Former patient contributes design to 2014 Holiday Collection

In an art studio at his Roslindale, MA home, Bernard Manning, sketched a baby penguin and a daddy penguin carrying a tree home on a winter day as snowflakes fell onto their Santa hats. Bernard’s friends and family convinced him to submit the drawing for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy-Fund’s 2014 Holiday Collection presented by Amica Mutual Insurance Co. He was hesitant, but submitted the design to be considered for the holiday greeting cards collection. Even with four years of card designing experience, he is, as he puts it, his own worst critic. When he received the news that it was accepted, he was surprised and excited.

Bernard’s design is one of 15 in the card collection, all created by New England artists and photographers. The holiday collection also features candles, ornaments, jewelry, and other locally-made gifts, including a limited-edition Alex and Ani North Star bangle, designed exclusively for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund.

Bernard is the only patient to contribute to the Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s 2014 Holiday Collection. For him, Dana-Farber means more than a way to share his love for art. Diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 18, he had surgery to remove the tumor and receive chemotherapy at the Jimmy Fund Clinic for two years. Now, the 29-year-old volunteers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to promote skin cancer awareness, and help sell the Holiday Greetings Collection during the season. Deemed one of the best salespeople by the volunteer program, he has become a familiar face to many doctors and nurses at the Institute. “It’s nice to do something for a good cause, and reach a lot of people,” he says. “Hopefully people think, ‘Oh, that’s cute, I should send that out for Christmas.”

One-hundred percent of each purchase you make directly supports the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber’s mission to conquer cancer. Get a head start on your holiday shopping today!

Amanda Bridge
Communications Intern, Department of Communications