We were lucky to catch up with Janne Guo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Janne, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
My optimism comes from two places: connection and creativity. Growing up, I was very close with my cousin—we were born on the exact same day—and when she was diagnosed with leukemia, art became our shared language. We would draw together both in the hospital and at home. Those quiet artistic moments brought us closer together as we shared a simple hobby that always brought joy.
Later, in middle school, I became obsessed with folding tiny paper stars for fun and giving them to classmates. I saw that same emotional impact—how something so small and heartfelt could spark real joy. My friends would keep these stars tucked in their backpacks and pencil pouches for months. That’s when I realized creativity wasn’t just a hobby—it was a way of building connection, comfort, and hope.
That realization of the recurring pattern inspired me to start Stellar Wonderz, a nonprofit that brings handmade crafts, star bundles, crafting kits, and encouraging messages to hospital patients, elders, and veterans. Even in difficult situations—whether it’s a child undergoing long-term treatment or an elderly person in a care facility—I’ve seen how small gestures can carry enormous emotional weight.
One moment that still sticks with me happened when we donated star jars and a video message to an art school in China. After watching our video, one of the students burst into tears. Her teacher later told us that she had been going through a difficult time at home and hadn’t felt loved or supported in a long time—but our words and gifts helped her feel genuinely heard. That moment, and so many others like it, fuel my belief that hope can be handcrafted.
Every star I fold and every story I hear reminds me that optimism isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we create, together.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m the founder of Stellar Wonderz, a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to spreading care and comfort through creativity. We organize donations of handmade crafts, star bundles, and care kits to hospitals, nursing homes, VA centers, and children’s hospitals—each one carrying a message of encouragement. We currently have 2 categories (crafts & kits) and 5 opportunities each to participate in. Occasionally, our chapters and our main organization makes other stellar-themed crafts for holidays such as star lollipop turkeys for Thanksgiving. We often get creative and encourage innovative ideas to spice things up with our donations.
What makes Stellar Wonderz unique is how we engage teens from all over the world in meaningful service. We’ve built a network of over 1,000 volunteers, launched 15 chapters across the U.S., and delivered nearly 10,000 handmade items to over 26 partner centers. Everything we do is powered by young people crafting from home, leading chapters, organizing events, and creating emotional impact on our surrounding communities.
This summer, we’re excited and looking forward to hosting our first 5k. We will be holding raffles, including in-kind donations from Kendra Scott, and welcoming local clubs to host activity stands. Fundraisers like these will help us expand our donations to include toys, comfort baskets, and more diverse donations. We’re also launching intergenerational crafting events that bring teen volunteers and elderly patients together for in-person connection, and developing a youth blog platform to showcase teen voices in art, writing, and reflection.
Stellar Wonderz is growing into more than just a nonprofit—it’s a movement that proves how small, creative acts can build bridges, lift spirits, and inspire youth to lead with compassion.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
First, running a youth-led nonprofit means constantly adapting—whether it’s designing a craft that’s meaningful and safe for patients or organizing new activities to engage volunteers. Discovering the correct niche is also vital. When first creating my nonprofit, I had to identify a relevant issue I wanted to target in my community using a unique solution.
Advice: Don’t wait for the “perfect” solution—start with what you have. At first, we only had star bundles but grew! Now we have 2 programs each with 5 different opportunities to represent each corner of a star. We’re also soon planning to add more programs. Practice thinking resourcefully in small ways, and treat every challenge like a chance to create something new. Also, always listen to your community and adjust that way. The people you meet along the way can provide so much helpful insights.
Second, I learned how to bring people together, delegate, and grow a movement from the ground up. The organization first started with 3 people and now has grown into something so much bigger. Our leadership team also consists of individuals from all across America. Also, building trust and interest with volunteers and giving them true passion to contribute was key to growing Stellar Wonderz. Everyone now involved was captured by the initiative we started with.
Advice: Leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers—it means creating space for others to lead with you. Start by listening, asking for input, and letting people take the lead on what they’re passionate about. Let them actively participate by answering questions and taking recommendations.
Lastly, whether I’m writing messages for star bundles or pitching a collaboration, leading with empathy has shaped everything. Almost all of our crafts and kits incorporate writing messages to give them meaning. Also, we have a communications server where our Volunteer Director checks regularly to help volunteers. After donations, we share the news with our community and have also shared stories about the impact. People respond when they feel heard, cared for, and involved.
Advice: Empathy, a soft skill, can take you further than many other hard skills.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
At Stellar Wonderz, we’re always looking to collaborate with individuals, schools, nonprofits, businesses, and community groups who share our passion for spreading kindness and supporting people through creativity. We often collaborate with local clubs and organizations.
We’re especially excited to partner on:
– Crafting events with schools or community centers
– Craft/Kit donations to Hospitals, care centers, or any group in need of smiles
– Fundraisers and sponsorships
– Collaborative campaigns with other youth-led or service-driven organizations
If you’re reading this and feel aligned with our mission, we’d love to hear from you! You can connect with us through @stellarwonderz on Instagram, [email protected], or reach out via our website at www.stellarwonderz.org. Let’s create something meaningful and illuminate our communities together! 🌟
Contact Info:
- Website: stellarwonderz.org
- Instagram: stellarwonderz
- Facebook: stellarwonderz
- Linkedin: stellarwonderz
- Youtube: stellarwonderz
