Big impact comes in small packages

Vivaan and Meher help support JUST TRYAN IT, a Bethesda-based nonprofit, by raising money and participating as part of a team in a triathlon. Proceeds from the event support families with a child in treatment for pediatric cancer in the Greater Washington DC area.

Vivaan and Meher participated in a triathlon that took place this September in Bethesda. To prepare physically, they and their team, Tikka Masala, practiced swimming, biking, and running throughout the summer, and even got their family involved.

River Falls residents may have seen Vivaan and Meher outside the River Falls pool on August 23, 2026, where they hosted a Books & Bakes event as part of their fundraising efforts. Vivaan and Meher gave away their own books and 60 homemade brownies, requesting only a voluntary donation from those who wanted to contribute. Their efforts helped them raise $350.00 each to support JUST TRYAN IT, as well as additional donations from family members.

Meher and Vivaan are motivated to volunteer by the bravery of children they are helping. "It is hard to be in hospital and by doing this, we are helping take stress off of kids and the whole family," shares Vivaan. "If they smile, maybe other kids will smile too," observes Meher. She hopes that their efforts will, "help kids who are sick, and make them feel better and like someone cares for them."

Henley Mast, age 12, founded Lucky4Love to help children in Honduras.

In 2022, when Henley was eight years old, she and her family went on a trip to Honduras and she was struck by children she saw, "with no school, water or shelter." Once Henley returned home, she said that she started trying to think about what she could do to help children like the ones she saw on her trip.

Henley researched charities that support children in Honduras, and found Save the Children Action Network, which let her choose where to send her donations.

Henley realized that she could turn a special talent for finding lucky four-leaf clovers into a vehicle to help these children. In the beginning, Henley and her mother found and pressed four-leaf clovers, then used them to make colorful bookmarks. That first year, Henley set up a stand at the River Falls pool and sold her bookmarks, along with lemonade and brownies, and donated the proceeds to Save the Children.

Henley's sisters, Meadow, 11, and Adair, 12, helped her from the very first stand at the pool, and have continued to help and support her ever since.

Henley says her goal every year, "is to make more than the prior year and help more people."

In the five years since she started, Henley has collected over 340 four-leaf clovers and expanded her products to include key chains and other items. In total, she has raised over $11,500.00 to help the children who first inspired her efforts.

Charity work is important, says Henley. She observes that there are countries where people are not as fortunate as those she knows here at home. "So, we should donate where we can."

Henley built the website Lucky4Love, which she was recently successful in registering as a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) status in Maryland.

The most surprising thing she has learned through her efforts, Henley says, is that, "it is not that hard to make a change for good if you try."