September 25, 2025
Content sponsored by
Provided Courtesy/The Montag Family
Jeff and Zach Montag volunteer for Blood Cancer United.
In many ways, Zach Montag is a typical suburban Philadelphia 13-year-old. He’s in seventh grade, has been taking karate classes, and likes swimming, ice skating and rock climbing.
What sets Zach apart is his dedication to giving back. For his bar mitzvah community service project, Zach volunteers at events for Blood Cancer United — formerly known as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — a nonprofit devoted to raising awareness, funding research and supporting patients and families impacted by blood cancers.
“I want to spread awareness,” Zach said. “Even though my contributions aren’t on a very big scale, I hope that they change a couple of people’s perspectives or help out with blood cancer research.”
Zach’s commitment is deeply personal. His father, Jeff Montag, was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013 and underwent seven months of chemotherapy. Today, he shows no signs of cancer and receives annual scans, though he still deals with lingering side effects from treatment.
Jeff first attributed his fatigue to parenting two young children and traveling for work. But when additional symptoms appeared, he sought medical care and received his diagnosis. Like many, he turned online for answers — and found Blood Cancer United.
“Their website was amazing,” he said. “I was able to go and find the specific cancer that I had, look up mortality rates for it and understand a little more about the cancer itself.”
For Zach, preparing for his bar mitzvah — a milestone that marks taking responsibility for one’s community — became a way to honor his father’s survival and give back to the organization that helped guide his family.
“I said, ‘Yeah, that would be really cool,’” Zach recalled.
Blood cancers — including leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma — affect the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system. Together, they make up nearly 10% of all new cancer cases in the United States each year. Unlike some other cancers, there is currently no way to screen for or prevent them. That makes research and early treatment especially critical.
Blood Cancer United provides far more than information. The organization offers personalized support for patients and families, advocates for better access to care, and has invested more than $1.8 billion in groundbreaking research. Today, there are more than 100 different types of blood cancers, and continued funding is essential to finding cures and easing the burden of treatment.
Jeff’s positive experience led him and his wife, Stephanie, to become donors. When Zach needed to choose a service project, the family knew that volunteering with Blood Cancer United would be the most meaningful choice.
Zach has already staffed booths for Blood Cancer United at Wings N Wheels, an event by Angel Flight East that provides free air transportation to patients, and at Hero Day, which raises awareness for childhood cancer. (Childhood leukemia is the most common cancer in children and teens.)
On Sept. 27, Zach will volunteer at Blood Cancer United’s Light the Night event in Doylestown, helping educate attendees about the nonprofit’s mission. At past events, he’s been quick to share information with anyone curious about the cause.
“I’d ask them, ‘Have you heard of Blood Cancer United before?’ and if they said, ‘Yes,” I’d probably ask, ‘Where from?’” he said. “If they said, ‘No,’ I’d tell them what Blood Cancer United is and what they do to help people with blood cancer and their families.”
For Jeff, seeing his son embrace this work highlights just how important continued research is. He recalls meeting another Hodgkin lymphoma patient who had been treated a decade earlier and endured harsher side effects than his own. Thanks to progress in treatment, Jeff’s experience was more manageable — and today, it is even better for patients beginning therapy.
Still, there is no screening or prevention for blood cancer, leaving plenty of work to be done.
Zach plans to continue volunteering even after his bar mitzvah.
“Now that I’ve done this and I’ve learned a lot about blood cancer, there’s still more I can do to help,” he said.
Zach’s service comes at an especially meaningful time: September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. Advocates across the country are spotlighting the urgent need for research, better treatments and patient support. More than 1.6 million people in the U.S. are living with or in remission from blood cancers, and every advancement represents hope for them and their families.
You can join Zach and his family in making a difference. Stand with families impacted by blood cancer by supporting Blood Cancer United. Donations fund life-saving research, provide patient support and bring us closer to cures.
