MAY 8, 2024

‍

In this post we talk with former client Bob Russo (PCI Security Standards Council) who first recruited Virtual in 2007 to sponsor his family’s team for Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway. Team Russo has now raised more than $2 million for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund.

‍

Virtual continues its longstanding support for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund as a major sponsor of this year’s event, which is presented by DraftKings and takes place on May 18 at Fenway Park.

‍

Donate here to join Virtual and Team Russo in helping strike out cancer.

‍

What is Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway?

‍

Russo: The Jimmy Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Jimmy Fund Day is one of the many fundraising events they do each year to support their work. It’s a wonderful event with a very important goal – to raise funds for cancer prevention, treatment and care. People get a chance to bat and field at Fenway, with every swing helping to strike out cancer.

‍

How did you get involved with Dana-Farber and Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway?

‍

Russo: My son Rob was a Dana-Farber patient for more than 20 years as he battled a rare form of stomach cancer (GIST), which ultimately took his life in 2020.

‍

Early on in his treatment he was asked to speak at a Dana-Farber fundraiser in Manhattan. While we were there someone who was organizing a team for Jimmy Fund Day (formerly known as Fenway Fantasy Day) invited him and his family to come to the event at Fenway. Rob didn’t feel right about going without raising some money, so we sent an email out to our contact list and raised about $12,000. After that we decided it was something we really wanted to do, and we’ve been doing it ever since. It’s been great to have Virtual supporting Team Russo and lifting us up over these many years.

‍

What makes this event especially important to you?

‍

Russo: Jimmy Fund Day at Fenway is an event very close to our hearts. It’s been a way for our family to give back to Dana-Farber for all the ways and hope and time they gave us with Rob for more than 20 years. They gave him a life that allowed him to have a beautiful family and make wonderful memories throughout those years.

‍

We are forever tied to and indebted to Dana-Farber, and we’re so glad we can continue to support its work with the funds raised through this event. The money Team Russo brings in goes directly to Dana-Farber’s efforts to prevent, treat and defy cancer by accelerating revolutionary science, extraordinary care, and exceptional expertise – together we are creating more hope for a cancer-free future.

‍

Any home runs expected at this year’s event?

‍

Russo: You never know! It looks like we’ll have a great lineup, with many friends, family and colleagues joining us on the field. But home runs or not, every swing counts towards helping kick cancer’s ass, with more money for cancer research and patient care. And that’s a win for all of us.

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