From Isolation to Connection: The Role of Community Support

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Changing Lives, One Connection at a Time

Ben’s Friends Patient Communities connects patients with rare diseases and chronic illnesses—and their caregivers—to a supportive, understanding, and life-changing network. With your help, we ensure no one faces their journey alone.

Every day, we transform isolation into belonging, confusion into clarity, and fear into hope.

Discover the life-changing impact of Ben’s Friends through our members’ own words >>

Exciting News: Double Your Impact!

An anonymous donor has stepped forward with an incredible $10,000 matching gift challenge! 

For the next two weeks, every dollar you donate will be matched, effectively doubling your contribution. This means your $50 gift becomes $100, a $100 gift becomes $200, and so on.

Don’t miss this opportunity to maximize your impact. With your help, we can reach our $50,000 goal and ensure that no one faces a rare disease alone in 2025.

Donate

$100 Helps 100 Rare Disease Patients Find Their Tribe on Ben’s Friends

What Does Your Donation Achieve?

Your contribution directly supports patients by:

  • Providing Free, Safe Spaces for over 40,000 members to share experiences and find understanding.
  • Launching New Communities tailored to unique patient needs.
  • Training Volunteer Moderators to maintain compassionate, well-run groups.
  • Developing Patient Registries to support research and advocacy.

Every $100 connects 100 patients with others who truly understand their journey.

How Do We Make a Difference?

  • Global Reach: Our online communities span dozens of conditions and diseases, helping patients and caregivers worldwide.
  • Innovative, Efficient Model: Featured in Harvard Business Review and Forbes, Ben’s Friends makes a big impact on a small budget.
  • Focus on Patients First: We never sell data, and our communities are 100% free.

Why We Started

In 2006, Ben Munoz experienced a life-threatening hemorrhagic stroke caused by a rare condition at just 29 years old. During his recovery, he discovered the transformative power of connecting with others like him. Along with cofounder Scott Orn, Ben started Ben’s Friends to ensure no one has to navigate their journey alone.

Key Achievements in the Past Four Years

  • Redesigned all community sites for easier navigation and better accessibility.
  • Launched Warrior Moms, a unique space for parents navigating rare conditions.
  • Built an online training program for moderators and interns to ensure high-quality community support.
  • Initiated development of Ben’s Connections, a patient registry to advance research and advocacy.

Vision for 2025

  • 1. Expand Awareness: Build partnerships with healthcare organizations, nonprofits, and media to amplify our impact.
  • 2. Enhance Communities: Recruit and train more moderators, streamline site designs, and grow our internship program.
  • 3. Innovate Boldly: Launch new patient communities and finalize Ben’s Connections patient registry to drive research.

Ways You Can Support

  • Donate: Every dollar connects patients to life-changing support.
  • Volunteer: Lend your time, skills, or professional expertise.
  • Partner with Us: Collaborate as a sponsor, corporate partner, or nonprofit ally.
  • Contact us at info@bensfriends.org to learn more.

Transparent, Impactful Spending

At Ben’s Friends, every dollar is spent thoughtfully to serve our members. As a volunteer-led organization with a track record of big impact on a lean budget, your support directly impacts patients’ lives.

IRS EIN: 46-3210142.
Mailing address: Ben’s Friends; 512 West MLK #350; Austin TX 78701