Fall 2026
By Amber Sinicrope
Photography by Sasha Pedro
The Jean and Tom Yawkey Bridge will do more than connect the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care with the Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital at Dana-Farber. It will stand as a special testament to a partnership that has helped carry Dana-Farber from one era of cancer care to the next—and a total patient care approach that has always linked discovery directly to the needs of patients and families.
That symbolism is at the heart of the Yawkey Foundation’s recent $50 million grant to Dana-Farber that commemorates an eight-decade partnership. The gift provides resources for the Future of Cancer Care Fund, advancing numerous priorities in research and care, and supports construction of the Lavine Bekenstein Cancer Hospital at Dana-Farber, extending a legacy that has shaped our organization for more than 75 years.
“The Yawkey Foundation’s extraordinary generosity reflects a partnership that has been woven into Dana-Farber’s story for generations,” said Benjamin L. Ebert, MD, PhD, president and CEO of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “This gift honors a remarkable legacy of compassion and vision, while helping us build the future of cancer care for the patients and families who will depend on it.”
Long before modern cancer breakthroughs began to change outcomes for patients, Jean and Tom Yawkey recognized the promise of Dr. Sidney Farber, the pioneering pathologist regarded as the father of modern chemotherapy and founder of what would become Dana-Farber. He believed scientific discovery, clinical innovation, and compassionate care should not exist in separate silos, but work together in a continuous cycle moving research from bench to bedside. Their early support was critical to creating a new model of cancer care—rooted in innovation, humanity, and the conviction that better treatments could be found, and more lives could be saved.
Over time, that early belief became one of Dana-Farber’s most enduring partnerships. The Yawkeys’ philanthropy reached far beyond early scientific support. It helped build Dana-Farber—quite literally—strengthen leadership and engage the broader community. In 1953, the Yawkeys helped forge what would become one of the most iconic charitable partnerships in American sports: the relationship between the Jimmy Fund and the Boston Red Sox. For generations, that bond has galvanized a community, made giving part of the fabric of New England, and raised millions to support Dana-Farber patients and programs.
Tom Yawkey served on Dana-Farber’s Board of Trustees beginning in the 1950s and later led the board for 16 years as president and then chair. After his death, Jean Yawkey continued that service, assuming the role of chair for several years and serving as a trustee until her death in 1992. Together, they helped guide Dana-Farber through another important period of growth. Their philanthropy was personal, strategic, and sustained.
The Yawkey Foundation has carried that legacy forward in powerful ways. Its landmark support created the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care, transforming the outpatient experience for patients and families. The Yawkey Foundation also serves as presenting sponsor of the Jimmy Fund Little League program, connecting another generation of baseball fans to Dana-Farber’s mission. Other ways of giving include underwriting an annual staff appreciation event and support for patient care services that provide practical help, comfort, and stability during treatment—investments that reflect a long-standing belief that exceptional care must also be deeply humane.
We are proud to continue to partner with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as they lead New England and the world in transforming the future of cancer research and care.
Alicia Verity, Yawkey Foundation
“We are proud to continue to partner with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as they lead New England and the world in transforming the future of cancer research and care,” said Alicia Verity, chief executive officer of the Yawkey Foundation. The Jean and Tom Yawkey Bridge is a fitting tribute to a family whose generosity has long connected vision to action, leadership to compassion, and one generation of progress to the next.