Who Is the Connecticut Sports Foundation
Against Cancer and What Do We Do?

The Connecticut Sports Foundation Against Cancer (CSF) is a non-profit-IRS 501(C)(3) corporation chartered by the State of Connecticut whose mission is to provide economic assistance and compassionate aid to Connecticut cancer patients and their families and raise funds for cancer research.

Gifts and bequests received from individuals, businesses and corporations and funds raised at our charity events are distributed as grants to assist individuals and families that have been effected by cancer, funds cancer research, and placed in our endowment fund for future cancer related grants. We have been fulfilling these goals since 1987 when our organization was founded by John Ellis, a catcher for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers. He has lost his brother, sister, and sister-in-law to cancer all before the age of 40, and he also is a cancer survivor.

Through recipient grants CSF helps pay monthly mortgage payments/rents/utilities as well as providing funds for food, medications, gas, and transportation to and from hospitals and/or treatment centers for patients and their families. Referred to us by oncology social workers from Connecticut hospitals, hospices, and cancer treatment centers, each CSF applicant is thoroughly screened by these professionals who can attest to the legitimacy of each family's need.

Because CSF is virtually the only organization in Connecticut that provides financial assistance directly to cancer patients and their families, we are inundated with more applications for assistance than we can fulfill. Our long-term goal is to never have to turn anyone away.

Here are some patients and families that we have helped:

In addition to assisting individuals, CSF has funded cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. This donation was applied toward enhancing the Center's ongoing research into the interaction of radiation and tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen hormone used widely in the treatment of breast cancer patients. According to Dr. Yahalom of the Center's Department of Radiation Oncology, the funds will provide additional equipment and technical support in the development of a laboratory research model to explore the optimal use of both radiation and tamoxifen in the treatment of breast cancer.

Our major fundraising event each year is the "Annual Celebrity Dinner and Memorabilia Auction" held each year in February. Over the years our celebrities have included Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Billy Martin, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Carl Yastrzemski, Hank Aaron, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson, Roger Clemens, David Wells, Johnny Damon, Don Zimmer, Mel Stottlemyre, Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi, Don Mattingly, Willie Randolph, Lou Piniella and David Justice. For the sports fan, it truly is a unforgettable night. See our events page for information on this year's dinner.

Click below to read notes of thanks from recipients: