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As a rising high school senior, David Han learned firsthand what it means to go above and beyond to make an impact. After watching both his Grandmother and Uncle face leukemia, Han decided to become an NFCR Youth Ambassador and committed himself to fundraising and helping make cures for cancer possible. His efforts resulted in $5,000 raised for lifesaving cancer research using 3 unique fundraisers aligned with his interests. Below, he shares what he’s learned to help inspire others to get involved.

Leveraging Community Connections

First, he developed a golf challenge at his local club called “The Par 3 Challenge – Closest to the Pin.” After receiving permission from the club professional, he ran the event for approximately six days across two summers. Han would wait at the tee box, introduce himself to each foursome, explain NFCR’s mission, and invite the golfers to participate.

Each golfer donated $25 to hit a tee shot, and the player who landed closest to the pin received a $50 box of premium golf balls. Han was able to purchase golf balls at a 40% discount, allowing a larger portion of the proceeds to benefit NFCR’s cancer research programs.

In total, this initiative raised approximately $3,300 towards his total.

Engaging Classmates for a Cure

In addition to his golf challenge, Han secured a Casual Friday fundraiser at his school, Bergen Catholic High School. Because they typically wear uniforms, students may wear casual clothing on designated Casual Fridays in exchange for a $5 donation. These fundraising days are usually reserved for school clubs, though, so Han met with school administrators several times to explain NFCR’s mission and secure approval.

This school fundraiser raised approximately $1,000 in one day.

Using Creative Talents to Fundraise

Finally, Han designed packable waterproof bucket hats featuring the custom logo “Closest 2 Pin!” – a callback to his golf initiative. He was involved in the design, ordering, pricing, promotion, and sale of the hats. Family, friends, and members of his local community purchased hats to support his efforts. This final initiative raised an additional $700.

Reflecting on His Experience and Lessons Learned

Han credits his time as an NFCR Youth Ambassador for helping him develop skills in persistence, public speaking, event organization, budgeting, marketing, and community outreach.

“This experience taught me that successful fundraising requires much more than asking people for donations. It requires creating opportunities, communicating a mission clearly, managing costs, and continuing to follow up even when approval or participation is difficult to obtain.” – David Han

NFCR is grateful to have David Han on our team and thanks him for his efforts in raising donations for cancer research.

Getting Involved with NFCR

NFCR’s Youth Ambassador program is an excellent opportunity for high school students to serve as leaders, gain real-world experience, and align with a cause that matters to them.

Motivated students can sign up today to start their own fundraisers using their passion to help make cures possible for all types of cancer.