The fans' charity · since 2010
We have to give back.
Cancer Gets LOST auctions rare and signed pop culture memorabilia and gives 100% of each auction's proceeds to a designated cancer charity. LOST fans started it, and CGL has said its 2028 auction, all LOST, will be its last big one.
14 years of giving
From CGL's donation history ↗Who the money went to
15 charities
On the record: five charities wrote about CGL on their own sites: PanCAN, Alex's Lemonade Stand, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, OCRA and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Under each card, Charity means the charity's own site, Press means news or fan press, and CGL means CGL's own posts. Older pages link to their Internet Archive copies.
Each big auction gives 100% of its proceeds to one designated charity, and smaller auctions and events sometimes support another. Asian Americans Advancing Justice, in 2021, is the one cause that isn't a cancer charity.
See every auction line by line
| Year | Charity | How | Donated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Breast Cancer Research Foundation | Tenth major online auction | $35,000 |
| 2025 | Lymphoma Research Foundation | Ninth major online auction | $40,000 |
| 2024 | Lymphoma Research Foundation | Getting LOST premiere live auctions | $8,680 |
| 2024 | Lymphoma Research Foundation | 8.15 LOST mini auction | $8,138 |
| 2024 | Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation | Eighth major online auction | $60,000 |
| 2023 | Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance | Major online auction | $32,000 |
| 2022 | Colorectal Cancer Alliance | Major online auction | $52,000 |
| 2021 | Breast Cancer Alliance | Online auction | $5,050 |
| 2021 | Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Online auction | $1,520 |
| 2020 | Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation | Instagram Live series | $5,625 |
| 2020 | Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Fifth major online auction | $22,000 |
| 2019 | The Pablove Foundation | TV writers room doodles | $4,100 |
| 2019 | CURE Childhood Cancer | Conageddon online and live | $15,500 |
| 2018 | Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | Fourth major online auction | $55,000 |
| 2018 | National Pediatric Cancer Foundation | Conageddon online | $4,500 |
| 2018 | Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | Unity Days 2018 | $11,500 |
| 2017 | Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | LOST 2017 Hawaii | $6,000 |
| 2017 | Pancreatic Cancer Action Network | Unity Days 2017 | $4,600 |
| 2016 | Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation | Third major online auction | $65,000 |
| 2016 | Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation | Small online auction | $2,584 |
| 2015 | Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation | Small online auction | $400 |
| 2014 | American Cancer Society | LOST 2014 Hawaii live auction | $10,372 |
| 2014 | American Cancer Society | Online auction | $63,543 |
| 2012 | National Brain Tumor Society | First major online auction | $59,217 |
Ways to help
Every route goes to CGL directlyGet ready before the auction opens
- Auctions open in Preview Mode about a week before bidding starts, so you can look at every lot.
- Register on the auction site with an email you actually check. CGL approves each bidder by hand, usually within hours.
- Bidding from outside the US? Email CGL first about shipping costs.
Give any amount
Donations go through PayPal, and you can pay by card without a PayPal account. CGL's fiscal sponsor, FJC, oversees the account, so you'll see their name. Gifts of $250 or more get a tax receipt from FJC.
Send something for a future lot
CGL takes signed, rare or out-of-production TV, film and pop culture items. Smaller is better: shipping and customs costs mean CGL is cutting back on full-size posters and big screen-used props. Ask first.
Share the auction posts
New lots and auction dates go up on Instagram first. Every share helps an auction reach fans who would love a piece of the Island.
How it started
CGL's own story ↗- 2010
Jo Garfein and Jared Wong start Cancer Gets LOST after the finale.
- 2012
The first auction: 250+ lots and a live webcast with LOST cast and creatives. $59,217 to the National Brain Tumor Society.
- 2014
Back to Hawaii for LOST 2014, the 10th anniversary event, with a live auction on the Island.
- 2017
LOST 2017 on Oahu. Fans in costume at the filming locations, and $6,000 to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. The whole trip, day by day, is on the LOST 2017 page.
- 2024
20 years of LOST. $60,000 to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, plus live auctions at the Getting LOST premieres. Jo's wrap-up.
- 2028
The last big auction, and it's all LOST. Many pieces come from Jo's own collection. CGL's plans.
Getting LOST (2024)
The documentary Jo co-produced, with CGL as a partner. It streams free on Tubi.
Where to find CGL
Out in the wild- San Diego · July 2024
Comic-Con. Jo joined Jay and Jack's annual LOST Fans Unite panel at the San Diego Central Library, then hosted a fan meet-up with LOST keychain giveaways. Details
- 8/15 · 2024
The 8.15 mini auction. A small online auction on the Oceanic 815 date raised $8,138 for the Lymphoma Research Foundation.
- 9/22 · 2024
The Getting LOST premieres. The documentary premiered 20 years to the day after the Pilot aired. Live auctions at the premieres raised $8,680.
- Ongoing
Small auctions. Side auctions between the big ones, like a recent WNBA auction. After 2028, CGL plans 1 to 3 small auctions a year.
- 2027
The next big auction, likely in the fall. Shows so far include Alias, Fringe, Silo, The 100 and, of course, LOST. Jo's update
In the press
“CGL exists because of your kindness!”Jo Garfein, co-founder, via Hypable
Keep exploring the Island
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Every bid and every donation goes through cancergetslost.org and its fiscal sponsor, FJC. This site never handles money and isn't affiliated with CGL; it's a fan pointing at a good cause.
Donate to Cancer Gets LOSTFollow CGL on Instagram · Auction FAQs
Charity logos and article images belong to their owners and link to the original pages.