Today we’d like to introduce you to Vansh Parikh.
Hi Vansh, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started out as a car photographer, but my passion for cars began long before that. Ever since I was eight years old, I have been completely infatuated with cars. When I turned fourteen, I took every opportunity to attend car events, whether it was a local Cars and Coffee or any track day I could find. When I started high school, I realized I wanted to do more than just enjoy cars I wanted to make an actual difference. One afternoon in my high school parking lot, on my way to my mom’s SUV, I stopped and turned to one of my closest friends, Danny, and asked, “What if I started a car meet that raised money for a good cause?” Danny had said that was an incredible idea, and became one of the Cofounders and members of the Cars For Kids team. That day, I went home and began reaching out to other photographers in the community. At the time, I was working as media for another car meet, which is how I met my other Cofounder, Sooriya. He believed in the idea immediately, reached out to his own clients, and supported the project with full trust. Our first event raised 600 dollars, and from there we continued to grow. With the help of social media, we connected with sponsors who played a huge role in our success. I would not have been able to start Cars For Kids, or help it expand, without my cofounders, sponsors, and my incredible team of photographers, who helped us connect with car owners and reach even more people in the community. Now, at sixteen, Cars For Kids is on track to become one of the fastest-growing car meets in the state, and our goal is to raise another 5,000 dollars by the end of 2026.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been smooth at all. In the beginning, I reached out to about 50 supercar owners on Instagram, and roughly 80% either declined or never responded. Early meets sometimes had as few as twelve cars show up, and we dealt with constant challenges, finding reliable venues, securing permits, and generating consistent donations. There were times I wondered if the effort was worth it. But every reminder of what we were fighting for the kids and families impacted by childhood cancer—pushed me forward. Every dollar donated and every person who showed up reinforced why we couldn’t give up. We learned to take each setback as a lesson, adapt our approach, and keep building our community step by step.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the Director of Cars For Kids, where I oversee everything from planning and managing car rallies to partnering with sponsors and managing public outreach. Every one of our rallies, events, shirts, and sponsorships serves a single mission to raise funds and awareness in the fight against childhood cancer. One of my proudest achievements was our most recent rally, bringing together twenty supercars to create an unforgettable event that directly supported cancer hospitals. What sets our organization apart is that we are not here just to entertain. we are here to make an impact. Not a single dollar has ever gone into my pocket; every cent is donated directly to hospitals and programs that help children. Our community is built on passion, generosity, and a shared belief that cars can be a tool for change.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is patience. When I started, I wanted immediate results—events packed, sponsors lined up, donations pouring in instantly. But becoming the Director of Cars For Kids taught me to slow down and trust the process. I learned to be patient when waiting for drivers to respond to invitations, patient when engaging new supporters, and patient when fundraising took longer than expected. This has allowed me to think more strategically and make better decisions for the organization. Patience has also helped me build stronger, more trusting relationships with car owners, sponsors, and volunteers. Ultimately, it has shown me that meaningful progress takes time, but the results are worth the wait.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://give.texaschildrens.org/site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carsforkidsus/
Image Credits
Matthew Nguyen
Billy Duncan
Ishaan Kumar
