Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Andrew Liu. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
The benefits of music education are well known, but funding for it is often the first to be cut under budget constraints. Playing the piano can easily become a lifelong passion, but buying one—and the lessons to go with it—can be out of reach for many. Andrew Liu, 17, wants to change that with his student-led nonprofit One Union Music, which provides free music education to underserved youth with no prior experience.
The organization offers both group and individual lessons depending on volunteer availability and demand in each of their eight locations. Andrew and his fellow volunteers work mainly with 2nd and 3rd graders to nurture their interest, some of whom describe it as their favorite part of the week. Since its founding in 2023, they’ve taught around 340 students and raised over $10,000 through grants, partnerships and public benefit concerts to donate instruments and other equipment to host locations for students to share and be stored between lessons. Their social media campaigns touting the benefits of music education have reached hundreds of thousands.
It’s been 11 years since Andrew was a beginner. He has played with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and at Carnegie Hall. Twice. He’s been invited to play in Russia with the Kostroma Symphony Orchestra and has been lucky enough to go to several music camps in both the U.S. and South Korea. He and his friends have played seasonal repertoire at malls, centers and retirement homes to raise funds for One Union. Put simply, Andrew hopes to inspire an affection for the art, regardless of instrument or skill level and to pay forward the opportunities he’s had to play the music he loves.
What inspires you to volunteer?
When I was 8 or 9, my mom would take me along on her work-related volunteering events. I volunteered at places like the Salvation Army Feed My Starving Children and at shelters, meal distributions, drives and more. That early exposure taught me the value of contributing to your community. We’re in a fortunate position. It’s important to help those who might not have the same opportunities.
In New York City, Andrew admires a Steinway & Sons grand piano.
Tell us about your volunteer role with One Union Music and beyond.
My role is to guide the direction as a whole, and that can materialize in many different ways. I recruit and train new volunteers. Instructors have a strong background in music. I just help them with how to move through curriculum, pace, tips on student retention. We also have many non-instructor roles in social media, outreach and fundraising that don’t require a background in music.
I also work closely with our chapter leaders. We have several different chapters throughout the nation, all with their own leadership structures. I meet with them on a regular basis with my co-founder and our board of directors to survey progress, provide feedback or tips on improving. I also designed our initial 12-week beginner piano curriculum. Originally, we were focused on teaching piano on keyboards, but as we’ve branched out, we’ve developed curriculums tailored for flute, violin, voice, and others. I teach at our original community center every other week.
I also designed our website and played a large role in updating it and revamping our image. And I currently manage our social media page but have handed over most of the day-to-day posting to other volunteers.
Beyond One Union, I’m an attorney and judge at Collin County Teen Court, and I’ve started working with one of my state representatives to expand healthcare coverage to include diagnostics for rare diseases. That way, if the diagnostics that I developed over the summer through biomedical research were to be patented or move to the next step, they would be included in people’s insurance coverage.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
I’ve had a lot of exposure to the music community through my own studio and music camps where I made friends from across the nation. Music has been a refuge when I’m stressed or need to take a break from my surroundings. It puts me in a peaceful headspace and allows for artistic and personal expression. When I’m playing a piece, I get to release emotions through my music. It’s an important part of my life.
As I got older, I noticed the kids who weren’t included, who didn’t have the opportunity to sit at a piano or learn fun pieces because of resource barriers. That shifted my perspective. I felt compelled to create space for others.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
The laughs I hear during lessons when students have finished a successful rendition of a piece mirrors the joy and sense of belonging music gave me when I joined the community. Being around my students, seeing them cheer on a learning victory, shows me the impact I’ve made in shaping my community into a more inclusive and nurturing place.
Andrew donates multiple keyboards to a community center with funds raised through One Union Music.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Volunteering has taught me the power of consistency. Sometimes, even though you want or expect immediate impact, you need to build slowly. That might mean showing up week after week for those who are counting on you.
