From Passion to Impact: Driving Change with CARE

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Aditi Motha. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Aditi Motha is a rising senior at North Allegheny High School in Mars, Pennsylvania. She volunteers with Cancer Awareness Research and Education (CARE), a global nonprofit dedicated to increasing cancer awareness, supporting research and educating communities. CARE has 40 local chapters across the country.

While Aditi is involved in many organizations at her school, CARE holds a special place in her heart. Alongside fellow volunteers, Aditi has helped raise over $27,000 through the dedication of more than 500 members committed to service.
Read on to learn about Aditi’s story and what she has learned through volunteering.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

I joined a club at my local high school, initially called Community Cancer Outreach. It was a small, cancer-focused group I joined after a few of my friends got involved. As I began participating, I quickly saw this club’s potential to make a meaningful impact. One of our first events was a field trip to Hillman Cancer Center in downtown Pittsburgh. That visit was eye-opening. It gave me a firsthand look at the incredible research being done and inspired me to think more deeply about community service. At that moment, I realized how much a student-led club could truly contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

Tell us about your volunteer role with CARE.

I have served as the chief operating officer at CARE for the past year and will take on the role of chief executive officer in my senior year. In this leadership role, I coordinate events and ensure that all our chapters have the support and resources they need to succeed. I regularly contact each chapter through group chats, checking in monthly to help them stay on track with hosting events, fundraising in their local communities and forming meaningful partnerships.

If a chapter is unsure how to get started or needs guidance, I schedule one-on-one calls to walk them through the process. This can be brainstorming ideas, finding nearby opportunities or connecting them with local organizations. Many of our chapters participate in events through the American Cancer Society, including Relay for Life, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Daffodil Days. In March of this year alone, we collectively raised over $3,000 across all our chapters.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

Joining CARE in my first year gave me tremendous exposure and growth. Like many students, I explored different clubs, but CARE stood out because I immediately saw the potential for impact, both in what I could contribute to the organization and how it could shape me in return. Being part of an organization that has grown to over 40 chapters worldwide and now includes 500 to 600 members has been life-changing. It’s been inspiring to help lead CARE from a small group of about 10 members into something so expansive and meaningful. As high school students, I’m incredibly proud that we’ve raised over $30,000 for cancer-related causes.

Often, you join a club or get involved in something, but don’t always see the tangible results of your efforts. In this case, the impact is clear, whether through the funds raised, the growing number of members united by a shared mission or the moments spent delivering gifts to patients. Watching that transformation and knowing I played a part in it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my high school journey.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

I want this organization to continue growing and impacting, even after I graduate. I’ve been a driving force behind it for the past two years, and as one of the last remaining founding members still involved, I feel a deep responsibility to ensure its future. Many original leaders will be graduating soon, so my goal for the upcoming year is to create a sustainable foundation, training our current officers to manage such a large and active organization. I want to see it maintained and expanded, reaching more communities and raising greater awareness.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter how much time you spend or the size of your contribution; any effort can make a meaningful impact, no matter how small. Whether you raise $1,000 or simply show up to support a cause you care about, taking the initiative as a high school student proves that you’re never too young to make a difference. Being in high school doesn’t limit your ability to effect change; it shows just how much potential young people have when they’re passionate and committed.

That said, leading such a large organization has come with its challenges. Managing a wide team, many juggling academics and extracurriculars, has pushed me to grow significantly as a leader. Balancing school with overseeing an international network has tested my time management and organization skills. But through it all, I’ve become more disciplined, adaptable and confident in my ability to lead and sustain something meaningful.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

My biggest advice is to find a cause you’re genuinely passionate about. Before I joined CARE, I had no personal connection to cancer; no one close to me had been affected by it. But I learned that you don’t need to have direct experience with an issue to care deeply about it or to make a difference. You can become involved simply because the mission inspires you and you want to help.

I recommend joining various clubs and organizations, even if you’re unsure what you’re passionate about. Through that process, you’ll discover what truly resonates with you. For example, many students join clubs that align with their future career goals. But I’ve never been interested in going into the medical field. CARE has shown me that you don’t need to tie your extracurriculars to your career plans. Instead, you can and should pursue service simply because you care. Getting involved in the community has been my most meaningful motivator, and that’s what keeps me committed.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Aditi? Find local volunteer opportunities.