The Starfish Campaign
Turning your generosity into life-changing debt relief for families in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
$15.97M
Medical debt cancelled since 2021
14,530
Families given a fresh start
$20
Can eliminate one family's debt
Why is it called the starfish campaign?
The name comes from a well-known story. A person walks along a beach after a storm and finds thousands of starfish stranded on the sand. One by one, they pick them up and throw them back into the sea. A bystander stops them: "There are thousands. You can't possibly make a difference."
The person picks up another starfish, throws it in, and says: "I made a difference for that one."
That's the spirit behind everything we do. We can't eliminate all medical debt. But we can keep throwing starfish — and so far, 14,530 families have felt the difference.
What is the campaign?
Cancelling debt.
Changing lives.
The Starfish Campaign is a ministry of John Knox Presbytery that abolishes medical debt for families in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. We partner with Undue Medical Debt, whose expertise means every dollar we raise wipes out at least $100 of debt. In four years, our churches turned $131,509 in contributions into over $15.9 million in relief for 14,530 families.
How it works
Your gift goes further than you think.
Every $1 raised abolishes at least $100 of medical debt
Step 1
You give
Even $20 makes a real difference for a real family facing crushing debt.
Step 2
We go to work
Undue Medical Debt's expertise lets us cancel debt at a 100:1 ratio or better.
Step 3
A family is free
They get a letter. Debt is gone. Credit improves. Anxiety lifts. Hope returns.
See the impact for yourself
Give Today
Ready to change a life?
The 2026 Starfish Campaign culminates Sunday, October 18. Give online today or scan the QR code with your phone. Every gift, large or small, makes a remarkable difference.
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About our Partner
About Undue Medical Debt
Undue Medical Debt is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that buys and abolishes medical debt for people in financial hardship. Their expertise is what makes the 100:1 ratio possible. Learn more about their faithful work at unduemedicaldebt.org