Jimmy Fund partners with MAAC in Springfield to raise money for cancer research

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - March Madness will take on a special meaning with a special partnership in Springfield next month; a partnership with a mission of curing cancer and saving lives.

The Jimmy Fund will directly benefit from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference college basketball championships.

The "MAAC" tournament will be played at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield from March  7th through the 11th.

The "MAAC" has guaranteed a $25,000 donation to the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Instutute in Boston.

Jimmy Fund Director Suzanne Fountain told 22News she's very excited about the partnership which supports the Jimmy Fund's original and continuing mission of 'treating the whole patient.'

"The money will be used anywhare it's needed; for cancer research and treatment.  Innovative things that the government might not cover. Personalized medicine are some of the things that we're doing now," Fountain said.

Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference commissioner Rich Ensor told 22News that this "unique partnership" offers the Jimmy Fund an opportunity to get involved with college athletes, which is very different from their famous connection with the Boston Red Sox.

"And have our student athletes involved;  the same student athletes who may very well end up being the doctors and researchers working on the cure that they're funding.  So we think it's a good opportunity for everyone involved, particularly our student athletes," Ensor told 22News.

The Jimmy Fund/MAAC partnership was announced Wednesday night at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.

The Jimmy Fund will receive part of the proceeds from ticket sales to the MAAC championship tournament, as well as a text-to-give campaign.  Donors can use their mobile devices by texting  "JIMMY" to 22122.