The Jimmy Fund mourns passing of George Steinbrenner

July 13, 2010

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund mourn the passing of George Steinbrenner. Mr. Steinbrenner has been a long-standing and generous friend of the Jimmy Fund, which supports cancer care and research at Dana-Farber.

"While New Englanders are not known for their love of the Yankees, Mr. Steinbrenner and his support of the Jimmy Fund has shown that when it comes to cancer we are all on the same team," said Suzanne Fountain, director of the Jimmy Fund. "He was a true champion to all those who were fighting cancer."

Among the contributions Mr. Steinbrenner made to the Jimmy Fund was the donation of the now famous David Ortiz replica Red Sox jersey that was chipped from beneath two feet of cement in the new Yankee Stadium in 2008.

The jersey was placed in wet cement during the construction of the new stadium by a construction worker and an ardent Red Sox fan who hoped to curse the Yankees. The jersey was sold in an auction for $175,000.

The Jimmy Fund, an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, supports the fight against cancer at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise the chances of survival for children and adults with cancer around the world. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund save countless lives by furthering cancer research and care.