We were late for our very first lesson. There were malfunctioning keyboards, defective power cords and missing extensions. Ultimately, we were able to clear up all the issues, and two years later, we rarely run into problems.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
When you invest your time and skills in a cause that you care about, it creates ripple effects. Even if you’re only doing something for a few hours every month, it can make an impact. Service builds stronger communities and teaches people empathy, responsibility and perspective.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Start small with something that genuinely excites you. You don’t need a completely mapped out plan. Be open to humble beginnings, and see where your work and ideas take you.
FIGHTING TO GIVE MILITARY FAMILIES A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Heather Hall. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Heather Hall had nobody to turn to when her daughter got sick in military housing. Around 2011, Heather was living in military housing in Kansas with her husband and their infant daughter. When her daughter suddenly became very sick, Heather didn’t know where to turn. Their days were filled with nebulizers, inhalers and oral medication. When her daughter’s pediatric pulmonologist told Heather that their daughter was sick because of her environment, Heather started to advocate for the multitude of other families who were navigating the system when their family members dealt with similar issues, likely caused by mold in their military housing.
While the family soon moved, Heather’s mission didn’t stop there. While working under another organization’s umbrella, Heather’s ability to advocate to Congress was limited, and she decided to form her own organization. She started the Military Housing Coalition, a grassroots military family-led nonprofit dedicated to improving privatized military housing across the United States. With the MHC, Heather advocates for safe, high-quality housing for service members and their families on the ground level. Whether she’s reviewing policy updates, assisting with community outreach, supporting resident feedback efforts or providing one-on-one resident advocacy, Heather pushes to improve accountability and awareness within the military housing system. While she has a busy schedule as a mother and a special education teacher, she still dedicates 20 to 30 hours per month to her volunteer work with the MHC.
Now 14 years old, Heather’s daughter is still under the care of a pediatric pulmonologist. While she’s doing better, Heather unfortunately believes there has been long-term damage due to their original housing situation. Still, Heather continues to fight on, doing her best to advocate for other military families to ensure they never have to go through what her family did. Her dedication to empowering the military family community is a tremendous example of how one person’s powerful passion can create lasting change.
What inspired you to get started with this initiative?
When I was working under another organization’s umbrella, I was limited in my ability to go to Congress and the Department of Defense. I felt like I was in a forest fire with the fire extinguisher. Once I put out one tree, the fire of another one was raging even bigger behind me. I knew that there needed to be reform. When Congress instituted its Tenant Bill of Rights, they thought that was a fix-all, but it was a Band-Aid to a major gaping wound. Every time I contacted Congress, they said they didn’t know it was still this bad. I knew I had to do more. I knew I needed to push for legislation. I knew I needed to push for mold remediation standards, and that’s what I did, and I’m still doing.
What inspires you to volunteer?
The reason I stay on the phone with people for hours as soon as I get off of work and take phone calls with senators after I’ve been at work all day dealing with children is that I don’t want anyone to ever experience what I did. Yet they are. I didn’t have support. I didn’t have an organization that I could turn to that knew ways to navigate things without reaching out to attorneys. There are people out there who take the route of getting involved in litigation, but it’s a terrible process. In the end, I don’t know if those families are better off. I think that some of them feel like they’ve been heard and that there are resolutions to their situation, but that attorney is taking 40% of any kind of compensation that was ever given to these families.
Tell us about your volunteer role with the Military Housing Coalition.
