Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Sophia Fan. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
For some, there is relief in finishing the final test of an Advanced Placement class. For 17-year-old Sophia Fan, it’s an opportunity. As a newly minted teenager in her first year of high school, Sophia started AP Cycle to facilitate the donation of AP books to people who needed them, and it grew from there. What started as a way to share textbooks has turned into a literacy initiative that covers children’s books all the way to college standardized test prep.
Since 2022, the organization has donated over 5,200 books across 10 countries. It has chapters in six states and just launched the first international chapter in Rwanda. Each chapter focuses on reducing educational gaps in its own community. Sophia has built partnerships with six other organizations like Books for International Goodwill, which assists in international distribution.
In between classwork, travelling for club volleyball games, and spending quality time with her dog Willow, Sophia dedicates around 40 hours each month to finding new life for used books, connecting people who lack access with opportunity. She is also applying to college, where she hopes to study for a career in public or global health
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
I grew up in China, and I saw how children can have very different access to educational resources depending on where they live and what their families and schools can provide. That stayed with me after I moved to the U.S., because books had always been a normal part of my life. I could go to the library or have another book waiting for me without much thought.
One day, I was cleaning out books that I’d outgrown, and it felt strange that they were just sitting there when they could be useful to someone else. So, I started looking for places to donate them. I reached out to a variety of different organizations, and that idea eventually grew into AP Cycle.
Tell us about your volunteer role with AP Cycle.
As the Founder and President, I do a lot of behind-the-scenes work. I coordinate book drives and distributions, reach out to community organizations to organize events or collaborations. I recruit volunteers and build partnerships. Throughout the week, I also respond to emails and coordinate meetings, and transport and sort books. A big part of my role now is helping other students start this initiative and run their own chapters.
We try to do monthly events, which typically start with collecting books from different organizations around the county. For example, the Literacy Council just recently donated 10 boxes. We have a donation box there now that I’ve promoted on Facebook. We also hang posters at school asking for donations. One student brought in a whole suitcase full of AP books!
Then, for example, we will contact Books for International Goodwill, which gets them overseas, particularly to literacy organizations in West African countries. We donate locally as well. A drive last year was for the Chinese school in our community, many of whose students were preparing for high school. They wanted to see what subjects they were interested in, so we brought in a bunch of AP books to reuse after seniors finished their exams.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
In the beginning, I would email general contacts at organizations, to no response. After researching and CCing people more directly relevant to what we want to accomplish, I’ve seen a lot more replies. For example, if I had spoken with someone from International Rotary and I wanted to email them, I would CC someone specifically for the transportation of books overseas. That helped secure our partnership.
There has been a learning curve, but the process has taught me the perseverance required. It’s so important that you keep trying and not take no for an answer.
Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.
We’re planning an event called The Book Swap, where families can exchange books that they’ve finished for new ones. We’re also hoping to incorporate a fundraiser to help pay for some of the costs like driving to places and buying posters. Student volunteers will read to little kids and their families, and teach them how to make satellites with Lift Off, a partner organization that runs STEM-related activities.
People have said they’ve dropped off a lot of books at our box at the Literacy Council, so we’re excited to collect that, too.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
When you really care about a cause, you notice a need that other people might overlook. For me, that was literacy. A book can seem like a small thing, but it can give someone a way to learn, explore an interest, or simply enjoy reading.
What has been the most rewarding part of this work?
I love seeing kids get excited when they find a book about something they love. We had an event to donate books to children impacted by parental incarceration, and one child was intrigued by Roblox books. Some of them really loved softball. It reminds me why access matters so much. When you care so deeply about a cause, you’re more willing to keep showing up and ensuring what you’re doing is actually useful.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
You don’t have to wait until you feel completely prepared to start something meaningful. A lot of volunteering is learning as you go. When I started, I didn’t know how to build partnerships or organize a book drive. I just cared enough to try.
One email led to a conversation, and one small collection led to something bigger. You don’t have to see the whole path before you begin. You just have to care enough and take the first step.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Sophia? Find local volunteer opportunities.