Working to defy cancer: meet Amber Forrence

This post is part of a series highlighting staff members within Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & The Jimmy Fund’s Division of Philanthropy, to give supporters an inside peek at life at New England’s favorite charity. Today, we’re talking to Amber Forrence, an Officer of Event Fundraising on the Jimmy Fund Baseball Team.

What brought you to Dana-Farber?

Although cancer research is steadily progressing, the unfortunate reality is that cancer touches nearly everyone. Whether it be yourself, a friend, family member, or someone in your community, it finds a way to disrupt our lives. For me, this was my motivation to fight the battle for those in my life who had been affected by it.

After a summer internship at Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic, where pediatric patients are treated, I knew there was no better place than Dana-Farber to launch my career. There was not a doctor, nurse, or staff member who did not have the patient’s and their family’s best interest at heart. I’m very grateful to be here today.

Can you describe your role here? Our Event Fundraising team supports a plethora of community events and programs. They range from events hosted by our staff, such as the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl®, to those hosted by community members looking to fundraise on our behalf. We call these Jimmy FundRaisers.

I am focused on executing fundraising events and managing my portfolio of donors to ensure we meet our fundraising goals. More particularly, I have the pleasure of working on the Jimmy Fund’s Red Sox and baseball-related programs and events. Our goal is to “strike out cancer” by raising money through initiatives such as John Hancock Fenway Fantasy Day, Rally Against Cancer, the Boston Red Sox/Jimmy Fund license plate program, and the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, just to name a few. We have been partners with the Red Sox since 1953, and it’s an honor to work with them year-round!

Baseball fans get involved in these Jimmy Fund events by donating, starting fundraising teams, volunteering, or just cheering us on. No matter how they have contributed or what their connection is, our goal is to ensure each supporter recognizes the impact they have on our mission.

How are you and the team preparing ahead of the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon?

Our baseball team is in full swing! We are coordinating event logistics to ensure things run smoothly over all 36 hours of the live broadcast, securing volunteers, and reaching out to donors for their support. We are lucky enough to work with dedicated partners such as the Red Sox, WEEI, NESN, and Arbella Insurance to bring the event to life. We also recently helped spread the news of the event and our mission to strike out cancer to Worcester by organizing a Jimmy Fund Night with the Worcester Red Sox at Polar Park in late July.

All of the hard work leading up to the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon is worth it when we hear the meaningful and emotional stories Dana-Farber patients share during the event. The gratitude these patients have for the work Dana-Farber does is unmatched, and I have the pleasure of being surrounded by these impactful moments for the full 36-hour broadcast!

You can support the 2022 WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon presented by Arbella Insurance by donating today and tuning in on August 23 and 24!

What does it mean to you to work here and support Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission to defy cancer?

Working at Dana-Farber, I don’t have to look too far for inspiration. Quite frequently, my team will send around what we call “mission moments.” These are the stories from patients, donors, event participants, or volunteers that remind us of the meaning behind our work. It may be my “job” to inspire donors to support our mission, but more often than not, these conversations and stories provide me with the motivation I seek in my everyday work to defy cancer.  

 If you are interested in exploring a career in Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s Division of Philanthropy, we invite you to check out our careers page to learn about our culture, view open roles, or register for an upcoming Information Session.

We also encourage you to support Dana-Farber & The Jimmy Fund through The Dana-Farber Campaign, our ambitious, multi-year fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer. The Dana-Farber Campaign will accelerate the Institute’s strategic priorities by supporting revolutionary science, extraordinary care, and exceptional expertise. As a community, we have the power to create a more hopeful, cancer-free future—in Boston and around the world. Together, we can defy cancer at every turn. Learn more about The Dana-Farber Campaign at DefyCancer.org.