Journalists Andrew Kaczynski and Rachel Ensign, who dedicated themselves to fund-raising for cancer research after losing their infant daughter to a brain tumor, were honored alongside the Herb Chambers Companies Tuesday with the Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund Award for their philanthropic efforts.
Kaczynski, a CNN reporter who ran the Boston Marathon in 2021 and 2022 to raise money for cancer research, and Ensign, a Wall Street Journal reporter, were honored at a pre-game ceremony on the field at Fenway Park during the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon, according to a statement from the Jimmy Fund.
The couple established the Team Beans Infant Brain Tumor Research Fund in 2021 after their daughter’s death. Francesca, known as “Beans,” was only 9 months old when she died from an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor on Christmas Eve in 2020. This type of tumor one of the most malignant and aggressive brain tumors in infants, according to the Jimmy Fund.
Team Beans has raised more than $3 million for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund since 2020 and has fund-raised through marathons and the Pan-Mass Challenge, a bike-a-thon that started in 1980.
Herb Chambers and his companies were recognized for contributing more than $1 million to the Jimmy Fund, according to the statement.
Chambers has frequently attended Jimmy Fund events and spent time with Dana-Farber patient partners, while his companies have sponsored many fund-raising events, demonstrating “a truly genuine and heartfelt commitment to the mission,” the Jimmy Fund said.
The Boston Red Sox Jimmy Fund Award is given to organizations or individuals who demonstrate “a long-standing commitment to the lifesaving mission of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,” according to the Jimmy Fund.
The Team Beans fund initiated the Infant Brain Tumor Program at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center led by Francesca’s neuro-oncologist at Dana-Farber, Dr. Susan Chi.
Maria Elena Little Endara can be reached at mariaelena.littleendara@globe.com.
