Stony Brook Student-Led Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Breaks Fundraising Records

Students Aviram Nessim and Eli Olevsky have led the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at Stony Brook Universityto become the top fundraising club in the national LLS on-campus DIY program.

In 2024, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at Stony Brook University(LLS at SBU) became the top fundraising club in the national LLS on-campus DIY program. The organization, founded by Stony Brook students Aviram (Avi) Nessim and Eli Olevsky, has raised over $10,000 since its official launch in the Spring 2024 semester and shows no signs of slowing down.

Avi Nessim, a double major in biology and psychology, serves as the club's president and brings years of experience in fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. His passion for the cause began at the age of 10, in memory of his grandfather Abraham, who passed away from leukemia.

Since then, Avi has been actively involved in raising money for cancer research, contributing nearly $50,000 through high school efforts and leading multiple campaigns. His desire to bring this initiative to Stony Brook University led to the creation of the LLS chapter on campus, which was officially established in the summer of 2023.

"When I started fundraising, it was a way to honor my grandfather and help others who were fighting this terrible disease," Nessim said. "But it's grown into something much larger. Seeing how much support and energy this club has received from the Stony Brook community has been incredible."

Co-founder and vice president Eli Olevsky, who began the initiative with Nessim in the summer of 2023, shares a personal connection to the cause, having lost his grandmother to colon cancer. Olevsky's commitment to the LLS chapter stems from a belief in fostering a sense of community and unity among college students. He follows in the footsteps of his mother, who began fundraising after the passing of Olevsky's grandmother.

"My mother is my inspiration for fundraising. As a child, I would watch her run several incredibly successful fundraising campaigns year after year for my late grandmother. She is the definition of strength, turning her loss into hope for so many," said Olevsky, who is majoring in psychology. "She has been my role model and I hope to follow in her footsteps with LLS at SBU."

In its first semester alone, LLS at SBU raised over $6,500, earning recognition as the top fundraising club in the national LLS on-campus DIY program. This semester, the club has already raised over $4,000 in just seven weeks, maintaining its position as the leading fundraising chapter for 2024-2025.

Left to right: Eli Olevsky, Aviram Nessim and Stephanie Sukhraj, event coordinator for LLS at SBU, with donated meals from Olive Garden for an on-campus fundraising event.

The club regularly hosts general body meetings, tabling events, and workshops that engage students in the fight against blood cancers. Their most recent initiative, a fundraising workshop, offered SBU students tips on how to raise money within their own communities.

The need for funding is evident - according to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, every three minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. In 2024 alone, it is estimated that over 187,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with one of these diseases. LLS at SBU's fundraising efforts contribute directly to cancer research, patient support, and financial assistance for families affected by blood cancers.

"Every dollar we raise helps improve treatment options, fund cutting-edge research, and support patients and their families," Nessim explained. "Knowing that we're making a tangible impact is what drives us to keep pushing forward."

"LLS On Campus at Stony Brook University is led by passionate college students with a goal to raise $45,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this academic year," said Alli Freed, director of the LLS on Campus Program. "Since January they have engaged their fellow classmates, friends, local businesses, and family to fundraise over $10,000 thus far! The donations they collect mean a great deal to the LLS mission and will fund new blood cancer research and treatment options to improve the quality of life for patients and their families."

LLS at SBU has also fostered strong relationships with local businesses, securing donations of over $3,000 worth of merchandise, catering, and financial support from companies across Long Island and New York City. These partnerships have allowed the club to host popular fundraising events, such as their spring raffle, which raised thousands of dollars in ticket sales. This fall, they are hosting a similar giveaway, using donations from generous sponsors.

For Nessim and Olevsky, this is only the beginning. "We're building something that will last," said Nessim. "We want to leave a legacy at Stony Brook, where students continue to fight for those battling cancer long after we graduate."

For more information or to contribute, visit their fundraising page athttp://diy.lls.org/SBU.

- Beth Squire

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