ABOUT OUR TOURNAMENT
MISSION
In 2004, the Cranberry Cup was started by a group of hockey enthusiasts as an annual event to raise money and awareness for charitable causes. The tournament benefits three very important charities: The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Juvenile Diabetes (JDRF) and Asperger/Autism Network (AANE). All proceeds from the tournament are split evenly between these organizations.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness is the largest non-governmental source of funding for retinal degenerative disease in the world. Inherited retinal degenerative diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and Stargardt disease affect the vision of over ten million Americans of all ages and ethnicities. Named one of Worth Magazine’s 100 Best Charities and ranked as a “Top-Rated” charity by the American Institute of Philanthropy, FFB funds leading-edge research in promising areas such as genetics, gene therapy, retinal cell transplantation, artificial retinal implants, and pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies.
JDRF is the world’s leader in funding research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes and sets the global agenda for diabetes research. Since its founding in 1970 by parents of children with Type 1 diabetes, JDRF has funded more than $1.5 billion in diabetes research. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and research-related education.
AANE works with individuals, families, and professionals to help people with Asperger Syndrome or similar autism spectrum profiles build meaningful, connected lives. We do this by providing information, education, community, support, and advocacy--all in an atmosphere of validation and respect.
TOURNAMENT
The tournament consists of 19 teams from all over the country. Each team is guaranteed three games and the top two teams from each bracket play in the finals on Saturday evening. Team standings are determined by win-loss record and average goals against. The tournament is comprised of 2 divisions: the Lance Brady Division is for players over 40, and the Cisco Division is a less-competetive, over 40 group. Experience is expected to be at the B to A level.
Cranberry Cup participants represent many professional industries including money management, private equity, venture capital, marketing, and legal. Players’ skill levels range primarily from high school to college-level experience, and competitors come from as close as Boston and even Nantucket, and as far away as London and the Czech Republic!
OUR BENEFICIARIES
The Asperger/Autism Network (AANE), one of the first Asperger Syndrome organizations in the United States, was founded in 1996 by a small group of concerned parents and professionals, shortly after the diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome (AS) first appeared in the U.S. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (edition IV). More >
JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) is a major charitable 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to funding type 1 diabetes research (T1D). JDRF’s stated goal is to “progressively remove the impact of T1D from people’s lives until we achieve a world without T1D. JDRF uses over 80% of its expenditures to support research and research-related education.
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The mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness is to fund research that will lead to preventions, treatments and cures for the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases including: retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, Stargardt disease and related conditions. More >