October 15, 2025
CKF Founder Named Youngest 2025 L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honoree
CancerKidsFirst is proud to announce that our founder, Olivia Zhang, has been named the youngest 2025 L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honoree, selected as one of only 10 honorees from over 4,000 nominations across the United States.
This prestigious recognition comes with a $25,000 grant that will directly support our organization's ongoing work in pediatric cancer advocacy and research funding.
The L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth program celebrates extraordinary women who are making a significant impact in their communities through nonprofit work. The program's iconic tagline, "because you're worth it," holds special significance for our founder, who has faced persistent challenges to her credibility throughout her journey building CancerKidsFirst.
"Throughout my life, people have continuously looked for ways to diminish my worth," Olivia shared. "They assume there must be some explanation for why I am where I am today: Who helped her? Who connected her? Rarely do they see the years of all-nighters, breakdowns, sacrifices, and relentless work to grow CancerKidsFirst from the ground up—while balancing school and family responsibilities.
Today, CancerKidsFirst stands as the world's largest youth-led cancer nonprofit, a testament to years of dedication and the collective efforts of our passionate team. This recognition validates not only our founder's leadership but the power of youth-driven change in the fight against pediatric cancer.
"I'm so proud of my team and everything we've achieved thus far, and even more thankful for the incredible female mentors and friendships I have in my life," Olivia added. "I hope to continue sharing my story and striving for more to continue inspiring a new generation of girls to believe that they are worth it."
The $25,000 grant will be instrumental in advancing CancerKidsFirst's mission to support children battling cancer and fund critical research initiatives.
As we continue to grow and expand our impact, this recognition from L'Oréal Paris serves as a powerful reminder of what young leaders can accomplish when given the platform and resources to create meaningful change.
CancerKidsFirst remains committed to our vision of a world where every child has access to the best possible cancer treatment and where pediatric cancer research receives the attention and funding it deserves.