It can be a multitude of things. I do work one-on-one with families who reach out to us and need help and assistance with their individualized issues. It could be working with congressional or Senate leaders to draft or develop policy language. It could be talking to the Department of Defense or the Department of War to change policy on that end. There’s kind of a wide range of things at any moment in time I could be doing.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
Helping the families. When you talk to a family who has been in a situation for an extended period of time and they’ve not been able to get help on their own, and they reach out to us, and then their issue is resolved within 24 to 48 hours. Then you get the messages saying they can’t believe we were able to have this fixed for them, or their child is feeling better now in the house and they’re so thankful for the organization. That is worth its weight in gold. You can’t put a price on knowing how you have impacted somebody’s life.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
Military housing is kind of like an onion. Every day, you peel back a layer and you learn something new. I have so many people who have become confident, that I trust and communicate with. Iron sharpens iron. I know things on my end, and they know things on their end. We feed off of each other. These contracts are so complicated that I can’t even put into words how difficult they are. Every day, I’m learning something new about how to make a change and how to improve a family’s experience living in housing.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
It’s so rewarding. I get a lot of pressure because I take calls and I’m working until eight o’clock at night after I’ve been at work all day. But when you see the result of having helped the family, or volunteered in a situation, you’ve made a difference. There’s legislation right now that is passing directly because of a survey that we did of military families and our push for years to have mold remediation standards within Congress. Change takes time. You can eventually quantify it into something that allows you to say that you did this. I was able to be a voice for somebody else who was not able to have a voice.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
I feel like everybody has a passion. If you were to sit down and have a conversation with anyone, you eventually will pull out something that they’ve experienced in their own life, or they know somebody in their family, or have a close friend who has gone through something, and it really made an impact on their own life. I feel like that’s where you start. You know that you have information, or if you feel like you can make a change, and you don’t know where to start, but there are so many different organizations out there that probably would align with it. There’s somebody out there who is trying to do the same thing that you’re very passionate about, and you just have to find it.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
In my world, everyone knows about military housing. But in reality, nobody does. The big picture is that we have these families out there that are still going through similar or worse experiences. I think that there is a big misunderstanding within Congress that because they put the Tenant Bill of Rights out, that everything was taken care of, and it’s not that’s not the case. That was a start, but we haven’t crossed the finish line yet.
Do you want to make a difference in your community like Heather? Find local volunteer opportunities.
When Empathy Becomes Action
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Christina He. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
Often, people choose to volunteer their time with an initiative because it is personally relevant to them. Occasionally, you see volunteers like 18-year-old Christina He. While her family has not directly dealt with autism, she is the chair of Hope for Three’s Teen Huddle where she leads a team of 10 to 15 teen volunteers in organizing events and activities for children with autism and their families.
As an aspiring biomedical engineer, Christina recognizes also the importance of education in reaching future career goals. The education inequities visible in her high school, again, moved her to action. She co-founded Giveducation, a nonprofit that partners with more than 20 learning centers to connect underserved students to tuition-free classes.
She’s provided in-person and online opportunities across subjects for 2,500 students so far. But that’s not all. During summers, the organization puts on a summer STEM camp funded by the $18,000 in grants secured through Christina’s outreach and her co-founder’s grant writing efforts. Together with her team of volunteers, Christina is ensuring everyone gets a chance to pursue their scholastic goals.
What inspired you to get started with these initiatives?
A few years ago, I moved from the school system in a privileged area where I was surrounded by people who shared a similar family income and ethnicity, to a high school where that wasn’t the case. I saw firsthand how ingrained some educational issues can be. Families may not have the time or resources to provide their students with educational support. It inspired me to create Giveducation to be a safe space where students can nurture their passions.
Hope for Three was advertised on my school’s website, and I thought it was interesting. A lot of the activities are near where I live, so it’s also very convenient. I’ve been with this community since ninth grade. I often see the same families at events and have gotten to know them. It’s nice to see the activities make such a difference.
Christina He, president of Giveducation and chair of Hope for Three’s Teen Huddle, works for educational equity and advocates for autism awareness.
Tell us about your volunteer role with Giveducation and Hope for Three.
For Giveducation, we partner with learning centers so that when classes that aren’t completely filled, we can offer spots to students who don’t have access to those kinds of resources. Learning centers organize semester- and year-long classes, and we give out scholarships that allow students to attend for free. Throughout the year, we’ll send reminders to parents to sign up.
We also do an annual free STEM camp in partnership with Title I schools. We design the class, and they give us the space to host. Class subjects vary each year, but most of the time, we have robotics, math and biology or physics. It gives kids an opportunity to learn, have fun and cultivate their interest in STEM subjects. They may even gain the confidence to pursue these subjects as a career.
As president, I typically organize the camp, but I don’t usually teach. I make sure the volunteers understand their roles and try to match people to classes they want to teach. During the camp itself, I make sure everything’s running smoothly and address any issues.
