Dear Friends and Family,

I have the privilege of being nominated as a candidate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Gold Coast Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. Student Visionaries of the Year is a seven-week philanthropic leadership development program for high school students that runs from January 23 to March 14, 2025 to raise money and help support the LLS mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. I have created a team of committed friends and family to partner with me on this journey. Together, we have set a fundraising goal of $50,000. 

It’s an honor to be a part of such an outstanding group, but an even larger honor to be able to work for the patients, survivors and their families. Personally, I have 3 different family members currently fighting a blood cancer. My dad’s cousin is a father of 2 who has been battling CLL for 20 years now. My great uncle has also been struggling with CLL for almost 20 years. An, my great aunt is currently in remission from lymphoma. All of them have had many ups and downs, physically as well as emotionally and financially. All have benefitted from the treatments which have been developed from LLS funded research. For them, I hope my campaign will provide support to the critical work of LLS in hopes that one day no one will have to grow up without the ones they love.

Money raised helps LLS, the largest nonprofit dedicated to creating a world without blood cancers, advance initiatives like enacting policies that address the serious burdens of these diseases. Through their Office of Public Policy and network of over 35,000 volunteers nationwide, LLS advocates in Washington for laws and policies that accelerate the development of new treatments for cancer and break down the barriers to care that patients often encounter, including advancing oral parity laws, ending surprise medical bills, and limiting patients’ out-of-pocket drug costs. 

I know that with your help, I can reach my goal and make a direct impact in the fight against blood cancers. 

I thank you in advance for partnering with a campaign so close to my heart, and please remember, every bit counts. All donations are tax deductible.

I appreciate your support!

For a cure,
Evander Gibson

Santa Barbara LLS

To make your donation go further—check if your company matches charitable gifts. https://www.lls.org/ways-help/employee-matching-gifts