New York Teen Turns Personal Loss Into Powerful Mission To Bring Joy To Families Facing Cancer

New York, New York — New York is home to students who are showing up, standing out and making a real impact in their schools and communities. To celebrate them, Patch and T-Mobile have partnered to spotlight local students excelling in academics, athletics, the arts and beyond.

This submission comes from Rachel Justus, who nominated Oliver Justus.

If you know a student who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured as a Star Student on Patch.

What is the star student’s name?

Oliver Justus

What grade is the student in?

10th

How do you know the star student?

I’m his mom!

Tell us about your star student's accomplishments and why they deserve to be recognized on Patch!

“It takes a very special person to endure profound hardship and choose to transform it into hope for others.”

This sentiment was once used to describe Oliver’s older sister, Emma, when she was nominated for this very award. Today, it applies just as powerfully—if not more so—to Oliver Justus.

Oliver was only eight years old when his father was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive and terminal brain cancer linked to his extensive volunteer work in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. At a time when most children are just beginning to understand the world, Oliver was confronted with unimaginable loss, uncertainty and fear. Yet even in the face of this, he chose a path defined not by grief but by purpose.

Inspired by his sister’s commitment to service, Oliver took action. At just 11 years old, he founded JET—the Joyful Experience Team—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing moments of joy to families affected by pediatric brain cancer. Grounded in his father’s belief that “life should not be measured by time, but by joyful moments,” Oliver made it his mission to help families create meaningful memories during their most difficult days.

Recognizing the power of community, Oliver rallied a group of friends who shared his vision. Together, they launched JET’s first initiative: hosting a child with brain cancer and their family as VIP guests at a New York Yankees game. Oliver personally reached out to the organization, secured donated tickets and led fundraising efforts to cover transportation, food and memorabilia. What began as a single act of kindness became something far greater—an experience that allowed one family, even if just for a day, to feel celebrated, supported and seen.

Since that inaugural event in 2022, Oliver has grown JET into a thriving and impactful organization. He has cultivated partnerships with major New York sports teams—including the Knicks, Nets, Mets, Rangers, Islanders and NYCFC—as well as leading entertainment organizations. Through these collaborations, JET has hosted large-scale events serving up to 100 individuals at a time, including outings to the Big Apple Circus, the Gazillion Bubble Show and the Paper Bag Players.

Every detail of these experiences reflects Oliver’s extraordinary leadership and compassion. He organizes his team to create personalized, themed goodie bags, ensures that each family is warmly welcomed and works tirelessly behind the scenes to secure donations and funding. From coordinating logistics to leading grassroots fundraisers like bake sales and raffles, Oliver approaches every aspect of his work with dedication, creativity and heart.

Beyond these events, Oliver has built a culture of service within his own school community. He founded a highly engaged JET club, where he leads weekly initiatives such as creating handmade cards for cancer patients—instilling empathy, generosity and purpose in his peers.

All of this is accomplished while Oliver maintains excellent academic standing and participates in varsity athletics year-round—a testament to his discipline, time management and unwavering commitment.

To date, Oliver has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of individuals facing the devastating reality of brain cancer. More importantly, he has given families something priceless: moments of joy, connection and light in the midst of darkness.

Through JET, Oliver is not only honoring his father’s legacy—he is amplifying it. His work stands as a powerful reminder that even the youngest among us can lead with courage, compassion and vision and, in doing so, profoundly change the lives of others.

What three words best describe your star student?

Passionate, motivated, enthusiastic.

Keep up the great work, Oliver Justus! If you know a star student who deserves recognition, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them to be featured on Patch.

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