People - Staff
Olivia Zhang

CEO And Founder

Olivia Zhang

After losing two loved ones to cancer, Olivia was pushed to take action. At 14, Olivia founded Cancer Kids First (CKF) – an organization that normalizes the hospital environment and provides a loving community for kids with cancer through three service programs: Arts, Treatment Services, and Patient Interaction. Since 2019, CKF has donated $650,000+ in medical resources and […]

After losing two loved ones to cancer, Olivia was pushed to take action. At 14, Olivia founded Cancer Kids First (CKF) – an organization that normalizes the hospital environment and provides a loving community for kids with cancer through three service programs: Arts, Treatment Services, and Patient Interaction. Since 2019, CKF has donated $650,000+ in medical resources and supplies to support 15,000 patients in 22 countries. Olivia leads all aspects of the organization—from strategy and partnerships to mobilizing 43,000 youth volunteers in 80 countries. Under Olivia’s guidance, CKF has built coalitions with 74 hospitals and launched  ~100 chapters worldwide to give other young people a chance to become changemakers. Her work has led her to be named the youngest 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact Honoree, the youngest 2025 L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth, and she earned recognition from Prince William and Prince Harry through the Diana Legacy Award.Beyond CKF, Olivia is the author of the book YOUth: The Young Person’s Guide to Starting a Nonprofit to help young changemakers launch impact-driven organizations. Through her social media platforms, Olivia shares her journey running an organization while in college, garnering over 70 million views and building a community of 270,000+ followers. She 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.

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