MY STORY

FUNDRAISING.

My name is Hollis, and I'm 19 years old. When I was 9, I decided to make use of my precocious soccer-juggling skills as a way to fundraise in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s lifesaving mission in the fight against childhood cancer.

Since then, through a combination of soccer juggling, appearances at special events, and public speaking, I have raised more than $750,000 with thousands of individual donors, jugglers, volunteers, and partners supporting my cause around the world. I’m grateful for everyone who has helped me at special events and for the support of every single donor and anyone who has ever shared my story!

But, kids with cancer aren't cured with $750,000, so I'm still at it, juggling, teaching at clinics, public speaking, and doing as much outreach as I can. I'll keep juggling and speaking until kids no longer get cancer, and I hope you'll support Juggling for Jude as my move forward with my mission! Next stop: $1 Million!

INSPIRING YOUTH IN PHILANTHROPY And the power of girls in sport.

As part of my journey, I have also become an advocate for youth in philanthropy and the development of purpose in teens, speaking and writing about how young people can take a passion and turn it into a way to give back. I’m a mentor to other philanthropists-in-the-making and love working with and inspiring kids and teens to engage in real commitment to a cause. As someone who made waves as a little girl and a soccer ball, I’m particularly passionate about empowering girls to channel their passions and create change in the world. Sports so often provide the community and platform for this kind of girl power, and I’m committed to helping girls find their voice and their purpose. I’m grateful and honored to be a spokesperson for the next generation of philanthropists and welcome all opportunities to share my message and learn more. You can listen to my TED Talk on teen purpose here.

RESEARCHING DONOR MESSAGING AND OPTIMIZATION.

Having completed a Certificate in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations through Northwestern University's School of Professional Studies, I’ve worked closely with Howard Moskowitz, PhD, a pioneer in the field of consumer analytics and market segmentation. Together we’ve applied his research methodology and technology to help St. Jude and other nonprofits and philanthropists communicate with their audiences for maximum return. I’ve also trained teen and young adult students worldwide to conduct their own research to benefit causes of their choosing. I’m constantly innovating and seeking to generate new avenues for impact, and this one is especially exciting!

STUDYING PHILANTHROPY, NONPROFITS, GRANT-MAKING, Impact investing, AND LEADERSHIP

During high school, I started my academic and experiential deep dive into philanthropy, ethics, grant-making, and nonprofit operations. As a student at Stanford University, and through internships and clubs on campus, I’m continuing my education in these areas, while also gaining valuable experience in impact investing, venture capital support for social entrepreneurship, and more. I see my education as an increasingly critical tool in the fight against childhood cancer, as well as other important endeavors.

Check out this interview on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt from May 2021 to learn more!

I also love this video produced by the Diller Teen Awards in 2020.

JUGGLING RECORD

As for my juggling, you can watch my current record of 7,157 juggles below. I got it on July 30, 2021. It took 76 minutes, which is a pretty long time to be juggling, but thoughts of the kids at St. Jude kept me going!