The Benefits of Baking

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Vihaan Kamath. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Vihaan Kamath started baking as a 6-year-old, enjoying the time with his mom and grandparents that always ended in delicious food. What’s not to like? Now 16, Vihaan still finds it a relaxing hobby and has used the resulting goods to raise money for the kids who need it most. 

In April 2025, Vihaan founded Cookie for a Cause to distribute profits from cookie sales directly to children facing serious illness and other hardships. He has raised more than $28,000 for kids undergoing cancer treatment, kids who need artificial limbs, schools who feed hungry students and more. Partnering with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, he has expanded beyond his local community and into the Tri-State area. 

For 40 to 60 hours each month, Vihaan steadfastly makes cookies and manages day-to-day operations in addition to doing schoolwork, varsity track and field and jazz band. He continues to serve as the main baker but now benefits from several eager volunteers finding sales opportunities, manning stalls and recruiting.  

What inspires you to volunteer? 

I started volunteering in eighth grade, because my school required a certain number of hours of service work. I kept doing it, because I really enjoyed helping out in the community. 

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?  

Every summer, my parents and I visit my grandmother in Mumbai. She’s part of a small nonprofit and goes to rural schools—some for the blind—and pediatric cancer hospitals to spend time with the kids and hand out school resources she buys with her own money. I started going with her when I was 13, and seeing all those kids stuck with me.

One family I met had to move across the country, and the father had to quit his job for the kid to get the correct medical attention. That made me realize how much I take for granted. I started Cookie for a Cause with a bake sale, and one thing went to another. I eventually registered as a 501(c)3, and it started growing. 

Tell us about your volunteer role with Cookie for a Cause. 

I started right after sophomore year finals. Early on, I ran a couple of local stalls, held bake sales around the community and reached out to neighbors and acquaintances. My parents drove me on deliveries until I got my license. After I covered my whole network, which was small at the time, I started reaching out to local businesses.  

I ended up partnering with a local bakery and continued reaching out to more and more corporations, from Connecticut to New York, where there are more parties and events to order for. I raised around $10,000 in a month. When I went back to visit my grandmother, I donated to all the places we volunteered together. 

I still do most of the baking, and I manage orders, deliveries and communications. I also coordinate with hospitals, local businesses, volunteers and our adult board members. 

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

I want to raise over $50,000 by 2027 and help more than 1,000 children, which is about double what we’ve done so far. There’s always going to be a need for more funding and more volunteers, but these are goals we can reach.  

Recently, I started a student board, which I hope to use to inspire more kids my age and younger to help in their own communities in whatever they’re passionate about. It’s one of my primary goals. 

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

The most rewarding part is seeing the faces of these children when I visit. The trip I took last summer, after I raised $10,000, was one of the best experiences I’ve had. I loved seeing the kids and handing out stuff to make their lives easier.  

It’s also great inspiring more people to join us. I didn’t think a lot of kids would want to volunteer for this type of thing, but I was wrong.  

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer? 

When I started, I was 15. I learned that there’s a lot more generosity in the world than I thought. I assumed it was going to be a real battle to even get $1,000. It’s not easy, but there are a lot more people who are willing to donate, and a lot more people my age willing to help out than I realized. 

There’s one quote I like that says, “Every small action, when done consistently, will always lead to meaningful change.” And that’s true. I took my passion for baking and I use it to help children around the world.  

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about. 

Recently, I got accepted into St. Jude’s Youth Leadership Society. Essentially, a lot of teenagers have a friendly competition to see who can fundraise the most.  

I also partnered with Mattel to donate around 100 Brave Barbie and Brave Ken dolls–made specifically for children battling cancer–to St. Jude’s and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. If I get a chance, I’ll go down to St. Jude’s main hospital in Memphis when they arrive and see the impact we’ve made with the kids. 

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering? 

It doesn’t have to be big, and one person can’t solve every problem. But as I said, every small action, when done consistently, will always lead to meaningful change, even if it’s volunteering one hour a week. Maybe it’s going to visit kids at a local hospital or donating some stuff you have lying around your house. It’ll have a bigger impact than you might think. 

What do you want people to learn from your story? 

Any normal person can make a big change. I started off as a small bake sale, and everything kept rolling on until it became what I consider a big business. Doing anything you enjoy that helps people will go a long way. 

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