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Max Bobholz, 18, started Angels at Bat, a nonprofit that collects and delivers baseball equipment for children in Kenya. A light bulb went off as he watched a Ugandan team play in the 2012 Little League World Series: "[T]hey had stories of where the teams came from. And not everybody had enough balls to play and no uniforms, no hats, no shoes," Max says. "I know I had that in my garage. I knew all my friends had it in their garage. And I thought why don't we gather that together and send it to the kids in Africa so they can play." CNN
Max has traveled to Kenya several times to visit the teams, deliver equipment and teach clinics. His effort to collect baseball equipment for youth there has expanded beyond his home state of Wisconsin to include chapters in six states. "There's a lot of good people in this world. And they want to help," says Max's mom, Julie Bobholz. CNN
Sonika Menon, 15, throws birthday parties for perfect strangers. Her nonprofit, The Birthday Giving Project, provides a large cake and birthday bag, complete with all the party supplies for a community celebration for those who lack the means to celebrate. Recipients include children and teens, people with disabilities and senior citizens. Meghan Dunn/CNN
Sonika partners with shelters and organizations in the Plainfield, Illinois, area such as the Boys and Girls Club to identify recipients. "It's important to know that even when you're facing hardship that people are always gonna be there for you and that they love you for who you are," Sonika says. Meghan Dunn/CNN
Liam Hannon, 11, makes and distributes homemade lunches from a wagon, with the help of family and friends. What started as a way to stay busy during his summer break has turned into Liam's Lunches of Love, a movement to help the homeless and hungry of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bryan Kane/CNN
Liam and team decorate each paper bag with a positive message. His regulars know him by name. "I think about how tough it is for someone to be homeless. Everyone should have a place to live," Liam says. "Helping people is important to me because people just need a little kindness in their life." Bryan Kane/CNN
Sisters Melati (left) and Isabel Wijsen were just 12 and 10 years old when they created Bye Bye Plastic Bags, an initiative to help Bali become plastic bag-free, five years ago. Their efforts include river and beach cleanups and educating schools, families and local shops about the issue and what they can do. "When I see people using alternative bags, I just get, like, a huge sprout of joy in me, because it really shows that people are caring," Isabel says. CNN
When Melati and Isabel saw the destruction plastics pollution caused to their homeland, they decided to act. "Why is this the mark that we're leaving behind?" asks Melati. Backed by a volunteer team of about 30 students, the group's efforts include empowering local women to create alternative bags from recycled material to sell in shops around the island. CNN
