Couple Requested Pediatric Cancer Funds Instead of Gifts
Jon and Amber Kozesky set a $100,000 goal for The Littlest Heroes during their wedding.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Cleveland couple Jon and Amber Kozesky requested donations for the pediatric cancer nonprofit The Littlest Heroes in lieu of wedding gifts. The couple aimed to raise $100,000 from their 275 wedding guests to support families managing childhood cancer.
Why it matters
The Littlest Heroes serves as a financial safety net for families, providing essential aid for housing, utilities, and groceries. By leveraging their wedding for philanthropy, the couple provides critical resources for a nonprofit that serves approximately 3,000 individuals annually.
The Littlest Heroes has operated for 25 years and currently helps 3,000 individuals each year. In 2025, the organization received $63,000 in grant funding from the Millennium Fund for Children.
The players
The Littlest Heroes
This nonprofit organization has operated for 25 years to provide financial assistance to families affected by pediatric cancer.
Jon and Amber Kozesky
The couple resides in Fairview Park and chose to solicit charitable donations from their wedding guests.
Victoria Tsupruk
She is a childhood cancer survivor who was first diagnosed at age 2 in 2019.
The details
The nonprofit assists families through direct outreach and referrals from hospital social workers at partners like Akron Children's Hospital, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, and Cleveland Clinic. These funds are used to cover immediate household needs including utility bills and grocery gift cards for families navigating the financial burdens of childhood cancer treatment.
Timeline
Victoria Tsupruk was diagnosed with cancer in April 2019.
The Littlest Heroes received grant funding in 2025.
The wedding took place on September 19, 2026.
Market Landscape
The wedding, held during September 2026, aligns with National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month to emphasize the urgency of pediatric cancer funding. This initiative highlights the growing trend of individual donors utilizing milestone life events to fill critical funding gaps in the non-profit sector.
Local families managing pediatric cancer treatment at regional hospitals can access this financial assistance through social worker referrals. The funds provide immediate, pragmatic relief for recurring monthly expenses like rent and utility costs.
The takeaway
Using wedding gift registries to support local nonprofits offers a direct way to convert consumer spending into essential aid for neighbors in need. Community members can replicate this impact by selecting established regional charities that offer tangible financial relief for families in crisis.
Further reading
Learn more about the state of charitable giving in Cleveland Philanthropy.
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Would you choose to ask for charitable donations instead of wedding gifts for your own celebration?
