Learn about ALL CPAs nonprofit client Haymakers for Hope that has raised over $7,000,000 for cancer research by letting people literally fight for a cure. ALL CPAs has guided Haymakers since their inception and is helping the charity to expand nationally.
Two boxers circle in the center of the ring. The slightly taller boxer throws a jab, his opponent slips the punch and counters with a hard right cross. The crowd erupts, but they’re not cheering on two professional fighters. One is a lawyer, the other a doctor, and four months ago they had never even been in a ring. Now, thanks to Haymakers for Hope, they’re not only in their first boxing match, they’re also fighting for a cure.
Two Fighters Battling at Haymakers for Hope Boston 2015 Event © Haymakers For Hope, all rights reserved.
Haymakers for Hope is a 501(c)(3) charity that gives ordinary people the opportunity to fight back against cancer by participating in boxing events that raise awareness and research funds. The charity was founded in 2010, by amateur boxers & Boston area natives, Julie Anne Kelly and Andrew Myerson. Both had been deeply affected by cancer – Andrew lost a high school friend to the disease and Julie is a survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma – so while competing in the New York City Golden Gloves, they partnered with Dana Farber & the Jimmy Fund to raise thousands of dollars for cancer research (Julie also successfully defended her 132lb women’s championship!).
Julie and Andrew knew others would love the opportunity to fight for a cure, so in 2011 Haymakers for Hope held their first boxing event in Boston. It proved a knockout, having over 1,100 people attend and raising over $190,000 for Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund. They have since expanded to holding three annual events: one in New York, Boston, and the Belles of the Brawl, an event in Boston specifically for female fighters. Haymakers has raised over $7 million dollars for cancer research and has no plans to slow down or pull any punches.
Fight from Belles of the Brawl © 2015 Haymakers For Hope, all rights reserved.
The Journey to the Ring:
Each Haymakers event consists of 15 amateur bouts. Fighters are selected from applicants, who are paired together based on weight & skill. However, you don’t need to be an experienced pugilist to enter, you just need courage.
“We’ve had people enter Haymakers with zero boxing experience, lose 50 pounds during the training, and then win a fight in front of their friends and family,” said co-founder Andrew Myerson. “Cancer affects everyone and we’ve had cancer survivors and people from all walks of life compete: teachers, bankers, lawyers, accountants, truck drivers, former Patriots player Max Lane, just anyone who has the guts to get in the ring and fight.”
Bout from Boston 2015 © Haymakers For Hope, all rights reserved
Haymakers sets fighters up with four months of free training at local boxing gyms. They closely monitor training, including a half-way point sparring session between competitors, to ensure fair fights. Participants commit to raising $4,000 for a cancer-related charity of their choosing (many choose Dana Farber & the Jimmy Fund), just like those who run the Boston Marathon for a cause or the Pan-Mass Challenge bicycle event.
Fight nights are filled with electricity. The crowds are packed with supporters of the fighters, and a heartfelt touch is the ring girls are cancer survivors and those still battling. For many participants, this will be their first and only fight. Months of blood, sweat, and tears spent training will culminate with three rounds in the ring. The bell sounds, the fight is on, with two boxers fighting to knockout cancer.
How ALL CPAs Helped:
“ALL CPAs believed in us since the beginning,” said co-founder Andrew Myerson. “When we started, we were just a small charity and Don (Principal Don Cohen, CPA) saw our potential and helped us with everything from our financials to small matters like taking professional minutes at meetings.”
ALL CPAs provides the multi-state tax returns for Haymakers for Hope – in New York and Massachusetts – and also prepares the audit of their financial statements (MA & NY require charities that bring in over $500,000 a year in donations to file audited financial statements). Beyond the audits and tax returns, Don and ALL CPAs staff act as year-round advisors to the charity.
“Don and his staff have been great to work with. They’re always available to give us sound guidance and professional advice. If we have a question, like earlier this year when someone wanted to donate a car to Haymakers, I can send an email and get a response right away,” added Myerson.
As for the future of Haymakers for Hope, Myerson said, “In 2018, we plan to hold an additional event in Denver and expand to a new city every year after. We’ve raised $7 million so far, and plan to soon raise $7 million a year. For a charity that’s rapidly growing, it’s vital to have skilled advisors that we know, trust, and can rely on like Don Cohen and ALL CPAs.”
As Haymakers for Hope expands and continues their great work, you can count on ALL CPAs being with them, every punch of the way.
Want to Learn More:
Feel like stepping into the ring, attending an event, or just learning more about the Haymakers for Hope? Head over to the Haymakers for Hope website here.
If you are interested in learning more about how ALL CPAs can partner with your organization or business for success, please contact us below.
