4th Annual “New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer” Gala

Three-time New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion and cancer survivor Joe Andruzzi united with former teammates, current Patriots players, family and friends for the New England Celebrities Tackle Cancer Gala at Christina’s in Foxboro, Mass. The fourth annual event raised more than $375,000 for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation.

Joining Joe and his wife, Foundation Executive Director Jennifer, were Patriots stars Matt Light, Dan Koppen, Kevin Faulk, Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski, Logan Mankins, Rich Ohrnberger, Dan Connolly, Rob Ninkovich, Nick McDonald, Jermaine Cunningham, Dane Fletcher and Brian Hoyer and former Patriots greats Ronnie Lippett, Harold Shaw, Steve King, Matt Chatham, Steve Grogan and Max Lane. The event, which drew more than 600 supporters, was emceed by WBZ-TV sports anchor Steve Burton.

The Patriots stars and greats signed autographs for hundreds of fans and helped raise awareness for the silent and live auctions before an inspirational speaking program, where Joe addressed the importance of helping families dealing with cancer, especially touching on his own fight with non-Hodgkins Burkitt’s lymphoma and celebrating the courage of cancer patients his Foundation has helped and continues to support, who were also in attendance.

Since its inception in 2008, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation has provided financial assistance to 85 cancer patients and their families, helping them make rent, mortgage and utility payments so that the families can focus on their loved ones getting well. It has also donated $175,000 to Dr. Mark Kieran at Children’s Hospital Boston to help fund pediatric brain cancer research. Andruzzi regularly invites current players and former teammates to join him on hospital visits to personally support patients who are helped by the Foundation.