OUR STORY
Kidz for Causes is the 2015 brainchild of Michael Bendok and Xander Black. Between 2015 and 2019, we focused on fundraising for TGen’s Center for Rare Childhood Disorders, financing expensive treatments for children with rare genetic-based diseases. Since it's founding, Kidz 4 Causes has raised nearly over $170,000 and expanded into multiple states across the country.
Harry, our inspiration, is a current freshman in our community who developed a rare and irremediable lung disease called Obliterative Bronchiolitis a few years ago. This disease left him with just 27% lung capacity and with permanent scar tissue in his lungs. Despite these setbacks, Harry's joyous spirit keeps him smiling. However, there are currently no FDA-approved drug treatments for Harry's disease. Harry is not alone. There are over 7,000 different rare diseases, affecting more than 30 million Americans. Harry's story along with these statistics is what inspired us to start this charity.
While we focused on COVID-19 relief, underprivileged speech and debate programs, and the Beirut explosion in 2020, we will now be partnering with TGen's Center for Rare Childhood Disorders the overlooked and critically underfunded rare disease community. Many kids, like Harry, still need our help, and the pandemic's financial constraints further inhibited Rare Diseases funding and corresponding research. Kidz 4 Causes is proud to continue funding the genetic-based treatment for children who otherwise would not be able to afford it.