--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ever since I lost my mom, I'm really just…" description: "\"Ever since I lost my mom, I'm really just trying to give back. At first, we were doing screenings and paying for surgeries, but now I've been fortunate..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/matt-barnes-6673_beat-cancer_ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just_138686.jpg" --- # Ever since I lost my mom, I'm really just trying to give… ![“Ever since I lost my mom, I'm really just trying to give back. At first, we were doing screenings and paying for surgeries, but now I've been fortunate enough to team with UCLA, and we're creating a scholarship program for kids who beat cancer.” quote by Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/matt-barnes-6673_beat-cancer_ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just_138686.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/matt-barnes-6673_beat-cancer_ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just_138686.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/matt-barnes-6673_beat-cancer_ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just_138686.jpg) > “Ever since I lost my mom, I'm really just trying to give back. At first, we were doing screenings and paying for surgeries, but now I've been fortunate enough to team with UCLA, and we're creating a scholarship program for kids who beat cancer.” [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He channels personal loss into altruistic action, expanding from medical aid to education for cancer survivors. **In simple terms:** He turns grief into helping others, now also funding scholarships. Key Takeaway Use personal tragedy to inspire lasting impact. Themes compassion altruism legacy education healthcare Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational philanthropic When to use this quote - cancer support - scholarship creation - community health initiatives Key Concepts philanthropy social responsibility empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can personal loss motivate broader social change? - What steps ensure lasting benefit? A Different Perspective Sustaining impact requires resources and ongoing commitment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beat cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beat-cancer/) [Lost My Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-my-mom/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Scholarship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scholarship/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [My grandmother and, and her father actually started a scholarship program in our church, you know, obviously, before I was born. And then my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-dinwiddie/my-grandmother-and-and-her-father-actually-started-a-scholarship/) [Spencer Dinwiddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-dinwiddie/) > [Athletes vs Cancer is a foundation that I started in 2008 after I lost my mom to cancer in 2007, and our goal is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/athletes-vs-cancer-is-a-foundation-that-i-started-in-2008-after-i/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I've had - after my mom passed away - like a lot of resentment, a lot of things that just happened after I lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/i-ve-had-after-my-mom-passed-away-like-a-lot-of-resentment-a-lot-of/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [It's a natural thing for a child to lose a parent. I lost my mom too young but it happened. And I'm happy she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/it-s-a-natural-thing-for-a-child-to-lose-a-parent-i-lost-my-mom-too/) [Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/) > [I lost my mom when I was seven, and at some point in my life having food it was like a big deal for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serge-ibaka/i-lost-my-mom-when-i-was-seven-and-at-some-point-in-my-life-having/) [Serge Ibaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serge-ibaka/) > [My mom was black and my dad is Jewish, and I lost my mom when I was seven. That made me feel really different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rudolph/my-mom-was-black-and-my-dad-is-jewish-and-i-lost-my-mom-when-i-was/) [Maya Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rudolph/) > [I feel very vulnerable when it has to do with family. Having lost my mom, who I was so extremely close to, now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-o-dell/i-feel-very-vulnerable-when-it-has-to-do-with-family-having-lost-my/) [Nancy O'Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-o-dell/) > [I lost my mom to breast cancer, and then I lost my father three years later. I thought, 'What am I waiting for?' Motherhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-britton/i-lost-my-mom-to-breast-cancer-and-then-i-lost-my-father-three-years/) [Connie Britton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-britton/) > [After I lost my mom, something snapped inside of me and I got really angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/after-i-lost-my-mom-something-snapped-inside-of-me-and-i-got-really/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [“Everyone has a supremely low moment somewhere along the AT, usually when the urge to quit the trail becomes almost overpowering. The irony of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/everyone-has-a-supremely-low-moment-somewhere-along-the-at-usually/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [I've just had some things to deal with, like family stuff, you know, lost my mom. Which is the most difficult stuff I've gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dorff/i-ve-just-had-some-things-to-deal-with-like-family-stuff-you-know/) [Stephen Dorff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dorff/) > [I lost my mom when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ad-rock/i-lost-my-mom-when-i-was-young/) [Ad-Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ad-rock/) > [Percy: I thought I’d lost my mom forever, and I was stuck on a hill in a thunderstorm fighting this huge bull dude while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/percy-i-thought-i-d-lost-my-mom-forever-and-i-was-stuck-on-a-hill-in/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [So live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight, lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-scott/so-live-live-fight-like-hell-and-when-you-get-too-tired-to-fight-lay/) [Stuart Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-scott/) > [My nutritionist read my pathology report and said, "There's only one way you can beat your cancer." "What's that?" "You have to find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/my-nutritionist-read-my-pathology-report-and-said-there-s-only-one/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) ## More by Matt Barnes > [I play basketball hard-nosed and if you're not on my team, during that 48 minutes we're enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-play-basketball-hard-nosed-and-if-you-re-not-on-my-team-during-that/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I realize that I'm one of those guys that if I'm not with you, you hate me. But when I'm with you, you understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-realize-that-i-m-one-of-those-guys-that-if-i-m-not-with-you-you/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I'm a role player, a journeyman. I know who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-m-a-role-player-a-journeyman-i-know-who-i-am/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [In the NBA you better come to play every night, where in the NBDL the talent level just isn't there and maybe you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/in-the-nba-you-better-come-to-play-every-night-where-in-the-nbdl-the/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I mean, don't get me wrong, being ref is a very tough job - managing 10 of the best athletes in the world. