When you hear the phrase “10 great philanthropists,” you might picture seasoned adults with polished résumés. But the reality is far more delightful – a vibrant crew of kids who are reshaping generosity with the energy only youth can bring. If you’ve ever worried that the next generation is drowning in noise, these young changemakers prove the opposite: they’re turning compassion into action, one daring project at a time.
1 One Of The 10 Great Philanthropists
Meet Abby Miller, a 12‑year‑old songbird with a heart as big as her vocal range. Every chilly morning, Abby sets up a modest bucket on a bustling street corner, letting her melodious tunes drift into the ears of passersby. But she isn’t just earning spare change for herself – each coin goes straight to help 4‑year‑old Taylor Love, a brave youngster battling neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the nervous system. Abby’s street performances have become a moving fundraiser, where strangers are drawn in by her voice and leave with a sense of purpose. The contributions, gathered the old‑fashioned way, ease Taylor’s mounting medical expenses and remind everyone that a child’s song can echo far beyond a simple melody.
2 Olivia Bouler
At just 11, Olivia Bouler wields a paintbrush like a superhero’s cape. After watching news footage of the BP oil spill devastate the Gulf of Mexico, she felt compelled to act. Olivia penned a heartfelt letter to the National Audubon Society, proposing to sell her original illustrations to fund the cleanup. The idea blossomed: she offered her artwork to anyone who donated to wildlife recovery, sparking media attention that flooded in contributions. To date, Olivia has crafted 150 unique drawings, each a vibrant plea for the planet’s feathered friends. Her relentless creativity has amassed over $200,000 for the Audubon Society, turning a simple sketch into a lifeline for birds hurt by the spill.
3 Cameron Cohen
When Cameron Cohen was 11, a bone‑tumor surgery left him confined to a hip‑to‑toe brace. Instead of scrolling through endless shows, he dove into the world of software development. The result? iSketch – a sleek drawing app now available on the iPhone App Store. Cameron channels a portion of the app’s earnings into buying electronic gadgets and entertainment for fellow pre‑teens stuck in hospitals. His code isn’t just lines on a screen; it’s a conduit for joy, turning idle recovery time into creative expression for children who need it most.
4 Jordan Somer
Nebraska teen Jordan Somer turned personal experience into a runway of empowerment. In 2006, she launched the “Miss Amazing” pageant, a competition designed for girls and women navigating physical and mental disabilities. The event isn’t about crowns; it’s about confidence, showcasing true beauty beyond conventional standards. Jordan’s dedication earned her Teen Nickelodeon’s Halo Award, and a generous $25,000 grant that fuels the pageant’s national expansion. By merging her pageant background with Special Olympics volunteer work, Jordan gives participants a stage to celebrate their strengths, proving that inclusion can be dazzlingly spectacular.
5 Phoebe Russell
While most kindergarteners are busy mastering the alphabet, 5‑year‑old Phoebe Russell took community service to a whole new level. Faced with a mandatory service project, she didn’t opt for a classic lemonade stand. Instead, she spotted a homeless man begging for food and set a bold goal: raise $1,000 for the San Francisco Food Bank. With a simple appeal to her school to leave soda cans and donations, Phoebe’s heartfelt campaign snowballed. By the time she was done, she’d amassed $3,736.30 – enough to provide roughly 17,800 heated meals for those in need. Her initiative shows that even the youngest can spark massive change.
6 Brittany and Robbie Berquist
Sibling duo Brittany (12) and Robbie (13) Berquist discovered a soldier’s $8,000 cell‑phone bill while he was deployed in Iraq. Determined to help, they started by depositing $21 in a bank account to pay part of the bill. The bank manager, impressed by their resolve, added an extra $500, fueling their mission. From there, the siblings organized car washes, bake sales, and eventually a nationwide phone‑recycling drive. Volunteers helped set up drop‑off sites across the United States, turning discarded cell phones into prepaid minutes for troops overseas. Their “Cell Phones for Soldiers” program has collected a staggering 7.5 million phones, delivering over 90 million minutes of free airtime to service members.
7 Mackenzie Bearup
Mackenzie Bearup, a 16‑year‑old battling Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy – a condition that turns everyday sensations like wind and vibration into excruciating pain – found solace in books. Recognizing a need, she launched a massive book‑drive campaign to stock the libraries of residential treatment centers across Georgia and neighboring states. To date, Mackenzie’s efforts have donated more than 50,000 books, enriching lives of countless patients. Her dedication earned Nestlé’s 2009 “Best in Youth” award. Balancing her philanthropy with a 4.0 GPA in gifted and talented courses, Mackenzie also shines on the harp, performing at charity events, assisted‑living facilities, and nursing homes.
8 Timothy Hwang and Minsoo Han
In 2007, two 14‑year‑old visionaries, Timothy Hwang and Minsoo Han, launched Operation Fly. Their student‑run nonprofit offers affordable tutoring to inner‑city students, channeling the revenue into essential supplies – blankets, clothing, and soap – for Washington, D.C.’s homeless population. The organization quickly expanded to five cities, rallying over 800 volunteers. Timothy’s entrepreneurial spirit earned him the Ernst & Young and Junior Achievement 2009 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Greater Washington Region, highlighting how youthful ingenuity can tackle both education gaps and homelessness.
9 Zach Bonner
When Hurricane Charlie battered Florida in 2005, a young Zach Bonner began collecting water bottles with a bright red wagon, amassing 27 truckloads of aid. Not stopping there, Zach embarked on an ambitious “My House to the White House” charity march. Stage 1 saw him trek 280 miles from Tampa to Tallahassee, Stage 2 added 250 miles to Atlanta, and the final leg covered a grueling 668 miles to Washington, D.C. Even after his grandmother’s death, the 11‑year‑old pressed on, dedicating the journey to her memory. Funds raised were split between a playground for a Tampa foster‑care shelter and the Sasha Bruce Youthwork, aiding homeless and runaway kids in D.C. In 2010, Zach’s “March Across America” spanned 2,448 miles from Tampa to Los Angeles, culminating in a meeting with Elton John, who contributed $25,000 to the Little Red Wagon Foundation.
10 Harry Moseley
Nine‑year‑old Harry Moseley from Sheldon, Birmingham, UK, lives with an inoperable brain tumour, yet his spirit remains unbreakable. He crafts beaded bracelets, selling them to raise money for Brain Tumour UK. His bracelets now grace over 30 British shops, generating more than £15,000 for research and support. Beyond fundraising, Harry travels to schools, delivering PowerPoint presentations that inspire classmates to start their own bracelet‑making clubs. Each bracelet sold contributes 15 pence to the school, with the remainder supporting the charity. Honored with the 2010 “Britain’s Kindest Kid” award, Harry plans to share £200 each with his siblings and invest the rest in a wooden playhouse for bracelet creation, dedicating his prize to his late friend Robert Harley.
These ten remarkable youngsters demonstrate that age is no barrier to making a difference. Their stories remind us that the future of philanthropy resides in the hands of the bold, compassionate, and endlessly creative kids of today.