At Hope for Three, I’ve led and participated in 20+ Caregivers’ Timeouts and Sibling Sessions. The former involves spending time with autistic children so that their parents or caregivers can take a break without worrying about their children. One dad said he hadn’t had a date with his wife in years, and this gave him an opportunity to spend some quality time with her.
During Sibling Sessions, we spend time with siblings who may not get as much attention at home due to their autistic sibling’s needs. We hang out and have fun. We also do socials for recruiting and for volunteers from different schools to get to know each other.
A couple of our fundraisers include an annual car wash and a puzzle competition. One of our bigger social events is Trunk or Treat for Halloween. Families with autistic children or even just their siblings come and enjoy different activities.
What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?
My long-term goal for Giveducation is just to continue expanding the number of organizations we work with and the geographic region. I’d also like for other areas to host summer camps.
Christina (front right holding sign, pink glasses) celebrates 2024’s successful summer camp with fellow Giveducation volunteers at Las Americas Middle School.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
At Hope for Three, it’s having those kids and their parents come up to me to say how much they enjoy the time we spend with them. Knowing how a couple of hours out of my day can impact someone makes me want to keep volunteering.
We have Giveducation pre- and post-camp surveys, and many students will write about their favorite classes or part of camp. It makes me feel good about what we do. We get emails from parents about how their kid had a lot of fun, or the school will tell us good job. Being acknowledged is rewarding.
Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.
Hope for Three has a Christmas event coming up. We’ll be serving food and having fun with the kids and their families. And we’ll have pictures with Santa. The puzzling competition will be in January.
Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?
When you see something you care about and want to change, don’t just sit back and think someone else will do it. Because what if they don’t? Jane Goodall and Malala are individuals, but they’ve created major change around the world. It starts with one person. Besides, it’s not about the size of your impact but rather knowing that you did something right.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Volunteering with friends or family is a good way to start. You never know the impact you might have on someone or where the journey will take you. Volunteering might become a big part of your life.
How One Family Is Raising the Next Generation of Givers
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree the Dakwala-Shah Family. Read their story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
For Chirag and Neha Dakwala-Shah, service isn’t just a weekend activity. It’s a foundational value they’re passing down through generations. Having volunteered since their own youth, the couple felt a deep responsibility to instill that same spirit of getting involved, in their children, Nikita (age 10) and Damian (age 7). A few years ago, the family discovered The Honeycomb Project, an organization that became the catalyst for their hands-on journey through Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. Whether they are engaging in Drumming with Seniors in Bronzeville or packing supplies for local schools, the family treats every project as a lesson in empathy and community connection.
One of the family’s most cherished traditions is working at the Ravenswood Food Pantry, where the children are often found right on the front lines. Neha recalls a particularly biting Chicago morning when the temperature plummeted to a frigid 25 degrees. Despite the bitter cold, 7-year-old Damian refused to head inside for warmth. This moment of resilience proved to Neha that no one is too young to understand the weight of food insecurity or the power of a helping hand.
The Dakwala-Shahs’ impact also extends to board service and strategic advocacy. Neha serves as a board member for the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, working to ensure equitable representation for the next generation. Their commitment to youth empowerment is reflected in their support for organizations like Chicago Debates, High Jump and Once Upon Our Time Capsule, all of which focus on academic enrichment and skill development. By balancing physical labor with high-level leadership, Chirag and Neha are showing their children that change happens both on the street corner and in the boardroom.
Their reach is global, as the family provides critical support to the Dabhoi Community Foundation and Manav Sadhnha, organizations dedicated to global community education, job placement and essential aid. By supporting cultural preservation and training programs abroad while maintaining a steady presence at home, the Dakwala-Shah family proves that a commitment to humanity transcends borders and generations.
What inspired you to get started with Honeycomb?
