Volunteers Are Needed For

Jimmy Fund Collections Program

Calling all movie lovers with big hearts and a few hours to spend raising money for cancer research. The Jimmy Fund/Variety Club Theatre Collections Program is looking for volunteers.

From June 15 to July 22 at more than 200 movie theatres in 20 states, volunteers are needed to help collect much-needed funds for The Jimmy Fund, which supports cancer research at the world-renowned Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

The Theatre Collections Program is The Jimmy Fund’s longest running fundraising effort which, since its 1949 inception, has attracted the support of movie stars and celebrities including Jimmy Cagney, Loretta Young, Bing Crosby and baseball’s Ted Williams. Contemporary stars such as Sam Waterston and Janeane Garafalo have also volunteered their time and talent.

The Jimmy Fund trailer will be shown in General Cinema, Hoyts Cinemas, National Amusement Theatres and Loews Cinemas. Volunteers range from high school students to senior citizens, and can be individuals, family members or part of civic groups.

Volunteers pass a Jimmy Fund canister among audience members after the trailer is shown, just prior to the feature film. It is these collections of spare dollars and change that have helped raise the cure rate for cancers around the world.

Jimmy Fund Theatre Collections volunteers receive prizes based on their level of commitment to the program as a token of appreciation for their service. One-time volunteers receive a Jimmy Fund T-shirt, two-time volunteers receive movie passes, and four-timers can put their name into a drawing for American Airlines tickets.

Volunteers who commit to eight shifts receive Jimmy Fund mesh shorts, and the volunteers who dedicate themselves to 12 or more shifts are invited with a guest to a Red Sox game to celebrate the program’s success.

“Our volunteers are the most important piece to this historic fundraising program,” said Mike Andrews, the chairman of The Jimmy Fund. “No matter how many movie stars line up to make our trailers, it still comes down to the dedication of caring community members that has helped us raise millions of dollars over the year.

The Jimmy Fund/Variety Club Theatre Collections Program was the mainstay of The Jimmy Fund over its first 25 years, funding the innovative research that helped lead to the current pediatric cancer survival rate of 74 percent. With cancer still the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15, the support of the participating theaters and generous moviegoers remains essential to the ongoing efforts of researchers and clinicians at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to find the cures for cancer.

To find out how to become involved in the volunteer fundraising effort, call 617-52-JIMMY (525-4669) or visit the Web site www.jimmyfund.org.