Meet Sunny Chen

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sunny Chen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sunny below.

Hi Sunny, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

My purpose in the world to make a meaningful difference. It all started when I witnessed firsthand the aftermath of a disaster—one that shattered communities and disrupted lives—the devastating flash floods in central Appalachia in 2022. I joined efforts to help my community organize a Christmas drive for those affected, but one moment, in particular, struck me deeply. A young boy didn’t ask for toys or gadgets like many other children might have. Instead, he asked for basic necessities—undergarments and sanitary products. His simple request illuminated the harsh reality of hygiene poverty.

This moment was the catalyst that set me on a path I hadn’t fully envisioned before. I began researching hygiene poverty and was shocked to learn that millions of people die each year from preventable, hygiene-related illnesses. These deaths could be avoided with something as simple as soap. That realization became the spark for my nonprofit, the ReSoap Foundation. What started as a small, local initiative has since grown into a nationwide effort to fight hygiene poverty and address environmental challenges. Through ReSoap, we’ve donated thousands of hygiene products to communities in need, but it’s about so much more than the numbers. It’s about the real, tangible impact on people’s lives—like helping children in underprivileged schools learn the importance of oral hygiene and giving them the tools to smile confidently.

My purpose expanded further when I delved into the environmental impacts that contributed to the floods in central Appalachia. Researching with experts on the devastating effects of deforestation and surface mining, I saw how human actions accelerate climate change, creating a vicious cycle of natural disasters. This deepened my resolve to address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of these issues.

Finding my purpose has been about realizing that the world’s problems—hygiene poverty, climate change—are interconnected, and that I have the power to make a difference. It’s not enough to sit on the sidelines. I want to be part of the solution, to lead initiatives that improve lives and protect our planet. This sense of responsibility is what drives me forward, and it’s what I’ll carry with me in everything I do.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

At ReSoap Foundation, we are committed to bridging the gap between those who have and those who need. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we focus on combating hygiene poverty and climate change, two global challenges that affect millions. Our work is guided by three main projects: Project ReSoap, Project Re: Soap, and Project Four R’s.

Project ReSoap focuses on digital advocacy in the healthcare and environmental sectors, empowering our ambassadors to research, write, and speak on topics through our digital magazine and podcast. Project Re: Soap tackles hygiene poverty, organizing donation drives and packaging hygiene kits for those in need. Project Four R’s focuses on sustainability, with events aimed at reducing waste through secondhand donations and trash cleanups.

What’s truly special about ReSoap is the way we unite people from all walks of life. We have shown homeless families we care through our personalized hygiene kit donations. We have empowered women by destigmatizing menstruation. We have taught kids to smile through our dental educational events. We have allowed students to learn through our book drives. We have given individuals confidence through our clothing charities. And we have provided phones for underprivileged schools through our Meta grant. Each care kit, menstrual product, dental presentation, book, article of clothing, and phone is a symbol of shared humanity.

What excites me most is how ReSoap has become a platform for diverse voices. Our newly launched digital magazine and podcast feature topics as varied as hygiene challenges in Ghana, nutritional guides, and even Taylor Swift’s environmental impact. It’s this diversity of thought, belief, and passion that makes our work so impactful. We’ve created bridges between donors, volunteers, educators, and recipients—all united by a shared commitment to making the world a better place.

This is just the beginning. We are always looking for new ways to expand, whether through hygiene kit packaging events, secondhand clothing drives, or fresh discussions on our podcast. At ReSoap, we are building a movement, and we invite everyone to join us on this journey.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were adaptability, resilience, and community-building. When I started ReSoap Foundation as a high school student with no experience, it felt overwhelming. I thought I had to have everything planned out perfectly before making any progress. But what I quickly learned was the power of adaptability. It’s okay for your nonprofit to evolve as you do. At first, I would spend hours meticulously planning every detail, and if things didn’t go according to plan, I’d feel like I had failed. But embracing flexibility allowed ReSoap to grow beyond my initial vision. Being adaptable opened up opportunities I hadn’t even considered when I started.

Resilience was another essential skill. There were many moments when things didn’t go as planned—events didn’t come together, projects fell through, or progress seemed slow. In the beginning, I would let these setbacks derail me. But over time, I learned to push through the tough moments and keep going. Resilience is key to turning challenges into stepping stones, and it’s something you build over time by refusing to give up.

Finally, community-building made all the difference. ReSoap didn’t succeed just because of me—it succeeded because of the volunteers, ambassadors, and supporters who believed in our mission. Building relationships with people from different backgrounds who shared our passion was critical to expanding our impact. We united around a common goal of fighting hygiene poverty and climate change, and that collective effort propelled us forward.

For anyone just starting their journey, my advice is to embrace flexibility, develop resilience, and focus on building a strong community around your cause. Don’t get stuck thinking everything has to be perfect or that setbacks mean failure. Keep moving forward, and remember, it’s the people who rally around your mission that will make your impact grow. Let go of the fear of things not going exactly as planned—allow yourself to evolve along the way.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

We are always looking to collaborate with individuals passionate about making a difference. At the ReSoap Foundation, we offer opportunities for people of all ages and from any location to become ReSoap ambassadors. Whether you’re interested in digital advocacy or hands-on initiatives, there’s a place for you here.

For those who enjoy writing or creating content, Project ReSoap is a great fit, where you can write for our magazine or record podcast episodes on hygiene and environmental topics. If you’re more hands-on, Project Re: Soap allows you to organize hygiene product donation drives or assemble hygiene kits for communities in need. And for those dedicated to sustainability, Project Four R’s focuses on hosting trash cleanup events or organizing secondhand donation drives.

We also provide certifications for volunteer hours, which can count toward club requirements, the National Honor Society, and other service organizations. Plus, we offer Ambassador of the Month honors and the prestigious Presidential Volunteer Service Award for outstanding contributions.

If you’re interested in getting involved, head over to our website at resoapfoundation.org and apply to become an ambassador in just a few clicks! We’d love to connect with like-minded individuals who are ready to make a positive impact.

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