Neha: The reason we went to Honeycomb is that we were looking for a way for our children to get involved with community service within the community in a way that was seamless. Our children had so many activities, but we were still able to get involved. The Honeycomb Project makes it so easy and rewarding. It’s really like matchmaking. You can do anything from food pantry and clothing sorting to cooking. We also volunteered at a senior community where we played music, brought food and played games. Everything was very family-oriented. A lot of volunteer opportunities don’t allow young children, and this was very much about getting the family involved. If we had a free weekend, we could just go onto the website and find opportunities. That’s how we started to get involved, and we loved the organization so much that we have contributed financially as well.
What project has been most memorable?
The food packing. I don’t even know if I would say it’s the favorite, but it’s the most memorable because it’s not easy, especially for kids. They’re doing labor and they’re not used to it, but I will say, without question, it’s the most rewarding. It’s the one they still talk about today. They’ll ask to go back and say, “Are we going to go give groceries?” They are unpacking, sorting and then distributing it to the actual people who are there for the groceries, so it’s end-to-end. And that being able to see the fruits of their labor has definitely been the most impactful.
What are your long-term plans or goals for volunteering as a family?
Wherever we can continue with Honeycomb, we will, and we have already expanded more. Honeycomb is great for that because they teach your kids about how great it is to volunteer, and then they are open to doing this for other organizations.
We do a lot of volunteer work outside of Honeycomb as well, especially with organizations affiliated with India. We took our kids to India a couple of years ago and we partner very closely with a couple of nonprofits out there; the kids have volunteered at many different youth community centers through that. Long-term, it’s just about continuing to expose them to this type of work, knowing that we can help financially, but that the time spent volunteering is also really important. Being able to see how different people live is vital.
The Dakwala-Shah family volunteering with Honeycomb Project at the Ravenswood Food Pantry.
What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?
For me, it’s about connecting to the cause. Writing a check is so important because people need financial resources, but when you actually get to see where the money, the labor, the time and the effort is going, you feel more connected—not just to the cause, but to the community. It gives you perspective on how lucky you are that you don’t need to go to a food bank or that you can buy your own clothes. It takes you outside of yourself. We can all get very caught up in our own lives, schoolwork, sports and friends, but volunteering helps you realize there is something bigger out there and shows you how rewarding it is to think outside of yourself.
Knowing that we’re helping others and seeing the kids’ reactions is wonderful, but the most rewarding part is connecting with people. It is being able to actually have conversations with people you don’t necessarily interact with on a daily basis. Helping them feels really good. The most rewarding part is just the feeling you have that you’re connecting with and helping your community.
What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?
In terms of lessons learned, a big one is the value of time. Giving time can be harder than giving money, and carving out that time is really hard, but it is so important.
Our kids are just more conscious now. Especially my son—he doesn’t want to waste anything and he is always thoughtful. He’ll say things like, “We have an extra cereal box; if we can’t use it, can we give it to someone?” If they see someone on the street, they’ll give up all their food or their snacks for them.
Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?
Just do it once. I really believe Honeycomb is one of those gems because they make it so simple and there is no commitment. Oftentimes, if you commit to certain places, you may feel like you have to stick with them, but Honeycomb gives you variety so you can find what connects with you. If you can find a way to just do it once, you can understand the impact you can make with your time and your energy. Don’t overthink it; just say yes. It’s like exercise—if you want to get something done, just do it once and see what happens. It’s not as difficult or as intimidating as you think it is.
What do you want people to learn from your story?
Volunteering is fun. It’s such a fun activity and some of the best memories we have as a family are from volunteering. Whether you do it with family, friends or alone to meet other people, there is a lot you can get out of it. It’s a really positive experience.
Teen Angler Promotes Youth Mental Health Through Fishing
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree William Tan. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
He may be just 15 years old, but William Tan has already created a ripple effect of change, one cast at a time. Along with his older brother Vick, he co-founded Fish Hut, a youth-led nonprofit promoting mental health through fishing. William transformed his love for the outdoors into a movement that now reaches thousands of young people across the country.
Based in Minnesota, the brothers’ organization installs “fish huts” – clear boxes filled with rods, reels, lines, hooks and easy-to-follow guides – at community centers like the YMCA, allowing kids to fish whenever they want, free of charge. What started as an after-school hobby has grown into a network of fishing festivals, online events and partnerships that encourage children to unplug and find fun in nature.
