Sarah is one of eight Tarrant County leaders participating in the Visionaries of the Year program for Blood Cancer United. The fundraising campaign started in 1990 and has raised over $500 million through its 68 local chapters.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m turning this grief into something with purpose,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
For 10 weeks, visionaries participate in a blind philanthropic drive, recruiting a team to raise funds for Blood Cancer United, the largest nonprofit raising funds for blood cancer since 1949.<\/p>\n
The campaign started at midnight Feb. 20 alongside a kickoff event at the Stockyards location of La Playa, the restaurant chain started by Lupe in 1988, and runs to May 2.<\/p>\n
Find out more about the eight Tarrant County Visionaries of the Year here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sarah noted that her father was on board with assisting the visionaries when she mentioned them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I did tell him about this, he was just like, \u2018Let me know how I can help,\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cAnd this is a beautiful way for him to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Find out more about Sarah Ayala\u2019s campaign here<\/a>.<\/p>\n She also sees it as a fundraising effort that would align with her father\u2019s beliefs. Blood Cancer United, founded in 1949, has raised more than $2 billion in funding for research.\u00a0<\/p>\n The nonprofit also has the goal of adding a million years of life to those suffering from over 100 different types of blood cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cAll my friends and family can tell you that Sarah is a busybody, and that\u2019s how my dad was,\u201d Sarah said. \u201cMy dad always wanted to be moving forward, so doing this for research is in alignment with his train of thought of trying to move the needle.\u201d<\/p>\n All three of Sarah\u2019s siblings are part of her visionaries team. The Visionary of the Year title is awarded to the participant that raises the most funds with their team.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEducating people on the specific type of cancer and the need for research on it, I think that\u2019s great,\u201d said Natalie Ayala Hall, one of Sarah\u2019s sisters. \u201cIt\u2019s terrible that it took us losing somebody to bring this to our attention, but we\u2019re here and glad to be a part (of the effort).<\/p>\n The community effort is why Visionaries of the Year is Chloe Wilder\u2019s favorite Blood Cancer United initiative.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really is incredible what we can accomplish on a national level, but when you look at the local impact, that\u2019s really what makes a tangible difference,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Wilder, the Tarrant County campaign development manager for Blood Cancer United, said the Fort Worth philanthropic space is why the initiative has seen a lot of success recently.<\/p>\n One reason for the growing momentum is the personal connection that inspires people to participate. An individual must be nominated to become a visionary, and every single one has a personal connection to blood cancer similar to the Ayala family\u2019s, Wilder said.<\/p>\n In 2024, the Tarrant County teams raised just over $111,000. In 2025, they more than doubled that total, raising $255,855.<\/p>\n On the first day of fundraising, Tarrant County Visionaries of the Year raised $105,148.22\u200b. The goal for 2026 is to reach $500,000 in donations, Wilder said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that it is entirely possible \u2014 and realistic that we even surpass that,\u201d Wilder said, regarding the 2026 goal. \u201cWe\u2019re really excited. We have amazing energy, and it\u2019s going to be an incredible year.\u201d<\/p>\n Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0210-SarahAyalaFundraising-10-2-1024x683.jpg\")
Siblings Sarah Ayala, David Ayala, Amanda Sanchez and Natalie Ayala Hall pose for a photo outside of La Playa Maya on Feb. 10, 2026, in the Stockyards of Fort Worth. Their father, Lupe Ayala, passed away from blood cancer. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0210-SarahAyalaFundraising-07-2-1024x683.jpg\")
Siblings David Ayala, Amanda Sanchez, Sarah Ayala and Natalie Ayala Hall hold a photo of their father, Lupe Ayala, in front of La Playa Maya on Feb. 10, 2026. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)
\nA look at Tarrant County efforts<\/p>\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0210-SarahAyalaFundraising-08-2-1024x683.jpg\")
Sarah Ayala wears a blood cancer pin on her collar, in front of La Playa Maya on Feb. 10, 2026, in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Sarah\u2019s father passed away from blood cancer and she is now participating in the Visionaries of the Year campaign for Blood Cancer United. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n