Cleveland Couple Turns Wedding into $100,000 Fundraiser for Childhood Cancer Families
Published: Sep 14, 2026 - 1:34 p.m.
CLEVELAND, OH — On Sept. 19, Jon Kozesky and Amber Toth will exchange vows at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. While most couples are busy scanning for china patterns or kitchen gadgets, this pair has set a different goal for their big day: raising $100,000 for local families fighting pediatric cancer. The couple currently leads The Littlest Heroes, a Northeast Ohio nonprofit dedicated to providing emergency financial assistance to families in the thick of medical crises. For Kozesky, the organization's work is deeply personal. Two decades ago, The Littlest Heroes stepped in to help his own family during a childhood cancer battle. He eventually joined the organization to pay that kindness forward, and it was through that service that he met Toth nearly 10 years ago. Their wedding party won't just consist of friends and siblings. Standing at the altar as flower girls and a ring bearer will be several children who are survivors of pediatric cancer, all of whom were supported by the charity the couple now runs. According to the National Cancer Institute, about 15,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer each year. For families in Northeast Ohio, the financial toll can be just as devastating as the physical one. The Littlest Heroes helps bridge that gap by paying for essentials like rent, utilities and groceries, or by providing gas cards for the frequent trips to hospitals like Cleveland Clinic Children's or University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's. Kozesky and Toth intentionally chose a September date to align with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. They've already spent much of their relationship in service to others, including a charitable mission to Africa that led to a proposal in front of the Egyptian pyramids during a layover in Cairo. The couple says their unusual registry is a way to use their platform to help families who are often overlooked once the initial shock of a diagnosis wears off. They aren't asking for traditional gifts, but instead hope the community will help them reach their six-figure fundraising target to ensure no local family has to choose between their child's treatment and their mortgage. Donations to the wedding fundraiser can be made directly through the organization's website. Anyone interested in supporting the $100,000 campaign or seeking resources for a child in treatment can find more information at thelittlestheroes.org. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.
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