Jewish youngsters get a bad reputation for being over privileged and apathetic, but Sydney Kamen is living proof that doesn’t have to be the case. This young lady became a philanthropist when she was only 14-years-old! It all started during Hanukkah 2004 when her mother encouraged Sydney and her sister to forgo gifts and donate to a charity instead.

That led to Sydney’s interest in doing service missions, first to Haiti and then to Thailand, where she learned that the most basic hygiene items were beyond the reach of many citizens.

She then approached luxury hotels, asking for donations of unused soap. Four years later, the project now has 13 hotel suppliers and 14 community partners in countries such as India, Myanmar and Kenya, and has produced and distributed over 50,000 bars of recycled soap.

Did I mention this young lady is now only 20-years-old?! In addition to her charity work, she attends Dartmouth College and is a member of ROTC.

I am very impressed with everything she has accomplished—more than those who are twice her age. Sometimes we don’t give enough credit to the younger members of the Jewish community. I think they truly do care, and if we encourage and assist them, they can do great things.