Former Boston Bruins forward and enforcer Shawn Thornton has made a serious impact on Boston during his time in the Black and Gold. Boston has become his adopted “home” town. He’s declared that he will be living here after he has retired. (That could be after this season if Tuukka Rask has it right!)
Thornton was so much more to the B’s than just a pair of fists. He’s was one of the heart and soul players that helped bring the Stanley Cup back to Boston back in 2011. Seriously, when is the last time a fourth line grinder got a standing ovation the first time back in Boston?
While number 22 was getting ready to head down to Sunrise to finish out his contract with the Florida Panthers, the former Bruin stopped by Fenway Park this afternoon to support the annual Jimmy Fund Telethon. Thornton hung out, took pictures, signed some hats, and came up big in the fight against cancer. For the second straight year, Shawn Thornton dropped off a $50,000 donation in support of the Jimmy Fund.
Proud to take part in @TheJimmyFund's Annual Radio Telethon with a $50k donation!
— Shawn Thornton FDN (@ThorntonFDN) August 18, 2015
Call 877-738-1234 to help #KCANCER pic.twitter.com/DB0GkrkAx9
Thank you, Shawn Thornton (@ThorntonFDN), for the very generous gift! #KCANCER pic.twitter.com/JuSMPCD7ss
— WEEI (@WEEI) August 18, 2015
He was able to make this donation through his charitable organization, the Shawn Thornton Foundation. (You got to love the fact that he’s two seasons removed from the team, but his cover photo is from his days in Boston.) Thornton’s donation helped the Jimmy Fund Telethon clear over one million dollars this year.
We're over $1 million! Let's keep it going. Call 877-738-1234 or give online at http://t.co/w2nSci6p2E. #KCANCER pic.twitter.com/vTvdlfUZbV
— WEEI (@WEEI) August 19, 2015
Thornton’s foundation engages in annual events to help raise money to fight against cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Fenway is turning into one of those annual events for Shawn Thornton and his donation will help in the fight against cancer. He has become one of those players that started out as a blip in Bruins fans radar, and over time become part of the landscape. Once again, Thornton proves you can take the hockey player out of Beantown, but you can’t take Beantown out of the hockey player.