Cancer touches nearly everyone, whether through a neighbor, colleague, sibling, spouse, or parent navigating the disease.

To combat this reality, 650 dedicated community leaders nationwide mobilized to raise vital funds through Blood Cancer United’s annual philanthropic competition, the Visionaries of the Year campaign.

Among them, three exceptional individuals raised nearly $2 million collectively in a mere 10 weeks, earning the title of top national fundraisers for the 2026 campaign.

Blood Cancer United stands as the premier nonprofit dedicated entirely to eradicating blood cancers, uniting thousands annually through community engagement and fundraising events.

During the Visionaries of the Year initiative, candidates champion local survivors known as Honored Heroes, with the highest-earning team securing the prestigious title.

Behind every fundraising total is a story of leadership, compassion and community. These candidates brought people together around a common goal: creating better outcomes for patients and families affected by blood cancer. — Coker Powell, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Blood Cancer United

These achievements are further amplified by corporate collaborators like Eli Lilly and Company, the national partner empowering community leaders to accelerate breakthrough treatments and patient support services.

Meet the three trailblazers who channeled deeply personal connections into extraordinary philanthropic impact.

Andy Calvert: Turning Personal Loss Into Purpose

Having supported past contenders for over a decade, Andy Calvert initially hesitated to lead his own campaign due to heavy professional and family obligations.

However, when his father, Jim, received a myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosis, Calvert knew the time to act had arrived.

“I have a good reason now. I have my own why,” Calvert shared when launching his campaign, eventually celebrating his D.C. top-fundraiser award alongside his father on stage.

What The Campaign Taught Him

Operating his team, The Difference Makers, with the precision of a sales organization, Calvert leveraged his two-decade tenure at technology firm Presidio. By transforming marketing activations into fundraising opportunities, he engaged major corporate clients.

Furthermore, donors contributing $50,000 earned the privilege of attaching Jim Calvert’s name to a dedicated Blood Cancer United research portfolio.

The Impact He Hopes to Make

Faced with his father's terminal diagnosis, Calvert aims to ensure other families are spared similar grief by leveraging relationships for the greater good.

Stepping Up: The Journey of Campaign Leaders

Alongside Calvert, leaders like Krasnicki and Newsom also stepped forward after witnessing the pervasive impact of blood cancer among colleagues and family members.

By mobilizing multi-generational teams, executing targeted email and social media drives, and hosting gala auctions, these leaders shattered fundraising expectations.

Newsom, who lost her mother to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and witnessed her husband enter remission thanks to a Blood Cancer United-funded drug called rituximab, emphasizes the direct link between financial contributions and medical miracles.

“Surround yourself with great people because you can make a bigger impact,” Newsom advises, urging others to volunteer and advocate for lifesaving research.