Through Fish Hut, William helps more than 80,000 youth each year, partnering with organizations like the YMCA and corporate sponsors across four states. He also started a new nonprofit this year called Build a Reef, which continues his mission of youth empowerment by teaching environmental stewardship through science, engineering and innovation.
Tell us about Fish Hut and what inspired you to start it.
I’m the co-founder of Fish Hut, and what really inspired me to start it was how much fishing helped me personally. Back in fifth grade, after school every day, I’d go to my neighborhood pond to fish. It was something that helped me relax and get away from the stress of school — just being outdoors, focusing on one thing and immersing myself in nature. As I got older, I realized that fishing can have a huge impact on youth mental health. That’s why I created Fish Hut with my brother, Vick, to help other kids experience the same peace and joy that I found.
William catches his first salmon in Alaska./ Courtesy William Tan
Fish Hut is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes youth mental health through fishing. We do this in three ways. First, we place fish hut boxes — clear boxes stocked with everything a kid needs to fish, like a rod, reel, hooks and an instruction manual — at libraries and YMCAs near ponds. These boxes make fishing accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Second, we host in-person festivals like our annual Ice Fishing Festival on Lake Minnetonka, where hundreds of kids come out to fish and have fun. I’d say it’s our largest event yearly, and it’s a really good moment to see all the kids be super happy outside and truly immerse themselves in fishing. And third, we run online fishing events in multiple states, where kids can submit photos of their catches for prizes in categories like biggest fish or most colorful catch. Our goal is to make fishing fun and accessible for everyone and to help kids discover how spending time outdoors can support their mental health.
What is it about fishing and being outdoors that is so powerful for mental health?
Fishing teaches patience and mindfulness. You’re not staring at a screen or worrying about grades or social media. You’re just in the moment, focused on one thing. In today’s world, where everything moves fast and people expect instant gratification, fishing helps kids slow down and teaches them that good things take time and effort. That’s something I think we really need right now, especially for youth who are dealing with stress and anxiety.
How many fish huts have you set up so far, and what kind of impact have you seen?
So far, we’ve placed over 50 fish huts in partnership with the YMCA, and we’re working on expanding nationwide. We really focus on quality, making sure every single kid who uses a fish hut learns something meaningful from the experience.
We’ve already seen thousands of kids participate, and I’ll never forget one moment when we came back to check on a fish hut a few days after installing it. A kid had already taken a rod out and was fishing at a nearby pond. That was such an inspiring moment because I could see the results of our work. Fishing can be expensive, so by providing equipment for free, it expands this very enjoyable activity to everyone.
What keeps you motivated to keep growing Fish Hut?
It’s definitely seeing the results — the joy on kids’ faces when they catch a fish or tell us how much fun they had at our events. After our ice fishing festival, I remember one 8-year-old boy kept asking, “When’s the next event?” because he couldn’t wait to do it again. At another event in New York, kids kept fishing long after we wrapped up. Seeing that excitement and happiness makes me want to keep going every single day.
Clear boxes decorated with colorful fish designs will soon be filled with fishing gear and instruction guides to become Fish Hut’s signature “fish huts.”/ Courtesy William Tan
Why is youth mental health such an important part of your mission?
Mental health is one of the biggest issues youth face today. There’s so much pressure from school, social media and other expectations. But I’ve noticed that when mental health experts come to talk to us at school about coping strategies and such, kids would just zone out.
Fish Hut makes it approachable. Fishing is fun, interactive and something kids want to do. Through it, they learn healthy coping skills without even realizing it. It breaks the stigma and teaches them how to care for their well-being in a natural, enjoyable way.
You recently launched another initiative, Build A Reef. What is it about?
Build A Reef is my new nonprofit that promotes environmental stewardship among youth. It actually came from my project for the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, where I built an Artificial Reef using 3D printing and electronics that uses AI to monitor the environment.
