A Commitment to Conquer Cancer
1947 was a memorable year in Boston for sports and science. While the D’Angelo brothers were selling the first official MLB pennant around the iconic Fenway Park, Sidney Farber was conducting revolutionary cancer research less than a mile away. That year, sports lifestyle brand Twins Enterprise (now ’47) and the world renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute were formed, respectively.
In 1948, Farber established the first research program in chemotherapy for children. Inspired by the publicized story of a young cancer patient, Einar Gustafson (“Jimmy”), and his hospital conversations during visits from Boston Braves’ players, a grassroots movement began to raise funds for children’s cancer research and care. The Jimmy Fund was born.
Over the next 60 years, while the fund was dramatically scaling its impact by raising millions for Dana-Farber, ’47 was simultaneously evolving into a global sports lifestyle brand. These two organizations were inextricably linked not just through shared hometown roots, but a deep connection to the game of baseball.
The D’Angelos created the first-ever MLB pennant after the Red Sox won the 1946 American League title, and in 1953, the Red Sox adopted the Jimmy Fund as its official charity. This was the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership. Generations of Red Sox players have captained this charitable cause: Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and David Ortiz –– to name a few.
Custom Hats for the Jimmy Fund
To show our appreciation for this cause and our community, ’47 proudly provides custom hats for patients at Dana-Farber, along with participants and volunteers at Jimmy Fund events: Rally for the Jimmy Fund presented by Sully’s Brand, Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai, Jimmy Fund Little League presented by Extra Innings and Franklin Sports, Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl presented by Valvoline Instant Oil Change, John Hancock Fenway Fantasy Day and Jimmy Fund Golf tournaments. ’47 is honored to renew its commitment to these institutions. Check out our gallery below and discover all the ways you can help.
