The Thunder Bolt

By Khue (G12) and Hayle (G11)

Cup Cats is a student-led social entrepreneurship initiative dedicated to creating unique, practical products while making a meaningful impact. All of our profits are donated to Operation Smile Vietnam, a non-governmental organization providing free medical treatment for children with cleft conditions. 

Founded by a team of just four current High School seniors, Cup Cats has grown into a thriving enterprise of over 20 passionate members. Over the past two years, we’ve not only developed and manufactured our own line of products, but we’ve also actively engaged with children and families during Operation Smile’s surgical missions. By combining entrepreneurship with philanthropy, we aim to help children receive life-changing surgeries while fostering a culture of giving back in our community.

Recently, we got featured in the first Global Smile Newsletter for our work in 2024!
Global Smile News, 2024 Event Highlights - published 4/17

About Operation Smile (Vietnam):

Operation Smile is a global nonprofit providing free, safe surgeries to children and adults born with cleft lips and palates. Present in Vietnam since 1989, it has provided critically needed care for more than 75,000 patients and celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2024. Operation Smile goes beyond surgery, offering comprehensive care, including:

• Speech therapy
• Nutritional support
• Dental care and orthodontics
• Psychosocial support for patients and families

It also trains Vietnamese medical teams, ensuring long-term local impact. A single surgery costs about 10,000,000 VND (~250 USD), covering all medical and travel-related expenses.
Additionally, each year, Operation Smile hosts the International Student Leadership Conference (ISLC), gathering students from around the world:

• Focuses on youth leadership, service, and global health.
• Empowers students to become advocates for change through workshops, cultural exchange, and teamwork.

Our Achievements So Far:

• Generated over 200 million VND in revenue and donated 100 million VND—funding 10 life-changing surgeries.
• Provided 105 Smile Bags filled with goodies for patients.
• Completed successful projects, including:
• Selling our limited-edition Christmas Hats at the Christmas Fair.
• Designing and selling Lì Xì for Tết 2024 & 2025 in collaboration with Operation Smile Vietnam.
• Partner with the school to create appreciation gifts for parents.

Student Voices:

Why did you start the project?
Khue (G12): I started the project with San, Duy and Ha. As we were contemplating how we could make a meaningful project, we thought of combining our interest in service and business together. And that was how Cup Cats, our social enterprise, was born!

San (G12): I wanted my designs to be something more tangible and meaningful, and Cup Cats was the perfect opportunity for me to do so, combining our group’s personal skills and interests in business and service to create thoughtful products that bring meaningful changes.

How has the project been helpful to you and the community?
Hayle (G11): Seeing real changes happen through Cup Cats made the club feel so much more meaningful—it became more than just gaining experience or doing volunteer work. Knowing that our efforts directly help raise funds for children who can’t afford life-changing surgeries gave the project a deeper purpose. It reminded me that even small contributions, like organizing bake sales or events, can have a real impact on someone’s life.

Ha (G12): Cup Cats’ main goal has always been to help provide free surgeries to local Vietnamese children through Operation Smile Vietnam. The fairs we’ve been to have spread awareness to the community; the hospital visits we’ve attended helped the doctors with their work to bring good health to the children patients.

What kind of legacy do you hope Cup Cats will leave behind?
Khue (G12): I hope Cup Cats leaves behind a legacy of passion for service and entrepreneurship, showing that students can turn their interests into meaningful impact. For the school and future student leaders, I want it to inspire more creative, student-led initiatives. For Operation Smile, I hope our efforts help unify and grow Operation Smile’s student programs across Vietnam.

Duy (G12): I want Cup Cats to be remembered not only for the work our team has done and the milestones we have accomplished, but as a testament to how students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines can come together for meaningful change. I hope our legacy reflects a spirit of joy and happiness, whether through our products, our support for Operation Smile, or simply our story and journey.

What is a highlight of your journey with Cup Cats?
Khue (G12): Coordinating the production of our special products like Christmas Hats and Li Xi was tough but they were also the most rewarding projects.

Hye In (G11): I’ve always felt like Cup Cats wasn’t just a club but a family. My highlight was when we gathered for team lunch. Felt like thanksgiving lol.

Le (G10): Cup Cats has always been such a fun space with amazing people. It’s awesome to be part of a team that’s super passionate and actually making a difference for the children.

What are your visions and plans for Cup Cats next year? How do you hope to grow the impact even further? 
Hayle (G11): My vision for Cup Cats next year is to continue creating student-friendly products—like Christmas hats and other festive items—to sell at the Christmas Fair and raise funds. I also hope to expand by making and selling lì xì envelopes at open markets to support Operation Smile. Most importantly, I want to organize a volunteer hospital visit during winter break, where we can directly assist with setting up surgeries and see the real impact our efforts are making.

Minh (G11): I want to strengthen both our impact and our sense of community. I hope to introduce more fundraising opportunities like DIY tote bag stations or personalized merchandise that give students a chance to connect with our cause creatively. Beyond fundraising, I plan to work closely with the team to organize a visit to one of our partner hospitals, allowing members to see firsthand the smiles and lives we’re helping change. Strengthening our brand identity and storytelling across social media is also something I want to focus on so that more students understand our mission and feel inspired to get involved.

Panda (G10): Cup Cats has always been a service-focused initiative, so that is the value I want to push forward the most for Cup Cats next year. I want to organize more opportunities to spread awareness about Cup Cats’ mission, whether during service fairs or other fundraising events. From an operations leader’s perspective, I hope to make our operations process more efficient by increasing inter-department communication and reaching out to more manufacturers.

Sako (G11): As the new Head of Design, my vision for Cup Cats next year is to create meaningful and creative product designs that reflect our mission and connect more deeply with our customers. I plan to launch new designs that not only represent Cup Cats’ identity but also highlight the cause behind our work. By encouraging more collaboration and innovation within the team, I hope to help grow both our impact and our community next year.

Links:
Our Cup Cats Linktree:

Learn More About Operation Smile

Learn more about Concordia's High School Program