Ben wanted to do something big to help support breast cancer research. After brainstorming ideas with his mom, Stephanie, he came up with the perfect way to fundraise for breast cancer: a bar mitzvah fundraising campaign.
Turning a Bar Mitzvah Celebration into a Breast Cancer Fundraiser
A bar mitzvah is a coming-of-age ceremony in Jewish tradition. It celebrates a boy’s transition into adulthood and signifies his new responsibilities within the community. It’s typically a day filled with family, friends and gifts to commemorate the important milestone. For Ben, it became more than just a personal celebration – it was a chance to support breast cancer research and honor two important women in his life: his grandmothers.
“Both my grandmas were impacted by breast cancer, and I wanted to be able to do something to honor their experiences,” he said. “I wanted to find an organization that provides funding for breast cancer research and supports people living with the disease. Komen is well-known for doing both, so it was the perfect fit for my bar mitzvah fundraiser.”
A Bar Mitzvah with a Greater Purpose: Fundraising with Komen’s DIY Platform
With some help from his mom, Ben set up a personal fundraising page through Komen’s DIY fundraising platform, which allowed him to offer a direct link for donations. “I sent a letter to everyone we invited letting them know that instead of gifts, I would appreciate donations to my breast cancer fundraiser.” Ben said. “I set a goal to raise $7,200.”
The donations quickly rolled in, and before long, Ben had surpassed his initial fundraising goal. “It was really nice to hit my goal so quickly and realize that there are other people who really care about breast cancer and feel confident to put their money into it,” he said.
A Bittersweet Celebration: Honoring his Grandmother’s Strength
Stephanie was proud of his initiative during a difficult time for their family. Stephanie’s mom, Gene – Ben’s maternal grandma – was living with metastatic breast cancer.
“She was first diagnosed in her 50s, but she continued to have recurrence that eventually became metastatic,” she said. “By the time we celebrated Ben’s bar mitzvah, she was quite ill, but her being there was such a gift. She fought valiantly, but the disease moved very quickly at the end.”
The Power of Matching Gifts: Raising Over $19,000 to Support Komen
As more donations came in, Ben increased his goal to $18,000. He encouraged his guests to use matching gift programs to maximize their donations.
“Matching gifts really helped push him over the finish line,” Stephanie said. “My company matches charitable donations up to $3,000 each year, so my husband and I took advantage of that to help boost our contribution.”
By the time Ben’s bar mitzvah breast cancer fundraiser had ended, he raised more than $19,000 for Komen. That included a meaningful donation from his grandma before her passing.
“My mom helped her navigate the page to make a donation,” Ben said. “Her name is still listed as a donor on my fundraising page, which means a lot to me.”
Start Your Own Komen Fundraiser to Help End Breast Cancer
Komen’s DIY Fundraising empowers you to choose where, when and how to raise money to support breast cancer research and patient programs. With a variety of tools and resources, it’s easier than ever to make a meaningful impact. To learn more or start your own breast cancer fundraiser, visit www.komen.org/fundraise.
Statements and opinions expressed are that of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
