We know so many others trying to conceive aren’t in the same position and that doesn’t mean they are any less worthy or deserving of the family of their dreams.
Jim Polka
The Gift of Parenthood fundraising platform launched this past January and we’ve been blown away by the sheer number of new fundraisers created in just three months. So many members of the future parent community are ready to take charge of their journeys with IVF, surrogacy, and adoption fundraisers and we are humbled to bear witness to it all. Our fundraising tools give future parents the resources they need to break the stigma and financial strain of infertility, educate others, and raise money for their fertility treatments. Take a look at our top fundraisers in January and February to see just how impactful a fundraiser can be.
Beyond individual fundraisers, some users are choosing to “pay it forward” by raising money for charity. Keep reading to learn more about the “Fertility 50” fundraiser and how one man is running for a cause.
The Fertility 50 Run
Infertility is hard to understand if you haven’t experienced it yourself. Anyone that’s been through the heartbreak of infertility knows that when you come out the other side, you want to help others as often as you can. To help others going through, what often feels like an uphill battle, Jim Polka created the “Fertility 50” fundraiser.
In Jim’s words, “Infertility is a condition that affects 1 in 8 couples in the U.S. and often forces couples to struggle and mourn in silence. It does not discriminate or take sides. It has no limits when it comes to age, race, or cultural differences.” This topic has personal importance to Jim as he and his wife, Brittney struggled to conceive in the past. Luckily, the couple had the emotional support, excellent health insurance, and financial resources to pursue IVF last fall and they are now expecting a baby boy to arrive this summer. Because he knows that other couples do not have the financial means to try IVF or other forms of reproductive care, he wants to help out by raising money for Gift of Parenthood in a unique way.
Jim says, “We know so many others trying to conceive aren’t in the same position and that doesn’t mean they are any less worthy or deserving of the family of their dreams.”
Today, Jim is on a mission to raise money for the Gift of Parenthood by running a 50K Ultramarathon trail race in May. His ultimate goal is to help those who don’t have the same access to care because he believes that everyone deserves a chance to embark on their unique path to parenthood regardless of their ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, relationship status, medical history, or where they live.
Donors are encouraged to donate$50 or more to this fundraiser, a dollar for every kilometer Jim will be running in May. All proceeds for this fundraiser will go towards Gift of Parenthood.
Want to support the “Fertility 50 Run” fundraiser?
Why Every Donation Matters
Every single thing Gift of Parenthood does is because of donations from generous people, just like you. Every person that feels supported and understood for the first time, every hopeful parent that applies for a grant, every couple whose dream of parenthood is (finally) realized, and every baby that’s born, it’s all because of our donors.
Each dollar donated is a glimmer of hope for someone struggling with infertility. It allows our organization to continue to provide financial assistance and special giveaways, which change (and create) lives. We can continue our mission as a nonprofit because of your selfless generosity. You don’t have to give so freely, so it’s extraordinary when you do. Your donation is more than money—it’s the catalyst for new possibilities, new babies…new families.