FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Elizabeth Chernack, Jimmy Fund
617-632-4687(work), 617-275-6266 (cell)
Marci Tyldesley, Regan Communications for WEEI
508-420-5566 x 109 (work), 617-719-1618 (cell)
Gary Roy, NESN
617-536-9233 (work), 617-710-9908 (cell)
WEEI/NESN
Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon
raises a record $4.8 million to help strike out cancer
BOSTON
– (August 16, 2008) The 7th annual WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon
reached new heights with people from all 50 states and around the
world calling in on Aug. 14 and 15 to support the fight against
cancer. As of midnight on Aug. 15, a record $4,839,016 was raised
for pediatric and adult cancer research and care at Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute in Boston.
“The
Radio-Telethon is an annual reminder that cancer touches just about
everyone,” says Jimmy Fund Chairman and 1967 Red Sox second
baseman Mike Andrews. “We are so thankful for all of the contributions.
With the help of WEEI and NESN and all of its viewers and listeners,
the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber are working towards conquering cancer
for good.”
The
two-day, 36-hour Radio-Telethon broadcast on WEEI 850-AM Sports
Radio and New England Sports Network (NESN) live from Fenway Park
featured compelling patient stories, expert information from Dana-Farber
researchers and doctors, celebrity guests, sports panels, and emotional
ceremonies.
The
Radio-Telethon has earned a reputation for being a signature event
in which celebrities are eager to participate. Both Donald Trump
and Curt Schilling called in with a gift of $50,000. Major League
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig contributed $40,000 on behalf of
MLB, and Bruins owner Charlie Jacobs gave $25,000. Comedian Mike
O’Malley gave $10,000 and “Fever Pitch” directors
Peter and Bobby Farrelly called in with $6,000. Red Sox manager
Terry Francona stopped by in person with a check for $5,000. Author
Harlan Coben challenged listeners to be the first to make a gift
of $10,000 and be named in his next book. One listener who wants
to stay anonymous took him up on his offer.
Other
celebrity supporters and callers included Ben Affleck, John Krasinski,
Tony Danza, Kevin Nealon, Steven Wright, Keith Lockhart, John O’Hurley,
John Ratzenberger, Dane Cook, Stephen King, James Denton and George
Stephanopoulos.
The
Radio-Telethon wasn’t just for callers. Hundreds of sports
enthusiasts had the opportunity to enjoy two unique luncheons at
Fenway Park. On Thursday, WEEI’s John Dennis and NESN’s
Tom Caron hosted Trophy Talk with Boston Celtic Glen “Big
Baby” Davis, Bruins legend Ray Bourque, and Sox pitcher Curt
Schilling. On Friday, Red Sox announcers Joe Castiglione of WEEI
and NESN’s Don Orsillo moderated Sit Down with the Sox with
Jon Lester, Dustin Pedroia and Jed Lowrie. Plus, an authentic 2007
Red Sox World Series ring went for $90,961 to an anonymous donor
in a special auction to support the Jimmy Fund.
The
Jimmy Fund has been an official charity of the Boston Red Sox since
1953. As one way to pay tribute to the organization, the Sox create
an emotional pre-game ceremony, which also helps encourage Red Sox
fans to support the annual Radio-Telethon. On Thursday, as the Sox
prepared to take on the Texas Rangers, Dave McGillivray, Boston
Marathon Race Director, ran into Fenway Park and around the bases
with Jimmy Fund patient Jordan Leandre to finish up a 54 mile run
that day, collecting contributions for the Jimmy Fund along the
way. This run was to not only mark his 54th birthday, but the 30th
anniversary of his cross country run to support the Jimmy Fund.
8-year-old Leandre is in remission from acute anaplastic large cell
lymphoma. He is often remembered as the boy in the body cast who
was wheeled out by David Ortiz to sing the national anthem many
years ago, and at the 2007 Radio-Telethon, Leandre amazed the crowd
by running around the bases during pre-game ceremonies. Singer and
actress Jo Jo Levesque of Foxboro sang the national anthem and comedian
Bill Cosby threw out the first pitch on Thursday..
Friday’s
game was cancelled to rain, but it didn’t dampen the Radio-Telethon’s
momentum. Sgt. Scott Miller, member of the Massachusetts National
Guard from Newton, NH, who served tours in Iraq, Pakistan and Uzbekistan,
was supposed to throw out the first pitch. Instead, he was honored
for his service and given the World Series Trophy to hold live on
TV. While serving in Iraq, Sgt. Miller experienced some health problems
and was ultimately diagnosed with an incurable neuroendocrine tumor.
“Our
listeners are amazing. After hearing patient stories they don’t
hesitate to dig deep into their wallets to support the Jimmy Fund”
says Jason Wolfe, VP of AM Programming for Entercom New England.
“Dana-Farber doctors are making substantial progress every
year and we’re proud to play a role in their continued success.”
“NESN
is proud to support the great work that is done every day at the
Jimmy Fund,” said Sean McGrail, NESN President. “No
other event on our broadcast calendar is as important, or has as
much of an impact on as many people as this event.”
For
more information go to www.jimmyfundradiotelethon.org.
#
# #
Radio-Telethon
history
The Jimmy Fund is celebrating 60 years this year. Back in 1948,
members of the Boston Braves visited the hospital bedside of a 12-year-old
boy with cancer, dubbed “Jimmy” to protect his identity.
The visit was broadcast nationally on radio and people gave generously
to help children like him battling the disease. That broadcast along
with player appearances and radio appeals during Braves games, helped
build a state-of-the-art hospital for cancer research and patient
care.
When the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953, owner Lou Perini made
sure the new Red Sox owner, Thomas Yawkey, would continue the Braves’
work with the Jimmy Fund, as the charity had been named. On April
10, 1953, Yawkey announced that the Red Sox would adopt the Jimmy
Fund as its official charity.
Today, the Jimmy Fund continues to be an official charity of the
Boston Red Sox, and the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon continues
the appeal to the public on radio and television to contribute to
cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Jimmy
Fund
Founded in 1948, the Jimmy Fund has been an official charity of
the Boston Red Sox since 1953. It supports the fight against cancer
at Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which is a leading
cancer research and care center for adults and children. Unrestricted
support from the Jimmy Fund is an integral part of Mission Possible:
The Dana-Farber Campaign to Conquer Cancer, a $1 billion capital
campaign to accelerate cancer research, speed development of life-saving
therapies, and expand the Institute’s signature patient- and
family-centered care.
Entercom
Entercom is one of the nation’s largest radio broadcasters
with operations, pro forma for pending acquisitions, in San Francisco,
Boston, Seattle, Denver, Sacramento, Cincinnati, Portland, Kansas
City, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Austin, Norfolk, Buffalo, New Orleans,
Providence, Memphis, Greensboro, Rochester, Greenville/Spartanburg,
Madison, Wichita, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Springfield and Gainesville/Ocala.
NESN
NESN is owned by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins and delivered
to over 4 million homes throughout the six-state New England region
and nationally via DirecTV and Dish Network. The definitive source
for New England sports programming, NESN is the top rated regional
sports network in the country delivering award winning Red Sox and
Bruins coverage, a popular sports news and highlights program NESN
SportsDesk and a unique sports debate and discussion show The Globe
10.0. NESN is also the first regional sports network in the country
to originate every game and studio show in high definition.
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