GronkNation

06.26.18

The Gronkowskis Reunite in Buffalo for the Friends of Carly White Party

Posted by: Gronkowski

It was a homecoming for Rob Gronkowski and his family last weekend as he headed back to Buffalo on Saturday for the annual Friends of Carly White Party.

Friends of Carly is a cause close to everyone's heart as it was inspired by Carly Cottone, a gutsy Buffalo girl who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma – an aggressive form of brain cancer – in 1999 when she was just eight years old. 

Even more tragically, she had lost both of her biological parents, Tony and Judie Cottone, to cancer during the first seven years of her life. 

While she battled it bravely and with little complaint, Carly lost her fight in August 2002 but her story has inspired thousands of people to help other families impacted by the disease to crush cancer.

Gronk’s longtime friends John Ticco and Chrissy Jacobi are the driving force behind the Friends of Carly White Party, which has become the biggest day on the calendar in Buffalo (followed by when the Patriots come to town to thrash the Bills, of course!) and marks the official kick-off to summer.

This year Gronk was joined his dad Gordy, brother Dan, girlfriend Camille and tons of family and friends for the beautiful bash at the Lexus Club at KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo. Home to the Buffalo Sabres hockey team, their mascot Sabretooth was even on hand for photo opps (shhh, don’t anyone tell Blades the Bruin).

The GronkNation Foundation and Pegula Sports and Entertainment were the main sponsors, while the live auction included a Patriots’ helmet and ball signed by the big fella himself. And a top of the range scooter – we’re still waiting to find out who got to ride that off into the sunset!

Gronk’s no. 1 DJ was on the decks spinning an unforgettable music experience -- and by the end of the night, Gronk was shirtless on stage getting vodka poured on him by Ticco. So as you tell, it was just a normal night in the World of Gronk.

Thank god little bro Glenn wasn’t showering everyone in red wine like last year …

Click here to find out more about Friends of Carly and how you can buy tickets for next year’s party.

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