Pinky Swear Foundation
The boy who
emptied his
piggy bank
Mitch Chepokas was nine years old when he was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer. One December night in the hospital, he overheard the family next to him worrying that there wouldn't be enough money for Christmas.
"This isn't fair. How much money do I have in the bank?"
His dad wheeled him to the bank. Mitch withdrew every cent of his life savings, divided it into orange envelopes, signed each one "Love, Mitch. XOXO" โ and slipped them under the door of every kid on the oncology floor.
"Then pinky swear you'll do it after I'm gone."
Mitch passed away in 2003. His parents kept that promise. Pinky Swear Foundation has now given over $16M to families with kids fighting cancer.