WHEN FORMER NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s lymphoma in 2007, his life hit an abrupt standstill. As an elite athlete, he was used to facing down heavy blitzes on the football field, but nothing prepared him or his wife, Jen, for the brutal reality of an aggressive cancer diagnosis. Joe beat the disease, but the experience opened the couple’s eyes to a secondary crisis that millions of families face every day: “financial toxicity”.

“Fifty percent of cancer patients become bankrupt after a cancer battle,” Joe recently shared. “That, to me, is something wrong with our healthcare system. You’re fighting for your life, and then you have no home to go into.”

Driven by this realization, the couple founded the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF) in 2008. Nearly two decades later, the organization has assisted more than 60,000 cancer patients across New England, bridging the massive gap between medical treatment and basic human survival.

While healthcare coverage might pay for clinical care, JAF covers what insurance doesn’t: past-due rent, mounting utility bills, car insurance, and groceries. By removing the agonizing choice between paying for life-saving medicine or keeping the lights on, JAF allows patients to focus entirely on healing.

A Field of Dreams: Coming Home to Gillette Stadium

There is a profound, full-circle poetry to where the foundation is rallying its community this November. For the signature event of 2026 –Tuesday, November 10th at 6pm– JAF is returning to the very turf where Joe’s legacy was forged.

Local media enthusiasts and supporters will vividly remember the stunning Summer 2023 cover story of BostonMan Magazine, titled “Creating a Field of Dreams” compellingly authored by Alexandra Salmon and captured through the lens of photographer Jackie Vlahos.

Shot directly on-site at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, that milestone double-cover feature celebrated JAF’s 15-year anniversary of community impact. The visual power of the 3-time Super Bowl champion standing in the center of his former gridiron—not in pads, but as a champion for cancer patients—solidified JAF’s permanent place in New England philanthropy.

This autumn, the foundation steps off the glossy pages of BostonMan and back into the physical architecture of the stadium, using the iconic venue as the ultimate backdrop for their next massive fundraising push.

Returning to “Late Night”

To sustain this vital safety net, the foundation relies heavily on its annual signature event. Transitioning from standard ballroom programming to an interactive, high-energy entertainment format, the 19th Annual Fall Fundraiser: Late Night with the Joe Andruzzi Foundation is set to take over the Cross Insurance Club at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

The popular “Late Night” talk show theme makes its highly anticipated return after the massive success of the 2025 gala. Last year’s format completely re-energized the foundation’s community, trading predictable event speeches for live, fast-paced entertainment. By popular demand, JAF is leaning even further into this upbeat structure to maximize engagement and, crucially, drive critical fundraising.

The evening acts as a high-stakes, direct-response mechanism for New England families. JAF has set a bold target to raise $700,000 over the course of the evening. Achieving this goal is critical—the funds generated will directly keep the JAF Application Portal open through the holiday season, ensuring that patient financial aid requests don’t go unanswered during the hardest months of the year.

What to Expect: A Star-Studded Preview of the “Late Night” Stage

Guests arriving at Foxboro will walk the red carpet before stepping into a vibrant cocktail reception filled with networking opportunities, New England personalities, and a high-energy production designed to celebrate Care, Community, and Hope.

JAF has curated a dynamic lineup of regional voices and international talent to bring the “Late Night” concept to life:

  • A Distinctly New England Voice: Bringing local charm, wit, and deep regional pride to the stage is actor, entertainer, and content creator Ian Brownhill. As the popular host of the So New England Podcast, Ian has made a career out of celebrating the unique people, places, and culture that define the region. He will set the tone for the entire evening, weaving together the powerful stories that connect the JAF community and inspire collective action.
  • High-Stakes Energy on the Auction Floor: Returning to command the crowd is globe-trotting British auctioneer Jacqueline Tower-Perkins. Renowned for her sharp wit and signature high energy, Jacqueline will lead the live and silent auctions, turning the room’s excitement into tangible, life-changing financial support for families battling cancer.
  • A Show-Stopping Finale: To close out the broadcast in style, rising singer-songwriter Izzy Escobar will take the Late Night stage. Fresh off having her original music featured on the highly anticipated The Devil Wears Prada 2 soundtrack, Izzy’s special live musical performance is set to leave attendees with an unforgettable, uplifting conclusion to the night.

Celebrating the 2026 Game Changers

A marquee segment of the program will look beyond the stage to honor five local entities named as this year’s “Game Changers”—advocates and organizations that have drastically expanded JAF’s reach across the region:

  • David Santoro: A dedicated Team JAF athlete who has personally raised over $63,000 to alleviate patient hardships.
  • Mark Theodore: An Oncology Social Worker at Saint Anne’s Hospital who has spent a decade serving as a frontline partner, directly connecting more than 160 patients to JAF’s portal.
  • Lawson Charitable Foundation: A vital funding partner since 2022 that has poured more than $520,000 into JAF’s assistance programs.
  • Maine Cancer Foundation: A key ally that has expanded JAF’s geographic footprint deeper into northern New England.
  • Well Told: A creative partner providing over $60,000 in dynamic, in-kind support since 2019.

How to Get Involved: Access Tiers and Registration

Cancer strikes without warning, but the community’s response can be calculated, intentional, and transformative. With the final day to secure entry fast approaching on November 5, JAF is urging local businesses, philanthropists, and Patriots fans alike to step up.

To join the event, review the support and attendance options below:

  • Individual General Tickets: Provide admission to the Cross Insurance Club cocktail reception, live stage programming, auction floors, and entertainment.
  • Corporate Sponsorship Packages: Tiers scale across elite structures—including Mission, Entertainment, Platinum, Gold, and Silver levels—backed by industry heavyweights like Cross Insurance Agency, Bob’s Discount Furniture, and Granite Telecommunications. Corporate opportunities top out at premium levels such as the Red Carpet Sponsor ($30,000), a tier that includes 10 premier-seating event tickets, strategic logo recognition, commercial placement, and provides one full month of foundational funding for JAF’s critical Food Security Program.

For exact individual ticket checkout, comprehensive structural tier outlines, or to make a direct donation to the cause, visit the official JAF Late Night Ticket & Event Portal or explore detailed arrangements via the OneCause Sponsorship Packages Page.