From Handmade Bears to Lifelong Impact: AFP's 2007 Youth in Philanthropy Award Recipient Today

In 2007, Sarah Rose Varadian received the William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy in recognition of her work founding Wee Care Bears, a charity that raised funds for girls in Afghanistan by selling handmade stuffed animals.

Now, 18 years later, Sarah is still actively engaged in the nonprofit sector through her consulting business, as well as her vocal advocacy for youth in philanthropy. We caught up with her to learn more about her current work, and how receiving this award influenced her career trajectory. 

Q: In the aftermath of 9/11, you started an initiative called Wee Care Bears, which helped found two girls' schools in Afghanistan. What inspired you to start this project, and how did you go about getting the word out and raising support—especially in a time before social media and many of the digital tools today’s youth in philanthropy rely on?

A: Shortly after the events of 9/11, I heard in the news that girls in Afghanistan were being denied the opportunity to receive an education. At the time, I was attending an all-girls school and felt called to do something to help. In October 2001, I convinced a group of my friends to help me put together a fair in my front yard to start raising money. We distributed flyers throughout our neighborhood, and I went door to door to different businesses to ask if they’d donate supplies like a bouncy house or hundreds of tiny pumpkins for a craft. I relied on friends to spread the word, and the fair was a success! I had officially caught the bug for fundraising and shortly after, created the Wee Care Bears. The idea was to make tiny skirts that matched my school uniform and dress little bears (our school’s mascot) to sell at our school. My mother and I went to our local uniform store and secured a donation of several yards of our plaid fabric, and she taught me how to sew. We raised enough money that year to open two girls’ schools in Afghanistan through the organization CARE, USA!

Q: So, after receiving the award in 2007, did you continue the Wee Care Bears project? Tell us a little bit about the transition from this project you started as a teen, to a career in nonprofits.

A: Before graduating from Ursuline Academy in Dedham, MA in 2006, where I had launched the Wee Care Bears, I taught younger students how to sew the skirts, and they continued my legacy at the school for many years! I pursued my bachelor’s degree at Stonehill College where I created my own “nonprofit business” focus and interned at the Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) on campus. I assisted in their creation of the Developing Fundraising Leaders Institute (DFLI) at Stonehill, and became the director of CNM, leading all of its programming until 2014. DFLI was a program that is near and dear to my heart. It trained college students in the ins and outs of fundraising and the nonprofit sector. We partnered with the college’s advancement division to give students the real scope of what cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation looks like and placed them in internships with local nonprofits to put their new skills to use! Having the opportunity to train students in development and watch them start their own careers in the nonprofit sector was the most rewarding professional experience of my life.

Q: After receiving your award, you actually interned with AFP.  What was that experience like and what impact did that have on your outlook on fundraising and your future career goals?

A: I had a wonderful experience interning with AFP, and still remember the projects, the people and the energy clearly! It was my first real internship experience, and I received such amazing mentorship and opportunities during my time there. It solidified for me, not only that I was meant to serve in the nonprofit sector, but that the work that is done by nonprofits is the most important and impactful work there is! The professionals that I had the good fortune to work alongside inspired me to continue to spread that light and passion.

Q: Towards the beginning of your career, you held roles at Stonehill College and at the Jefferson Awards Foundation where you facilitated youth involvement in philanthropy. How did your own early involvement in philanthropy inform your work at these organizations and were there changes in how youth engage in philanthropy that you observed, when you compare your experiences to those of the kids that you worked with?

A: My experience as a youth in philanthropy, as you mentioned earlier, was pre-social media. Much of the work I did was hands-on, boots on the ground, door to door, in-person, whatever you want to call it! It was a lot of work, but it was rewarding! I loved being able to talk with as many people as possible and share my passion for the cause. While I may not have achieved the kind of reach that is possible with social media today, I feel like I was able to make deeper, personal connections with donors. With that in mind, I tried to convey the importance of interpersonal relationships with my students.

Q: You’ve been a nonprofit consultant now for about 15 years. What aspects of your work are you most passionate about and how has this evolved throughout your life?

A: If I consider September 11, 2001, as the start of my fundraising career, I am approaching 24 years of being immersed in the nonprofit sector! Looking back at my experience, I realize that second to the impact that the funds raised had on the organizations I supported, it was actually engaging others in philanthropy that I was most passionate about. I absolutely love bringing people into the fold, introducing students to what a career in the nonprofit sector could look like, celebrating youth who are achieving incredible things for organizations, or shaping one’s understanding of how to be a valuable board member.

Q: Can you share with us more about what your work looks like today?

A: I have spent the last ten years raising my four children and instilling in them the importance of philanthropy in all its forms. I am currently serving as the president of their nursery-12th grade school’s community organization, and I continue my work using my knowledge and experience in fundraising by offering a variety of board trainings to local nonprofits. I enjoy meeting individuals whose profession may not be in the nonprofit sector, but who are all giving their spare time to an organization they care so deeply about. It is rewarding to see lightbulbs go off during these trainings, as they put the puzzle pieces of fundraising together and understand what their role as a board member really is. A strong, effective, dedicated board is critical to the success of an organization, and I am honored to be a small part of getting them on the right track!

Q: As you work with today’s youth in philanthropy, what advice do you give young people who are interested in starting their own nonprofit or charitable project?

A: Passion is contagious. If you are genuinely excited about something, others will see and feel it too. It is all about finding what will connect people to a cause and sharing what they can do to make a difference. One of my mentors once told me that in philanthropy, people either want to change lives or save lives. If you can provide ways for donors to make a true impact on others, you’re off to a great start! 

Interested in honoring inspiring youth in your community? Applications are currently open for the 2026 William R. Simms Award for Youth in Philanthropy, sponsored by Carter. Submit your nomination by December 19, 2025.