Buzz
Worried about the future of today’s youth? You’re not the only one. Without the right perspective, it’s easy to perceive children as overly indulged, self-absorbed, and constantly distracted. Surrounded by a flood of negative influences—questionable role models, explicit music, aggressive video games, and unsettling toys—it’s no wonder their innocence and empathy seem at risk. The relentless marketing of these elements only exacerbates the issue.
Thankfully, shifting your perspective and returning to reality is easier than you might think. There are countless remarkable children out there accomplishing extraordinary things. Here, we highlight 10 Young Philanthropists who deserve recognition far more than the latest celebrity gossip about Britney or Lindsay’s rehab adventures.
10. Abby Miller
Abby Miller, a 12-year-old musician, raises funds for 4-year-old Taylor Love, who battles neuroblastoma, a type of cancer affecting the nervous system. Most donations are collected the traditional way—by performing on the streets with a donation bucket nearby. All proceeds go toward covering Taylor’s medical expenses. Passersby often admire Abby’s musical talent and contribute a few dollars, curious about why a young girl is singing outdoors on a chilly day. Few realize she’s performing for a cause much bigger than herself.
9. Olivia Bouler
Olivia Bouler, an 11-year-old artist, has successfully raised over $200,000 for the National Audubon Society. The organization is actively involved in rescuing birds impacted by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Olivia’s journey began when she saw the oil spill on television. Unsure of how to contribute, she wrote a letter to the Audubon Society, proposing to sell her artwork to support cleanup efforts. She later decided to gift her drawings to anyone who donated to wildlife recovery. Her initiative gained media attention, leading to an overwhelming influx of donations. To date, she has created 150 illustrations and continues her efforts tirelessly.
8. Cameron Cohen
At just 11 years old, Cameron Cohen found himself confined to his home with a hip-to-toe brace after undergoing surgery for a bone tumor. Rather than spending his time playing Halo or watching Spongebob, Cameron dedicated his recovery period to learning software development. He used his newfound skills to create ‘iSketch,’ a drawing application now available on the iPhone App Store. A portion of his earnings is donated to provide electronic and entertainment items for other hospitalized children.
7. Jordan Somer
Jordan Somer, a teenager from Nebraska, created the “Miss Amazing” pageant, a unique event designed for girls and women facing physical and mental challenges. The pageant emphasizes building confidence and showcasing the inner beauty of all participants. Inspired by her own pageant background and her volunteer work with the Special Olympics, Jordan launched the event in 2006. Recently honored with Teen Nickelodeon’s Halo Award, she plans to use the $25,000 grant to take the pageant nationwide.
6. Phoebe Russell
At just 5 years old, Phoebe Russell needed to complete a community service project to graduate from kindergarten. Instead of opting for a simple lemonade stand, she was moved by the sight of a homeless man asking for food and decided to raise $1,000 for the San Francisco Food Bank. Despite her teacher’s suggestion to aim for a more modest goal, Phoebe’s heartfelt plea for soda cans and donations at her school gained incredible momentum. Ultimately, she raised $3,736.30, enough to provide 17,800 warm meals for those in need.
5. Brittany and Robbie Berquist
Brittany and Robbie Bergquist, aged 12 and 13, were moved by the story of a soldier who accumulated an $8,000 cell phone bill while calling his family from Iraq. Determined to help, they opened a bank account with $21 to cover the bill. The bank manager, inspired by their initiative, contributed an additional $500, motivating them to continue their efforts.
The siblings organized car washes and bake sales before shifting their focus to recycling used cell phones. With the support of volunteers, they established drop-off locations across the country. The proceeds were used to purchase prepaid phone cards for troops stationed overseas. Their initiative, ‘Cell Phones for Soldiers,’ has now collected 7.5 million phones and provided over 90 million minutes of prepaid airtime to military personnel.
4. Mackenzie Bearup
Mackenzie Bearup, a 16-year-old living with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a condition that makes cold weather, wind, and vibrations extremely painful, found solace in reading. After learning about a residential treatment center in need of books, she began organizing book drives. Her efforts have resulted in the donation of over 50,000 books to treatment centers in Georgia and nearby states. In recognition of her work, Nestle honored her with the 2009 ‘Best in Youth’ award. Mackenzie’s volunteerism has also positively impacted her personal life; she maintains a 4.0 GPA in gifted and talented classes, plays the harp in an orchestra, and performs at charity events, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
3. Harry Moseley
Harry Moseley, a nine-year-old from Sheldon, Birmingham, UK, lives with an inoperable brain tumor. Despite his condition, he creates and sells beaded bracelets to support Brain Tumour UK. His bracelets are now sold in over 30 stores across Britain, and he has raised more than £15,000 for the cause.
Harry also delivers PowerPoint presentations to schoolchildren, inspiring them to start bracelet-making clubs. His initiative allocates 15p from each bracelet sale to the participating schools, with the remaining proceeds going to Brain Tumour UK. Harry began his fundraising journey after witnessing the passing of an elderly friend in the hospital who shared the same condition.
Upon receiving the 2010 ‘Britain’s Kindest Kid’ award, Harry was reportedly left “speechless” and “gobsmacked.” He plans to gift £200 each to his brother and sister and use the remaining prize money to build a wooden playhouse in his garden, where he can continue making bracelets. He dedicated the award to his late friend, Robert Harley.
2. Zach Bonner
Following Hurricane Charlie's devastation in Florida in 2005, Zach Bonner used his little red wagon to gather water bottles from his neighborhood. By the end of his initiative, he had amassed 27 truckloads of supplies. This was only the beginning of his philanthropic journey.
In 2007, Zach embarked on a three-part charity walk titled “My House to the White House” to support homeless children. The first stage covered 280 miles from Tampa to Tallahassee, Florida. The second stage spanned 250 miles from Tallahassee to Atlanta, Georgia. The final leg involved a 668-mile trek from Atlanta to Washington, DC. His resolve was tested when his grandmother passed away, forcing the 11-year-old to choose between completing the walk or attending her funeral. He chose to continue, dedicating the march to her memory. Funds raised were divided between building a playground for a Tampa foster care shelter and supporting the Sasha Bruce Youthwork, which aids runaway and homeless youth in Washington, DC. In 2010, Zach’s ‘March Across America’ covered 2,448 miles from Tampa to Los Angeles, culminating in a meeting with Elton John, who donated $25,000 to the Little Red Wagon Foundation.
1. Timothy Hwang and Minsoo Han
In 2007, at just 14 years old, Timothy Hwang and Minsoo Han founded Operation Fly. Their non-profit provides affordable tutoring to inner-city students and uses the proceeds to distribute blankets, clothing, and soap to the homeless in Washington, DC. Their organization has expanded to five cities, involves over 800 volunteers, and is entirely managed by students. For his contributions, Timothy Hwang was named the 2009 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year for the Greater Washington Region by Ernst & Young and Junior Achievement.
+ Better U
In the future, a more skilled writer might compile a fresh list of young philanthropists, and it wouldn’t be surprising if those children were connected to the Be Better U Dream Ranch. This initiative empowers kids to learn about and teach others the value of philanthropy. If you or your child are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and want to explore child-led philanthropy programs, visit their website to see how you can contribute.