With Build A Reef, I want to teach other kids how they can use engineering, CAD and technology to help protect the environment. We’re planning in-person and online events that make science hands-on and exciting, showing young people that they can create real solutions for the planet.
William guides participants during the Summer Fishing Festival, teaching kids and families how to fish./ Courtesy William Tan
How do you balance school, friends, and running a nonprofit at your age?
It’s definitely a lot of work, but I’m lucky to have a strong volunteer network and amazing supporters. I also make sure to take care of my own mental health by spending time with friends, sailing and building RC planes and rockets.
Running a nonprofit is demanding, but it’s worth it. It’s taught me how to manage my time and stay organized, which helps in school and life too.
What advice would you give to other students who want to start their own nonprofit or service projects?
Just go for it. You’ll never know what kind of impact you can make unless you try. Even a small project can make a big difference if you put in the effort. Work hard, stay determined and don’t be afraid to start. You might be surprised at how far your idea can go.
From Housing to Mental Health: Connecting Veterans to Vital Support
Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Jay Coppock. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
For nearly a decade, Jay Coppock has become a trusted pillar in the veteran community despite never having worn the uniform himself. A native Texan who recently retired after 36 years in the financial industry, Jay devoted 15 of those years as COO at the Associated Credit Union of Texas. But his second calling, and the one that reshaped his life, began in 2015 when he founded SERVE (South East Resource Veterans’ Effort), a nonprofit dedicated to connecting veteran-service organizations across the Texas Gulf Coast.
What started with just six organizations has grown into a powerful coalition of more than 80 local and national partners, all working together to ensure that veterans and their families never have to face challenges alone. Under Jay’s leadership, SERVE has coordinated mental health care, transportation, caregiver support, housing resources, education benefits and more. And since expanding to offer direct financial assistance in 2023, the organization has already provided nearly $200,000 in emergency grants, helping with rent, utilities, food insecurity, car payments, home repairs and countless unmet needs throughout the community.
Beyond SERVE, Jay also serves on multiple boards including Innovative Alternatives, a nonprofit providing free mental health services, and Stay Tuned for Vets, a nonprofit providing access to the arts for veterans. He and his wife also run Charred and Starred, a custom wooden flag-making company that donates roughly 20% of its creations to charitable causes and hosts regular workshops where veterans build their own wooden flags. For his commitment to the veteran community, he has been honored as an Honorary Admiral in the Texas Navy and a Kentucky Colonel, both awarded at the recommendation of veterans who have witnessed his work firsthand.
Jay with a World War II veteran during SERVE’s annual gala./ Courtesy Jay Coppock
What first inspired you to start SERVE?
Around 2014, I was the COO for a local credit union. One of the things our board wanted us to do was expand our mortgage portfolio. While we were researching options, we came across a grant in the state of Texas called the Haven Grant, which allowed veterans who needed home modifications to apply for up to $7,500. Only one institution was using it at the time, and we thought, “Hey, that would be pretty cool. Let’s add that to what we offer for veterans.”
We created a nonprofit called Keystone CDC, which evolved into a program helping low- to moderate-income families with mortgages and wrapping in support for veterans. A year later, we got a Haven Grant for a gentleman whose backyard needed to be redone. When we went to complete the work, his neighbors—many of them veterans—found out, including a Marine namedDonny Daughenbaugh. They rallied to help and even donated money. That was my introduction to Donny.
I met with him and another gentleman, Sam, who each had their own nonprofit work going on but had never heard of one another. I said, “Look, I know both of you. Why don’t we share resources?” And then, about a week later, I had this brainstorm: Why can’t we build something like Business Networking International, but specifically for veterans? We wanted to create a network where organizations help each other and refer resources.
We came up with the name SERVE: Southeast Resource Veterans Effort. We started with six organizations. Our first meeting was on August 13, 2015. Today, we have 80 organizations. If I need help for a veteran, I can reach out to any of them individually. And they all have networks behind them, which means our impact grows exponentially.
I’m not a veteran myself. But when I met these folks, I realized what they could do if someone helped connect them.
Can you describe some of the organizations you partner with and what they offer veterans?
