Vihaan Kamath

Vihaan Kamath (17), from India, living in the United States, is a junior at Greenwich High School in Connecticut, United States whose journey began at age 13, volunteering with his grandmother at rural schools, pediatric cancer hospitals, and institutes for the blind. Witnessing children facing serious illness or lacking basic supplies left a lasting impact on him.

At just 16, Vihaan independently founded Cookie for a Cause, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit—handling all the incorporation paperwork, building the website, recruiting board members, and running operations entirely on his own. He bakes, packages, and delivers every cookie himself, with 100% of proceeds going directly to children in need, while his parents cover all operational costs. Through this effort, he has raised a significant amount of money and helped more than 450 children across the US and Asia, funding cancer treatments, prosthetic limbs, and support for families facing overwhelming medical expenses. He has also secured partnerships with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, and Mattel, who donated toys to children undergoing cancer treatment.

Beyond fundraising, Vihaan continues to offer comfort in person, sitting with sick children and families at hospitals. His story has reached thousands online and been featured in outlets like the Hartford Courant and WTNH News 8, proving one teen’s compassion can create real, lasting change.