Throughout my life, I’ve found that one of the greatest feelings that a person can experience is when they know that they are doing good as a part of something bigger than themselves. Every time that I have been a part of an organization or a team that is doing good work in the community or supporting positive outcomes for others, I’ve felt the warmth of a job well done as a part of a team.

            When I became a Mason, I felt the warmth of the brotherhood working to support each other in honesty and charity to support our communities.

            When my daughter and I sell girl scout cookies together every February, I feel the warmth of supporting her and her troopmates in their journey of learning and growth toward adulthood.

            When I support causes that are important to me by contributing financially or through participation in events at work and at home, I feel the warmth of being a part of a team of people striving toward a common goal for the betterment of others.

            In 2025, I’m taking this a step further, and am leading a team as a part of a campaign to fund research through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a part of the San Diego Visionaries of the Year 2025 Campaign.

            Although I haven’t personally been impacted by this disease, I’m excited to support this year’s Visionaries Campaign to make a difference in the lives of friends and neighbors who have, and other friends that I haven’t met yet who will be diagnosed in the future.

            Leukemia is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in children and young adults, and research is needed to improve treatments to reduce side effects and increase efficacy so that more of these folks will be able to survive and thrive after diagnosis. By supporting research in this area, we can help people in our community like my friends Natalia and Kennedy benefit from treatment to continue life after a diagnosis of cancer.

I’ve always been passionate about supporting research aimed at treatments and cures for disease. I’ve personally participated in research through clinical trials, and now I have the opportunity to support advancing research by leading a team of supporters in fundraising to support LLS this year as Candidate in the San Diego Visionaries of the Year 2025 Campaign.

LLS funds the most promising blood cancer research across the globe and forges collaborations to accelerate new discoveries, treatments, and cures. With a more than 70-year track record, LLS has supported virtually every advancement in blood cancer treatment – including approaches once thought impossible. As the largest nonprofit funder of cutting-edge blood cancer research worldwide, LLS has been key in advancing 75 percent of the blood cancer treatment options approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the last five years.

            By joining together as a part of an organized campaign like San Diego Visionaries of the Year, we can make a collective impact that is bigger than the sum of our individual contributions. Every contribution is important, and every dollar contributes to making treatment for this disease more effective and available for patients.

            Please consider supporting our campaign by donating here today and by sharing the link to my page with your network. All donations are greatly appreciated and tax-deductible. For more information on LLS, please visit www.LLS.org !