Inspiring resilience and service: Joe and Jen Andruzzi share their journey with Nichols community
DUDLEY, Mass. – On Nov. 12, Nichols College students, faculty and staff gathered in Daniels Auditorium for an engaging session, “A Conversation with Joe and Jen Andruzzi.” Held as part of Nichols’ Salute to Service celebration of veterans, the event took the audience through the Andruzzis’ journey from NFL stardom and personal health challenges to founding the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF), a nonprofit dedicated to helping New England cancer patients, with the couple sharing powerful lessons on resilience, leadership and service.
Joe Andruzzi, a three-time Super Bowl champion and cancer survivor, and his wife, Jen, the president and CEO of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, co-founded the nonprofit in 2008. The organization provides financial assistance to New England cancer patients and their families, allowing them to focus on recovery rather than financial burdens. Through grants covering essentials like rent, mortgage payments, utilities and other household expenses, JAF has alleviated financial and emotional stress for patients and families throughout New England.
The event was moderated by Casey Sherman, a New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter and executive producer and Senior Vice President at Regan Communications in Boston. Among other books, Sherman has written The Finest Hours, an account of a daring US Coast Guard rescue; Boston Strong, a book on the Boston Marathon bombing, both turned major motion pictures; and 12, a novel about Joe Andruzzi’s former teammate Tom Brady.
“It was the toughest fight of my life. I’ve fought a lot of battles on the football field, but none were harder than the one I fought from a hospital in Boston,” Joe remarked, recalling his battle with Burkitt lymphoma in 2007. The diagnosis required him to completely shift his focus from football to fighting for his life; he remembered being told, “you have to take this head on. You have to flip that switch.”
It was their resolve to beat his illness and “pay it forward” that inspired Joe, who is now cancer-free, and his wife, Jen, to start JAF, they told the audience.
“We saw so much sadness in those clinics and waiting rooms, and uncertainty,” said Jen. “I remember us saying … we need to do more to help families who are facing loss and the cost of cancer, because while we could afford the costs, there are lots of families who can’t. And that’s really where the Joe Andruzzi Foundation came from.”
The JAF provides services that are in demand, said the couple, citing reports that nearly 50% of cancer patients become bankrupt after a cancer battle and that patients with financial distress make life-threatening choices related to being unable to afford both their bills and their prescriptions. Since its founding in 2008, JAF has raised over $11 million, helping more than 40,000 patients and families.
Their fundraising activities for cancer-stricken patients began even before Joe’s diagnosis, as the couple had already established the C.J. Buckley Pediatric Brain Cancer Research Fund at Boston Children’s Hospital to honor a young friend who passed away from cancer in 2003. “We were raising money for brain cancer research and donating it to the doctors. Then a year later, I was asking for my own help,” remarked Joe.
The Andruzzis also provided advice to the room full of business students, who may desire to start a nonprofit themselves one day. To prepare for that venture, they recommended volunteering, building a circle of connections, finding mentors whom they admire—but above all, they emphasized the importance of feedback.
“You’re always going to get critical feedback—take it as opportunity for growth. That’s why I always say learning is so important. Just look at what your parents or family or professors are doing—there’s no pause. You take a break to rehab yourself and give yourself respite, but there’s constant growing, and you just can’t stop that part,” said Jen.
The Andruzzis’ discussion resonated with the Nichols community, offering a powerful perspective on service and dedication, especially relevant during Nichols’ Salute to Service celebration of veterans.
“I thought the event was inspiring in more ways than one. Joe and Jen offered insight into the nonprofit world and how students at Nichols can leverage not just their education but also their volunteer experience to make a career in giving back to their community,” said Jack Merrill ’24, president of the Nichols College Student Veterans Club and an active member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. “I found their personal stories regarding Joe’s cancer diagnosis particularly impactful, as they emphasized the importance of resilience and perseverance in life.”
Near the end of the talk, to show the College’s appreciation for their efforts, the Andruzzis were given a Nichols College Challenge Coin, presented by Merrill and April Girardin, who served in the U.S. Army reserves and is currently compensation and benefits manager at Nichols and advisor to the Student Veterans Club, as well as a donation check. The Nichols Challenge Coin honors the contributions of Colonel James L. Conrad Sr., who served in WWII and as president of Nichols from ’31-’66. Conrad was a reserve officer in the Quartermaster Corps of the US Army.
“The challenge coins presentation was a highlight of the night for me. I have been on the receiving end of several challenge coins during my years of service, but I had never awarded someone a coin before. Joe and Jen are fantastic people, and we cannot thank them enough for the extraordinary service they provide the New England community,” said Merrill.
About Nichols College
Nichols College has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols offers real-world learning focused on professional depth – combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage – equipping students to exceed their own expectations. www.nichols.edu.
Media Contacts
Denise Kelley
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508-213-2219