By Olivia Zhang, Founder of Cancer Kids First

Olivia’s parents immigrated to the United States at the age of 30, working tirelessly to make ends meet. As a result, Olivia was raised primarily by her grandfather and after-school care teacher; in Olivia’s late elementary school years, they were diagnosed with cancer. Olivia spent her summers in China, taking care of her grandfather, and sold artwork and jewelry to raise money for his treatment. Her grandfather’s cancer spread, and he passed away. A couple of months later, her teacher also passed away. At thirteen, Olivia lost the two people who had shaped her world.

Olivia found purpose through resolving to help others in the cancer community. In 2019, as a high school freshman, Olivia founded Cancer Kids First (cancerkidsfirst.org) to honor their memories and build a community of hope for children facing cancer. Olivia brought together a team and pulled all-nighters, crafting a mission and vision for CKF. They began with community fundraisers and events, though the real growth came from the pandemic. By studying social media and online marketing trends, Olivia created content for the cause that reached over 4 million people.

Six years later, at 20-years-old, Olivia now leads all aspects of the world’s largest youth-led cancer nonprofit with over 43,240 volunteers in 80 countries. Under her leadership, CKF has donated $650,000 in resources to support 15,245 patients in 22 countries; developed 116 key partnerships with hospitals and companies worldwide; empowered young leaders to step up and start ~100 chapters to bring CKF to their local communities; and held 600+ interactive events to decrease social isolation for patients.

While many pediatric cancer nonprofits exist, Olivia rebranded Cancer Kids First to stand apart as the largest youth-led cancer nonprofit globally—built on the powerful idea of kids helping kids. CKF’s model centers emotional and psychological support—through arts and craft donations, personalized virtual and in-person events to build friendships for immunocompromised patients with kids their age, and hospital equipment drop-offs in LMICs—an often-overlooked aspect of cancer care. Simultaneously, CKF mentors volunteers through webinars, workshops, and training to step up as childhood cancer advocates in their communities, creating a ripple effect.

Olivia’s dedication to this work has led her to earn recognition as the youngest 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact honoree, the youngest 2025 L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth, and the 2023 Diana Legacy Award with Prince William and Prince Harry.

Over the years, Olivia has faced countless obstacles—particularly ones that related to her identity as a young woman of color in leadership. She was often dismissed or overlooked by adults, which is why she is now committed to empowering and inspiring other young people.

Olivia shares her journey and advice with a community of 200,000+ followers; she has mentored over 100 early-stage nonprofits—sitting as the only young person on health boards like World Child Cancer—to impact over 15,000 individuals in diverse communities. She is also the author of the upcoming book YOUth: The Young Person’s Guide to Starting a Nonprofit—the first all-in-one toolkit to help other dedicated young people launch impact-driven organizations. The book, distributed by Penguin Random House, features 10+ successful young nonprofit founders who share templates, checklists, and more that cover fundraising strategy, marketing tips, navigating burnout, and building a team.

Olivia is currently a full-time student at Harvard University studying Economics with a secondary in Global Health, continuing to redefine what’s possible when young people lead. In the future, after graduating from Harvard, she aims to secure an MBA from Stanford and create a telehealth startup bridging the gap in healthcare access for pediatric cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries. On the side, she will continue her nonprofit board work, speaking, and writing to leave younger generations with tangible resources to change the world.