Jordyn Perez, 15, doesn't want birthday presents. Instead, she asks for gifts she can donate to kids in a children's hospital. “Seeing other people’s happiness—that’s all that matters to me,” Jordyn says.

Joy Kuchar, 10, and her classmates are raising money to protect their school courtyard from the invasive lanternfly. "When I decided to involve other students," Joy says, "I was amazed at how our progress increased.”

DeJuan Strickland is tackling food insecurity by helping families pay for school meals. “The fact that I’ve been able to impact people’s lives in a positive way gives me a really good feeling,” he says.

Sammie Vance, 14, is a community activist. She started a buddy bench program at her school in the third grade. Now she helps other schools set up buddy benches. “You don’t have to be an adult to make a difference,” she says.

Nirvaan Agarwal, 12, is an animal-rights advocate. Since he was 3, he’s been on a mission to stop the mistreatment of animals. “It’s never too early to help animals,” says Nirvaan, “or any cause.”