Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Hollowell And Zoë Altizer
Hi Sophie Hollowell and Zoë Altizer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sophie – I was adopted from China at a very early age, and growing up in Georgia, I did not have many opportunities to explore this aspect of my identity. There were no other adoptees in my area, and overall, it was not really something I addressed much during my childhood.
At the same time, I was fortunate grow up surrounded by nonprofits. Many members of my family are very active socially, and I grew up hearing stories about my grandmother’s nonprofit, which revolved around supporting children’s education and development in underprivileged communities across the world. Throughout middle and high school, I actively volunteered with various nonprofits in my community, which prompted invaluable personal growth and helped me develop essential skills in leadership and collaboration.
As a child, I was incredibly shy and timid — I struggled a lot with my identity and with having confidence in myself, and I attribute a lot of my personal development with the opportunities I have had to work with nonprofits. Being a part of these organizations gave me a voice and a space to grow into myself, and it nurtured my understanding of the profound impact people can have in addressing social issues, showing me that collective efforts can create meaningful change. As I have moved forward in my life, it has been incredibly important for me to continue to use my voice to give voice to others.
These experiences, combined with my personal journey as an adoptee, inspired me to get involved with China Care when starting my undergraduate degree at Georgia Tech. While I started as a volunteer, my role soon shifted to Fundraising Coordinator, and I now serve as the president of the organization.
As president, I have had the privilege of contributing to the amazing impact of China Care, which aims to create community for adopted and foster children and raise awareness about children’s development across Asia. It has been an incredibly rewarding journey to see our growth, and I am constantly in awe of the people I have met through this organization who inspire me every day. Going into the future, I am eager to continue growing and making a difference in this space.
Zoë – Like Sophie, I too was adopted from China. At 15 months old, my world shifted from rows of metal cribs and faded pastel murals at the Foshan Nanhai Social Welfare Institute to a dandelion-filled backyard and towering magnolias in suburban Atlanta. While life has changed in many ways since, one thread has remained constant: unwavering love and care. From the *ayis* (aunties in Chinese) at my orphanage to my parents, mentors, and educators, this irreplaceable support has shaped who I am and inspired me to give back.
Adoption not only altered my future but also reshaped my understanding of identity. As a newly minted Asian American (AsAm), I quickly realized my experiences as an adoptee didn’t mirror those of the AsAms around me. That feeling of ‘*I should belong here, but I don’t’* is one I believe many—adoptees and beyond—can relate to. Over time, I came to realize that adoptees don’t dilute AsAm identity but instead add a vital, underrepresented dimension to it. A crucial part of that epiphany came through the college role models I met in Georgia Tech’s China Care Club as a child.
My journey with GT China Care (as we colloquially call it) is, in many ways, a long love letter. I first joined in 2012 as a youth participant, continued as a high school volunteer, joined the board in college, and eventually served as President from 2022-2024.
One of my biggest hopes is to ensure adoptees always have a *seat at the table* to explore their identities. Now, as the organization’s first Executive Director as of 2024, I’m honored to foster a space where adoptees can embrace their birth culture and find community simply by being themselves—all while continuing to learn about my own.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While our path has not always been smooth, the challenges that we have faced have been an integral piece to our growth. Both Zoë and I balance an intense academic and professional career, and on a personal level, I (Sophie) have had to navigate various family challenges on top of the many roles I play. Like many, it has been a constant journey of discovery and growth, and as we have made mistakes and faced obstacles along the way, we have also learned so much about resilience, leadership, and creating meaningful impact. Zoë and I have also been lucky to have some really amazing people supporting and inspiring us, and mentorship has played a huge role in getting us where we are today.
While China Care has consistently found ways to thrive, we have certainly faced our fair share of challenges. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has probably been one of our most significant tests because it essentially put a stop to all our operations, especially because the majority of a programming is based on in-person community building. However, we were able to adapt our initiatives to a virtual program during the time, and in the past couple years, Zoë and I have been able to witness the full resurgence of our monthly Playgroup and Mentorship programs and our continued expansion into our community. When Zoë began her presidency in 2021, she was left with two board members who worked tirelessly alongside herself to run the show. That number has now grown to thirteen members strong along with flourishing membership, and last year, we made a record-breaking fundraising impact. All of this growth is a testament that the work we do is valued and to our team’s resilience.
As a student-led nonprofit, we continue to navigate the complexities of growth and change. We recently secured our 501(c)(3) status, and although it was a huge milestone, it has also brought new responsibilities. Moving forward, we are thinking carefully about creating a sustainable organization while maximizing our impact. This goal comes with the constant challenge of funding and being mindful or our board members, who juggle their roles within China Care alongside demanding academic commitments. We are incredibly proud to be wholly student-run and volunteer-based with no salaried employees because we strongly believe in empowering college students and being a part of their personal and professional development, but it always requires us to be creative and innovative. In addition, recent changes to DEI structure means that we need to be strategic about our funding strategy in the near future. Because of these challenges, our team has learned to be adaptable, resourceful, and determined. We are as passionate as every about ensuring we see our missions into fruition.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our organization aims to connect young Chinese adoptees in the metro-Atlanta area to their birth culture and support the improvement of early care and education for underserved children across China, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Hong Kong SAR through the global NGO OneSky. We believe in a future where all children receive love and support to pursue their dreams and work to empower them to take ownership of their identity and strive to make it a reality in the present.
To achieve our mission, we hold monthly Playgroup and Mentorship programming for families with young Chinese adopted children to foster a sense of belonging, heritage and empowerment. During these programs, we promote Chinese culture and history through interactive activities, crafts, and games while also connecting adoptees with Georgia Tech student volunteers, opening the door for mentorship. These initiatives focus on our role as a connector to heritage and culture for adoptees and their families. Beyond this direct work, we also dedicate a lot of time building brighter futures for vulnerable children across Asia by fundraising for their responsive care and education, and we work closely with our partner OneSky to achieve this goal. Last year, we hosted ten small fundraisers and one large campus-wide event, having a monetary impact of $8,500 toward OneSky. This was the most we’ve ever raised in our organization’s history, and all proceeds went directly toward the developmental care of vulnerable children in Asia. We are also proud to say that our student leadership and student volunteers lead every single one of our initiatives. We strive to continue providing them with opportunities to engage in culturally beneficial and meaningful community service but also aim to help develop their leadership skills. In recent years, we have also been increasingly active in partnering with local small businesses and expanded into providing professional development resources to members through the National Association of Chinese Americans!
As an organization, we aspire to represent and give back to a unique and often overlooked Asian American experience. China Care has always been dedicated to bridging the gaps between adoptee identity and belonging, support for underserved foster children abroad, and the need for community empowerment. We are uniquely positioned to foster a network that connects all the groups that fall under these categories and will continue find ways to their diverse and evolving needs.
How do you think about luck?
Both Zoë and I feel incredibly fortunate for the support we’ve received throughout our lives and the opportunities that have come our way. Connecting with so many people through school affiliations and professional work has been instrumental in getting us to where we are today. However, we do also want to recognize that luck alone will not lead to success and have found through our experiences that hard work and dedication is just as necessary to nurture luck into success. For anyone working in the nonprofit space, it’s clear that support is the lifeblood of any organization, and both Zoë and I as well as China Care have been lucky to have that in so many aspects.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chinacaregt.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chinacare.gt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chinacare.gt/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/china-care-gt?trk=public_profile_topcard-current-company
Image Credits
Zoë Altizer, Sophie Hollowell, Hannah Cook, Janie Lee