Our chairman is with the WAVES Project, which teaches veterans and a person of their choice how to scuba dive. It’s a mental health and PTSD program. When you’re underwater, it doesn’t matter whether you have arms or legs. The program actually began when a quadriplegic person wanted to learn to scuba dive.
We also partner with the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which focuses on caregivers. People forget how hard caregiving is. They take spouses—male or female—out for activities like bowling, pottery or movies, just to give them a break.
Local colleges like College of the Mainland help veterans navigate the GI Bill and the Hazelwood Act, which covers tuition in Texas.
We have three or four in-home health care programs that go into veterans’ homes to help with medical needs or household tasks. There’s Cheer Up for Vets, which writes handwritten thank-you letters to veterans, which may sound simple, but opening a handwritten note that says “I appreciate you” can absolutely change your day.
Another partner, Stay Tuned for Vets, offers guitar lessons, sends veterans to plays and comedy clubs, and even to my house where my wife and I teach them to make wooden American and Texas flags. Combined Arms helps us locate resources for veterans outside Galveston County.
One of the most important partners is VOW22, whose entire mission is suicide prevention. Ultimately, that’s what all of this is about: If we can solve the problem before it leads to suicide—financial stress, caregiver burnout, lack of connection—we’re doing what we set out to do.
You’re not a veteran yourself. Why does your heart go out to them in this way?
Honestly, I didn’t know what it meant to be a veteran when I started volunteering. There’s no history of military service in my family. I didn’t start helping because Donnie and Sam were veterans—I helped because they were people who cared and who were running into roadblocks. My job was simply to say, “I don’t know your language. Teach it to me. But I can introduce you to a lot of people.”
Once I got to know their stories, and understood what they sacrificed for this country, that changed everything. And back in 2014 and 2015, veterans and first responders were really taking a beating in the public eye. We wanted to show that we were here to help.
What are some of your most memorable stories of people you’ve helped?
It changes by the season. Lately, we’ve been working with six families who were unhoused.
One young woman was living on the street with nothing but her two dogs. She had family in the area, but they wouldn’t take her in. We helped get her into housing and connected her with the VA. She’s now in permanent housing.
We’ve built multiple mobility ramps, installed grab bars for a veteran recovering from a recurring infection and helped families get placed through HUD-VASH and partners like Endeavors.
We helped feed over 14,000 families during Operation Turkey through one of our affiliated groups—and my wife and I personally delivered meals to veterans in Galveston County.
We’ve helped people get jobs, pay rent, keep their cars from being repossessed and ensured children have Christmas without their parents going into debt.
Since the grants began in 2023, we’ve issued over $200,000 in grants and had around 500 documented requests. That doesn’t include phone calls where someone asks for help and we connect them immediately. About 200 families received monetary grants, and many more received resource support.
What do you wish people understood about the challenges veterans face, especially around homelessness?
Sometimes all you have to do is ask. Not everyone on a street corner needs help—it varies—but many do. And for veterans especially, it’s complicated.
Some veterans don’t want to be unhoused, but circumstances, mental health, disability ratings or strained family relationships put them there. Others choose homelessness because they don’t want to navigate those relationships or systems. My job isn’t to drag a veteran off the street. My job is to make sure they’re safe and have resources when they’re ready.
Once they ask for help, we will move heaven and earth, but they have to take part too. We can’t go to their doctor’s appointments for them or fill out their disability forms, but we can walk beside them.
What has been the most rewarding part of your work?
Honestly, the relationships. Donny, Jeff, Rob—the board of seven veterans and their spouses. They’ve become incredible lifelong friends. I probably talk to them every day.
I don’t really care about numbers. I care about the next person who needs help and figuring out how to solve their problem. Serving veterans brought these people into my life, and that’s been the greatest reward.
Why do you think it’s important for people to volunteer or get involved with causes they care about?
You said it best: the causes you care about. I sit on five other boards, and each speaks to me in some way. But for SERVE, I just believe that if something moves you, if something matters, you should step up.
Find the cause that resonates and go get involved. People won’t tell you no. There is always a place to help.
