Garrett Whitlock, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, has been nominated for the third year in a row as the Jimmy Fund Captain for the upcoming baseball season. Business Wire reported that Whitlock will act as the Jimmy Fund’s ambassador to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Boston Red Sox have partnered with the Jimmy Fund since 1953, holding the record for the longest partnership in sports.
As ambassador, Whitlock will assist in fund raising for Dana-Farber by attending events and visiting patients.
The Jimmy Fund
According to their website, the Jimmy Fund was established in Boston in 1948 as a grassroots fundraising organization that sends all its proceeds directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The charity is named after a young cancer patient, “Jimmy”, who was visited bedside by members of the Boston Braves baseball team. “Jimmy” was actually Einar Gustafson, a 12-year boy with lymphoma who was a patient of Dr. Syndney Farber. Gustafson was chosen to be featured on the radio show “Truth or Consequences” that aired on May 22, 1948, direct from his hospital room. The host of the show Ralph Edwards conducted the interview with Gustafson and surprised him by inviting members of the Braves baseball team to join them. The message at the end of the broadcast asked listeners to make donations to a fund to get a TV for Gustafson so he could watch his favorite baseball team from the hospital. More than $200k was received for this request, enabling the start of the Jimmy Fund.
Since its beginning, the Jimmy Fund has added several other Boston area organizations to its official partnerships list, including Pan-Mass Challenge, Massachusetts Chief of Police Association, and Variety Children’s Charity of New England.
To learn more about The Jimmy Fund and how you can contribute, click here or find them on social media @TheJimmyFund
To learn more about upcoming events and fundraisers with The Jimmy Fund, click here.
Sources:
Editor’s Note: Get Involved
Cancer doesn’t discriminate. WHATNEXT and its partners are interested in amplifying the voices of those from all identities and backgrounds. If you have a cancer journey to share, reach out here to learn more about how your voice can help spread awareness and inspire individuals from all walks of life.
Boston Red Sox cancer Dana-Farber Cancer Institute The Jimmy Fund
Last modified: March 10, 2025
