Our Mission
It is so easy to fall into a pattern of apathy as we go through our lives. Our organization was born out of a commitment to stop passing over the real issues of society, and deal with them head on. We have set out to aid those who need it most. Belmond’s Wish is here to help, and we believe that change is possible when we put our hearts and minds to it.
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Boston Celtics Hero Among Us Award
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In 2021, then 8-year-old, Belmond Schwartz felt compelled to combat food insecurity after seeing people struggle to provide while on a family vacation.
For the past 18 months, Belmond doubled down on efforts, hosting a food collection event in place of his 10th birthday where he collected 2 tons of food and raised over $4,000. Next year and beyond, Belmond hopes to increase donations and empower kids like himself to give back!
Big Heart Service Award - Association of Fundraising Professionals
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At not even 10 years-old, Belmond Schwartz of Mansfield, Massachusetts has already proven that one doesn’t need to be a grown-up to have a big heart and a big impact. Last year he organized a food drive that delivered months and months of food to his local food pantry, just in time for Thanksgiving and the holidays. He got the inspiration while traveling with his family where he saw first-hand the pain and hardship of hunger. He immediately wanted to help. His 9th birthday was coming up and instead of birthday presents, he asked for food donations only. But he did not stop at just his friends. He went to work to recruit members of his third-grade class, the Mansfield Fire Department, grocery stores, big box stores such as Walmart, and volunteers to pitch in. Belmond’s efforts caught the attention of local Channel 5 News and the story was then picked up nationally by ABC World News Tonight ‘America Strong’ where he was featured for his efforts. This year he has vowed to conduct a drive that is even bigger and better. And to do so going forward, Belmond, along with his parents, has founded a new non-profit organization called Belmond’s Wish – an organization that will organize free community events to raise awareness and to gather food to help his community. For his genuine commitment to helping those in need, now and into the future, AFP Massachusetts Chapter is proud to award the Big Heart Service Award to Belmond Schwartz.
9 Year old donates TONS of food - iHeartradio
November 17, 2022
A nine-year-old Massachusetts boy collects 4-thousand pounds of food and $4-thousand in donations for local food pantries. We told you last Thanksgiving about a Massachusetts eight-year-old who donated a week’s worth of food to a food pantry. Well, after that achievement, Belmond Schwartz said he wanted to go "bigger and better" for the next year. The fourth-grader made good on that promise this year by collecting 2-tons of food and around $4-thousand to be distributed to several food pantries in and around his hometown of Mansfield, Massachusetts.
A large portion of the donation came from a recent “Belmond’s Wish” event his family held in lieu of a ninth birthday party for him. Hundreds of people dropped off food donations to the event held in the nearby town of Easton. Belmond’s mom, Lily Schwatz says the event helped them pull in double the amount of food donations this year. "It was really amazing to see that everybody believed in this little kid and he gave up his birthday," she adds.
Belmond and his parents have formed a nonprofit as a vehicle for their son’s incredible charitable activities and the nine-year-old is already eyeing next year and vowing for his donation to be bigger and better yet again. “He believes if he can give up a little, then you can give a little,” his mom says. “And if we all give a little, then it'll be a lot."
Belmond’s Wish: Together we can
Our 2022 event caught the attention of WCVB for the astounding efforts of the community, family, and friends.
MANSFIELD, Mass. —
After he collected weeks' worth of food for his local food pantry in 2021, Belmond Schwartz said he wanted to do it "bigger and better" in a year's time.
The 9-year-old from Mansfield, Massachusetts, delivered on his promise in a big way, collecting 2 tons of food that will be going to food pantries in his hometown and the neighboring community of Easton as they prepare to feed people in need for Thanksgiving.
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In addition to the 4,000 pounds of food, Belmond collected approximately $4,000 in donations for the local food shelters.
The fourth-grader and his family, along with other volunteers, delivered the food and donations to the pantries on Sunday.
Belmond said he was inspired to collect all this food over the past two years after a family trip to California, where he saw people who were homeless and hungry.
"I saw tents on the streets and I had never seen them before in my life," Belmond said of his California trip last year. "So I asked parents what it was and they told me that people couldn't afford to live, so they had to live in tents and they didn't have very much."
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To make this year's collection bigger and better, Belmond and his parents, Steven and Lily, founded the nonprofit organization in order to collect food and monetary donations.
Their big collection came during their "Belmond's Wish" event at Camp Maplewood in Easton which was held in lieu of Belmond's birthday, which is around Thanksgiving.
"In lieu of birthday gifts, he asked that people bring in food donations. So they came in droves," Steven Schwartz said. "We had hundreds of people come. I think all the kids had a great time and it was just incredibly fulfilling."
"Walmart helped and other organizations helped us get all this food – 4,000 pounds of food, which is more than double what we received last year, which is amazing," Lily Schwartz said.
"It was really amazing to see that everybody believed in this little kid and he gave up his birthday," she added. "He believes if he can give up a little, then you can give a little. And if we all give a little, then it'll be a lot."
Steven Schwartz said the plan is to continue the effort to collect food for local pantries through another Belmond's Wish charity event. Once again, the goal is to do it bigger and better in 2023.