November 18, 2008
Another landmark year on the links for Jimmy Fund Golf
Left to right: Mutual Funds Against Cancer Expect Miracles (MFAC) Co-founder and Chairman of the Board Frank Strauss and fellow MFAC Board Members Jim Nolan, Don DeBolt, and Dan Ahern enjoy a day on the fairways at the Jimmy Fund Golf Classic.
In the game of golf, records are made to be broken. Last year, Jimmy Fund Golf scored an ace in its fight against cancer with the highest single-season fundraising total since its inception in 1983. In 2008, the program's tournament directors, volunteers, and sponsors defied the odds by registering yet another record-breaking season, tallying $7.1 million in support of research and patient care at Dana-Farber.
"The tournament directors and volunteers are the foundation of Jimmy Fund Golf's continued success," said Jimmy Fund Golf Director Nancy Rowe. "The unwavering dedication of these loyal people is a catalyst that inspires others to join our family in its mission to stop this disease."
The efforts of these volunteer tournament organizers paid dividends this year as 13 tournaments hit or exceeded the $100,000 fundraising mark. From late July through the end of September, six tournaments accomplished the feat – the C&S Wholesale Grocers Charity Golf Outing, Dunkin' Donuts George Mandell Memorial Golf Tournament, Joan H. Brack Memorial Golf Tournament, Maribeth Merrigan Foundation Golf Tournament, Robyn Elise Abrams Memorial Golf Tournament, and the Stop & Shop Donovan/Carlson Jimmy Fund Memorial Golf Classic – helping Jimmy Fund Golf surge toward its newest landmark.
"Being a part of Jimmy Fund Golf has been enormously rewarding," said Nicole Merrigan Ackerman, tournament director for the Maribeth Merrigan Foundation Golf Tournament, which she runs with her family. "This tournament has been a true pleasure for our family and we feel closer because of it."
Celebrating the season
On Oct. 6 and 7, the program capped its successful year in celebratory fashion at its annual Jimmy Fund Golf Classic tournament, held at The International in Bolton, Mass. Tournament directors, volunteers, event sponsors, and representatives from the top fundraising tournaments were treated to a day on the fairways followed by a fun-filled, cruise-themed reception that featured special guest appearances by local celebrities, including Boston Bruins legend Ken Hodge, Boston Celtics greats K.C. Jones and John Havlicek, and Boston Red Sox all-stars Jim Lonburg and Rico Petrocelli.
The two-day event also saluted Jimmy Fund Golf's four presenting sponsors in 2008 – American Airlines, Amica Insurance, Dunkin' Donuts, and The International, as well as media sponsor Community Newspaper Company – whose steadfast support played an essential role in the program's record-setting fundraising.
"Amica is very happy to be one of the newest members of the Jimmy Fund Golf family, along with the other generous sponsors, tournament directors, and volunteers," said Amica Insurance's Senior Assistant Vice President Vince Burks. "The Amica family has employees and loved ones who have faced cancer. They are comforted knowing that we are partnering with Dana-Farber and helping make a difference in the lives of people fighting this disease."
Thanks to the continued support of these sponsors and the dedication of Jimmy Fund Golf's volunteers, Dana-Farber is moving closer to the ultimate hole in one: a world without cancer.
