Heart; MegaStar Sponsors Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company and the Kraft Family/New England Patriots; and Star Sponsors Bob’s Discount 
Furniture, Cross Insurance Agency, CVS Caremark, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, East Commerce Solutions Inc., J. Calanan Associates, Randstad, SportsMoney and The Home Depot, among many others.

For more information on the Joe Andruzzi Foundation and the Sixth Annual New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer Gala, please visit www.joeandruzzifoundation.org.

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