Joe Andruzzi Foundation welcomes new board members, new board chair

The Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF), providing help, hope, and a reason to smile for New England cancer patients and their families through financial support when it is needed most, is proud to announce the addition of three distinguished individuals to its esteemed Board of Directors. 

Elizabeth “Beth” Huber of Sarasota, FL (formerly of Providence, RI); Tom Turco of Auburn, MA; and Mike Lombardo of Sanbornville, NH bring their vast expertise and dedication to volunteerism to further JAF’s mission of supporting cancer patients and their families throughout New England. The Foundation also proudly announced the appointment of Colleen DeSimone of Mansfield, MA as the new board chair, recognizing her significant contributions and leadership as a board member in recent years.

“We are so fortunate to welcome Beth, Mike, and Tom to the JAF Board of Directors,” said Colleen DeSimone, Board Chair, Joe Andruzzi Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Each brings a wealth of varied professional knowledge, with long track records of volunteerism. We believe these experiences and their dedication to advancing JAF’s mission will add invaluable leadership experience and perspective to our Board at a critical point in our history.”

“Joe and I are incredibly honored to have Beth, Mike, and Tom join the leadership team here at the Foundation. Each of these professionals brings so much commitment and passion to our mission,” said Jen Andruzzi, President and CEO, Joe Andruzzi Foundation. “Appointing Colleen as our board chair is a natural succession following her significant contributions to the Board and for helping us to realize our strategic goals these past few years. She is the perfect leader to help guide JAF’s next phase of growth and development, and I am fully confident that she will capitalize on the full Board’s strengths and energy to achieve and fulfill our mission.” 

Elizabeth “Beth” Huber’s professional journey began in the precious metals industry, where she held various management positions over the course of a decade, gaining expertise in material acquisition. Subsequently, she devoted 22 years to the American Mathematical Society in Providence, RI, where she served as associate executive director for publishing. In this role, Huber skillfully managed a reporting group of more than 100 employees, overseeing production and distribution activities that contributed to an annual revenue stream exceeding $30 million. Her philanthropic involvement includes serving as Vice Chair of the Rhode Island Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, which plays a vital role in supporting excellent, compassionate, and state-of-the-art healthcare, education, and research at the medical center. 

Huber’s personal experiences have shaped her unwavering dedication to helping others navigate healthcare challenges. Having managed the care of several family members, including her father’s battle with Alzheimer’s in his early 60s, her father-in-law’s fight against cancer, and the loss of her mother and mother-in-law to age-appropriate illnesses, and serving as the guardian for her twin sisters, who have faced mental and physical health challenges for many years, she deeply understands the complexities of healthcare and its impact on people’s lives.  

Tom Turco joins the JAF Board armed with a career spanning almost 34 years in the public sector, having most recently served as Governor Charlie Baker of Massachusetts’ secretary of public safety. His personal experience with cancer and his passion for philanthropy make him an asset to the Foundation’s mission.

In August 2010, Turco received a life-altering diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt lymphoma, the same cancer battled by Joe Andruzzi. Despite the challenging circumstances, he was fortunate to have excellent benefits through his job, which allowed him to focus on his treatment with unwavering support from his family. While undergoing treatment, Turco had a meaningful encounter with one of his nurses, who introduced him to the idea of a foundation providing assistance to families of cancer patients. He immediately recognized the importance of such support and decided to give back to the community once he completed his treatment. After his successful battle against cancer, Turco’s oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute connected him with the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. Since then, Turco, along with the help of his friends, has been actively organizing and hosting golf tournaments in Central Massachusetts to raise funds for JAF’s charitable endeavors.

As the CEO of GlideFast Consulting, Michael Lombardo has demonstrated exceptional leadership, propelling the company to great heights since its inception in 2015. Under his guidance, the company has flourished, specializing in digital transformation, and leveraging the ServiceNow SAAS platform. With his strategic approach and unwavering commitment, Lombardo has grown GlideFast’s team to include over 500 talented professionals and has driven total sales to surpass $400 million. His passion for technology and perseverance were evident from the beginning of his career. After graduating from YearUp, he started as a helpdesk analyst at Partners Healthcare, and later became one of the first developers at the startup consulting firm, Acorio, where he honed his skills and passion for innovation. 

To learn more about the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, please visit: www.joeandruzzifoundation.org. 

About The Joe Andruzzi Foundation:

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.