In 1948, Einar Gustafson, 12, was a child being treated for cancer by Dr. Sidney Farber, considered a pioneer of modern chemotherapy. Gustafson was selected to speak on Ralph Edwards national radio program, "Truth or Consequences," and to protect his privacy, was simply called "Jimmy" for the broadcast. During the national broadcast, held in the boy's hospital room, Gustafson visited with his heroes from the Braves baseball team, as they stood by his hospital bed. The show raised more than $200,000 dollars from listeners to the benefit of Dr. Farber's research and Children's Cancer Research Foundation. The Jimmy Fund was born.

Einar "Jimmy" Gustafson went on to make many public appearances at The Jimmy Fund events, and was considered an inspiration to many people in New England. Then Gustafson disappeared. For years, everyone at the Children's Cancer Research Foundation, renamed the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, believed the boy had died, because cure rates for pediatric cancers were so low during the era in which he was treated. Gustafson remained anonymous until 1998, the 50th anniversary of the original radio broadcast.

After his return to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Gustafson went from years of public anonymity to celebrity status. People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and newspapers nationwide, told the story of Einar "Jimmy" Gustafson. He was named honorary chairman of The Jimmy Fund. Today, The Jimmy Fund, working toward "a world without cancer," enjoys the major fundraising efforts of the Boston Red Sox, Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Jimmy Fund Council of Greater Boston, The Pan-Massachusetts cross-state bicycle ride, Challenge Scooper Bowl ice cream extravaganza, The Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, and many other organizations who raise funds for the charity. Great things can happen from the simplest of beginnings.