Zayan Kajani receives the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award at the 2024 National Philanthropy Day in San Francisco.
Each year the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter marks one day during the third week of November to celebrate exemplars in philanthropy and those at the forefront of social change. Awards are presented to individuals and institutions whose giving to the community inspires all of us. Honorees are nominated by the community and selected by a committee of volunteers who are leaders in the world of philanthropy.
For honorees aged 5-17, the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award recognizes service by an individual or group of young people ages 5 to 17 at the time they are nominated, who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteering, and leadership in philanthropy.
The 2024 Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award was presented to Zayan Kajani.
Zayan Kajani is a 13-year-old 8th grader who attends the Dorris-Eaton School in San Ramon, California. Being the grandchild of immigrants from Kenya and Pakistan, he understands the perspective of those who are leaving their home to start a new life. Influenced by his parents, he understands the frame of reference of those who are trying to work hard to live the proverbial American Dream.
His perspective is of the ones who are fortunate enough to have tremendous opportunities due to the hard work put in by those who have come before us. This allows his to focus on finding ways to bring positive change to the world around him. Since as far back as he can remember, he has been taught the importance of giving and helping. He’s grown to appreciate giving more than getting and that has really set the tone for all the work he has done to improve the conditions of others.
He has tried to do his part in taking advantage of the resources available to him to help those who need it most. He started an organization called Lost and Found Heroes, which is focused on the dual purpose of giving to those less fortunate while mitigating waste and ultimately doing my part in saving our planet. He has also established Heroes4Hunger, focused on providing meals to those in his neighborhood who are in need. “I honestly feel like I have only just begun!”
The following is the acceptance speech generously shared by Zayan Kajani:
Hi, my name is Zayan Kajani. When I was first told that I had won this award, I was ecstatic, but that soon turned to apprehension when I learned that I had to give a two minute speech because what impact can I make on each and every one of you in two whole minutes. So, I’m going to spare you the details and cut right to the chase.
As I talk to all of you later, I’ll go into greater depth on what I did, but the abridged version is that during the month of Ramadan, where Muslims around the world including me were fasting from sunrise to sunset, I wanted to do my part in making sure that no one else went hungry in my hometown of Dublin, California by creating a Heroes for Hunger Ramadan Food Drive in coalition with the Alameda County Community Food Bank. It was a great success. We raised $20,000 and provided 40,000 meals, which is over half the population of Dublin.
But one thing I’ve learned throughout my life is that the WHY is more important than the WHAT. When people would ask me why I did this, I would always say that I wanted to help people. Even though that is true, there was another reason that went much deeper; I wanted to inspire. Deep down in my heart, I always knew that I could never change the world by myself, but I do know that if my work inspires just one person and they inspire another, we can make a difference.
So, when you go home to your families tonight, I hope you don’t just tell them this kid raised $20,000 and fed about 40,000 meals. INSTEAD, I hope you tell them that this 13 year old kid inspired you to believe that everyone can make a difference because that is why I do this; that is my inspiration. So, with that, I hope that we can all do our part in making an impact to change the world and make it a better place. Thank you.