Olivia Zhang is the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization, Cancer Kids First (CKF). The vision for CKF is “to help pediatric cancer patients experience a better childhood. We supply patients with toy and book donations, cards, coloring pages, care packages, and more.
We are also working toward helping patients internationally access treatment and care, while funding research for new cures. CKF strives to normalize the hospital environment, inspire patients to keep fighting, and spark some joy within their lives through our many programs.”
CKF has over 18,000 volunteers in 45 different countries, with 70 local chapters supporting thousands of patients in over 50 pediatric hospitals. In Virginia, over 900 students are volunteers in one of the three major areas of service: Arts, Events, and Fundraising. In the Fairfax County CKF Chapter, each area is headed by a student leader who integrates volunteers into the many opportunities available in CKF.
Web-based software helps student leaders manage these activities and supports accountability. This structure can then be replicated at other CKF Chapters, and tailored to local circumstances.
As CEO, Olivia heads the management team with oversight over matters such as planning, policy, and finance. For example, they responded to the far-reaching changes in hospital procedures brought about by the COVID pandemic. Olivia also designed, implemented, and maintains the CKF website, www.cancerkidsfirst.org, which includes milestones of achievement, awards (such as the recent WEGO Health Award for Best Team Performance), and a variety of events (virtual movies, speakers, volunteer team building, fund raisers, etc.).
Olivia is the president of McLean’s Student Government Association, where she launched the Be a Good Neighbor Initiative -- monthly service events such as a toy drive, a blood drive, and writing letters to the elderly. Olivia also works for ecological progress as a member of OceanX (www.oceanx.org).
Olivia feels the need to balance school, athletics, a social life, and CKF. Olivia says she must make a disciplined use of techniques, such as time blocking, to harmonize the many competing demands on her time. She also understands that it is necessary to trust others with many of the tasks needed to keep CKF growing and working smoothly. She is quick to praise the assistance she receives, and she points out that CKF is now the product of the efforts of many people who feel a sense of ownership and commitment.
Olivia says experiencing the deaths due to cancer of two persons close to her remains a strong motivation to make CKF a suitable legacy of remembrance. She speaks of the “experience unlike anything else, of seeing joy and appreciation in the face of someone CKF has helped.”