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-mean-don-t-get-me-wrong-being-ref-is-a-very-tough-job-managing-10/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [Even though the city of Memphis and this organization has welcomed me with open arms, I play every game like it's my last. Play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/even-though-the-city-of-memphis-and-this-organization-has-welcomed-me/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I'm an aggressive player. I always have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-m-an-aggressive-player-i-always-have-been/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I've had to fight every year. That's kept me hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-ve-had-to-fight-every-year-that-s-kept-me-hungry/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I like being the hated one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-like-being-the-hated-one/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [The league feels like it's their job to protect the referees more than the players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/the-league-feels-like-it-s-their-job-to-protect-the-referees-more/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [We can't beat any team by ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/we-can-t-beat-any-team-by-ourselves/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [Until you get that championship, nobody's good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/until-you-get-that-championship-nobody-s-good-enough/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [I respect all my opponents, but I fear no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/i-respect-all-my-opponents-but-i-fear-no-one/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [Some guys have one good year and fade away. I've worked too hard to get here and it's took me too long to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/some-guys-have-one-good-year-and-fade-away-i-ve-worked-too-hard-to/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [Fatherhood is the best thing that ever happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/fatherhood-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) [Explore all 98 Matt Barnes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) ## More Beat cancer quotes > [My nutritionist read my pathology report and said, "There's only one way you can beat your cancer." "What's that?" "You have to find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/my-nutritionist-read-my-pathology-report-and-said-there-s-only-one/) [Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/) > [So live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight, lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-scott/so-live-live-fight-like-hell-and-when-you-get-too-tired-to-fight-lay/) [Stuart Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-scott/) > [Breast cancer awareness month!! It's our theme night for our football game today and on the back it says BEAT CANCER!!! LETS GO TIMBERWOLVES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-jarvis/breast-cancer-awareness-month-it-s-our-theme-night-for-our-football/) [Kameron Jarvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-jarvis/) > [“Most would live into adulthood, as Patrick had. (Which meant there was quite a lot of competitiveness about it, with everybody wanting to beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/most-would-live-into-adulthood-as-patrick-had-which-meant-there-was/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I was inspired a lot by Swami Vivekananda, and cricketer Yuvraj Singh who beat cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arunima-sinha/i-was-inspired-a-lot-by-swami-vivekananda-and-cricketer-yuvraj-singh/) [Arunima Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arunima-sinha/) > [“Which meant there was quite a lot of competitiveness about it, with everybody wanting to beat not only cancer itself, but also the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/which-meant-there-was-quite-a-lot-of-competitiveness-about-it-with/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I'm going to beat this cancer or die trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-landon/i-m-going-to-beat-this-cancer-or-die-trying/) [Michael Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-landon/) > [When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer, you beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-scott/when-you-die-it-does-not-mean-that-you-lose-to-cancer-you-beat-cancer/) [Stuart Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-scott/) > [I'm not sure I'd classify any topics as off-limits, but I don't look for new territories to offend. There's my joke about when my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-m-not-sure-i-d-classify-any-topics-as-off-limits-but-i-don-t-look/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Having cancer empowered me to take more risks. I knew beating cancer was going to shape me, but it wasnt going to be all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoda-kotb/having-cancer-empowered-me-to-take-more-risks-i-knew-beating-cancer-2/) [Hoda Kotb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoda-kotb/) > [One time for my granny up in the sky and young boy from Fayetteville, told me that my song was the reason he beat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/one-time-for-my-granny-up-in-the-sky-and-young-boy-from-fayetteville/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [I'm not going to beat the cancer. I tried really hard... but sometimes you're just not going to beat the thing... I wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-m-not-going-to-beat-the-cancer-i-tried-really-hard-but-sometimes/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [In America, we have always taken it as an article of faith that we 'battle' cancer; we attack it with knives, we poison it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/in-america-we-have-always-taken-it-as-an-article-of-faith-that-we/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [You beat Cancer by how you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-scott/you-beat-cancer-by-how-you-live/) [Stuart Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-scott/) > [When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-scott/when-you-die-that-does-not-mean-that-you-lose-to-cancer/) [Stuart Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-scott/) [Browse all 19 Beat cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beat-cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ever since I lost my mom, I'm really just trying to give back. At first, we were doing screenings and paying for surgeries, but now I've been fortunate enough to team with UCLA, and we're creating a scholarship program for kids who beat cancer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Barnes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just-trying-to-give-back-at-first/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beat cancer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just-trying-to-give-back-at-first/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/matt-barnes-6673_beat-cancer_ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just_138686.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/matt-barnes-6673_beat-cancer_ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just_138686.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d07/matt-barnes-6673_beat-cancer_ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just_138686.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ever since I lost my mom, I'm really just trying to give back. At first, we were doing screenings and paying…” — Matt Barnes", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matt Barnes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ever since I lost my mom,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just-trying-to-give-back-at-first/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/ever-since-i-lost-my-mom-i-m-really-just-trying-to-give-back-at-first/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```