Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Joshua Bie. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Joshua Bie was 6 years old when his younger brother, Joey, died of childhood cancer at age 4. Soon after, the family began volunteering at the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, which had supported them during Joey’s hospital stays. Joshua spent his time playing with the children there, and they reminded him of his brother, he said. Seeing them smile made him smile too.
Now 16, Joshua has carried that spirit into a decade of service. When he was in seventh grade, he founded the first Go Gold Club to raise awareness of childhood cancer at his school. Now the clubs operate at 10 high schools, and their volunteers have helped provide more than 1,000 free meals to families at Ronald McDonald Houses. On top of that, Joshua and his teammates have raised $15,000 for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
What inspired you to get started with the Ronald McDonald House?
I’ve volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House since I was 6. My younger brother, Joey, died of childhood cancer when he was 4, and the House helped our family a lot while we were in the hospital. It’s a home away from home, with free lodging and food for families of patients. I want other families going through this to know they’re not alone.
In seventh grade, I surveyed my classmates about childhood cancer. More than 90% didn’t know the gold ribbon stands for childhood cancer, and many didn’t realize children can get cancer. That showed me there’s a huge awareness gap on campus. That October, I founded the first Go Gold Club to build connections between my school and families affected by childhood cancer.
Tell us about your Go Gold Clubs and how it has grown.
When I started the club, we volunteered at the House about every three months. Now we go at least once a month. I’ve also helped start Go Gold Clubs at other schools, including one in Tennessee and one in Northern California. I encourage each club to volunteer at least monthly, and we stagger the visits so the House has volunteers every week or every other week. For my Go Gold Club, we partner with a restaurant and they’re very kind to donate meals that we serve those to the families. We also donate pantry items.
We’ve added more fundraising over the years, too. Last year, we sold Go Gold arm sleeves with golden ribbons on them to promote childhood cancer awareness. And annually, we hold a donut sale where all the money raised is donated to the Ronald McDonald House. During the holidays, we write cards for families and patients and put together gift bags with candy and toys. We’re still growing, and we may add a new club at Troy High School this year.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Seeing the smiles on the children’s faces. One day, we were playing live music at the House, and I was at the piano. A young girl in a wheelchair loved it and wanted to dance, so her mom turned the wheelchair and they danced together. Her joy taught me a powerful lesson about courage. Even in the middle of tremendous challenges, there’s room to laugh, dance, and find joy.
Moments like that are why I keep going. They show me my work makes a difference, even when the kindness is small.
What are your long-term goals for Go Gold Club?
I want to make Go Gold a national youth program, as familiar as Boys & Girls Clubs, with chapters across the country. I’d like the golden ribbon to be as recognizable on high school campuses as the pink ribbon. Ultimately, our vision is to empower a generation of students to support scientific research and the search for a cure, and maybe to lobby for more childhood cancer funding, so no family ever has to lose a child to cancer again.
Tell us about future programs or events you’re excited about.
Go Gold Club will soon receive a House Hero Award from the Ronald McDonald House, which recognizes charities that have supported the House for a long time. I’m excited because it shows our dedication and how our volunteer work has made a difference over time.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
Purpose inspires compassion, builds community, and sustains commitment. When you take action for something bigger than yourself, empathy turns into compassion. It connects you with like-minded peers working toward the same goal, and that shared vision gives you the drive to stay committed for a long time. Getting involved is how we stop waiting for change and start creating it ourselves.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
It’s never too early or too late to start. I began volunteering at 6, but I know people who have made a tremendous impact starting in their junior or senior year. No act of service is too small. If you’re not sure where to begin, start small with a local organization and work your way up to larger and larger kindness.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Joshua? Find local volunteer opportunities.