Joe Andruzzi Foundation launches UniCORN: Comprehensive New England cancer resources

Joe Andruzzi Foundation Launches UniCORN: Revolutionizing Cancer Care with Comprehensive, Vetted Resources for New England Patients

Photo: Joe Andruzzi, former New England Patriots three-time Super Bowl Champion and Chief Engagement Officer of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

In a significant stride toward enhancing cancer care, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF), proudly unveils the UniCORN (Universal Oncology Resource Network), a comprehensive and free resource directory for cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. UniCORN is a collection of highly used, critical resources most utilized in the oncology community in one location, easing the path for those navigating the complexities of cancer treatment and care throughout New England.

UniCORN offers over 100 vetted listings, ranging from copay assistance and counseling to more specialized services such as areola tattooing and custom wigs, all aimed at supporting the varied needs of the cancer community. This user-friendly platform allows a customizable experience by type of cancer, location, age group, and need, ensuring that patients and their families have access to the highest quality resources, providing a spectrum of support that spans the entirety of the cancer journey.

“Our dedication to the cancer community drives us to continually seek innovative solutions that can alleviate the burdens faced by patients and their families,” said Jen Andruzzi, President and CEO, Joe Andruzzi Foundation. “UniCORN is not just a resource directory; it’s a commitment to offering a guiding light to those in their time of need.”

In celebration of UniCORN’s launch and in the spirit of direct community engagement, JAF visited Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) on #NationalUnicornDay, April 9^th. Chief Engagement Officer Joe Andruzzi, along with Jen Andruzzi, and additional JAF representatives met with patients and the hospital’s social workers/resource specialist to introduce them to UniCORN through tablets and care packages.

JAF is also commemorating the occasion by distributing UniCORN kits to members of its healthcare council across New England. These kits include brochures and tools designed to engage social workers and patient navigators, providing them with resources to share with patients.

“We are thankful for all the efforts that partners like the Joe Andruzzi Foundation make to better the lives of patients and families undergoing cancer treatment,” said David Avigan, MD, Director of BIDMC’s Cancer Center and Senior Vice President of Cancer Services at Beth Israel Lahey Health.

While UniCORN represents a major leap forward, JAF recognizes there is more work to be done. The Foundation remains dedicated to its mission of constant improvement and expansion of the directory, working closely with oncology partners to identify and integrate new, essential resources. The UniCORN Resource Directory stands as a testament to Joe Andruzzi Foundation’s unwavering dedication to providing invaluable support and assistance to those navigating the challenges of cancer treatment and caregiving.

The Leon V. & Marilyn L. Rosenberg Clinical Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, ranked #17 in the nation by US News & World Report, serves as an academic and clinical center of excellence. The Cancer Center is committed to meeting the highest standards in individualized patient care, continuing physician Education and research. Its mission is to better the lives of patients with cancer, leveraging transformative Science and pioneering therapies, to provide highly personalized and compassionate care accessible to all.

About The Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF): 

The Joe Andruzzi Foundation is committed to providing help, hope, and a reason to smile, for New England cancer patients and their families by contributing financial support when it is needed most. Founded in 2008 by former New England Patriots three-time Super Bowl Champion offensive guard Joe

Andruzzi and his wife Jen, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation grew out of Joe’s own successful battle with cancer and the couple’s ongoing work with young cancer patients. In 2007, Joe’s football career abruptly ended when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s lymphoma. Disease-free less than a year later, Joe and Jen chose to dedicate their lives towards solving the financial distress a cancer diagnosis can cause in the lives of patients and families. For more information, or to make a donation, please visit: joeandruzzifoundation.org or Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

About Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC):
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a leading academic medical center, where extraordinary care is supported by high-quality Education and research. BIDMC is a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, and consistently ranks as a national leader among independent hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding. BIDMC is the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through groundbreaking research and education.