Hi, my name is Ido. I’m 12 and a half years old, and this year is a big one for me — it’s my Bar Mitzvah year!

At the beginning of the year, my parents gave me a message I’ll never forget. They told me that this is a special time in my life, a year full of growth, learning, and discovering who I am. As a gift, they created a journey for me filled with opportunities to explore important values like “Dream Big,” “Responsibility,” “My Identity,” “Caring,” “Resourcefulness,” and “Know Your Homeland.” Each assignment helped me learn more about myself and what kind of person I want to become.

Now, I’ve reached the assignment called “Generosity.” For this one, I chose something very close to my heart.

When my little brother Matan was born, he had a serious heart defect and needed open-heart surgery. It was a scary time for our family, but the incredible team at Boston Children’s Hospital took amazing care of him. Thanks to them, Matan is now a happy, healthy, and strong kid.

To show our gratitude, I’m raising money to support the Child Life team in the post-cardiac surgery care unit — the same team that helped Matan (and all of us) through that difficult time.

With the money raised, I will purchase items from the Child Life team’s official Amazon Wish List — things like toys, games, books, and art supplies that help kids recovering from heart surgery feel comforted, entertained, and cared for. Then, I’ll personally deliver the items to the hospital to say thank you and help other families going through what we went through.

Thank you so much for supporting me on this journey and for helping me give back in a way that means so much to me and my family.

Ido