When he was four years old, Nicholas saw a homeless family living under a bridge. While spotting the occasional homeless person is not unusual for most people living in the U.S., that image stuck out in his mind.
“It just didn’t make any sense to me,” Cobb told NBC Nightly News. Cobb decided to do something about it. He started with collecting toiletries for the homeless and cleaning supplies for local homeless shelters.
In 2009, at age 12, the Texan started his own foundation, Comfort and Joy, to raise money to buy new coats for those living on the street. Through working with his Boy Scouts troop, Cobb raised $24,000 and bought hundreds of coats for the homeless.
Nicholas Cobb is making history… as a young philanthropist who, despite his youth, has raised thousands of dollars to help some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. To date, Cobb’s foundation has donated nearly 400 coats to local shelters. In 2010, Cobb was an honoree in National Make A Difference Day and was awarded a $10,000 contribution to the non-profit of his choice.
What’s next for Nicholas?
Cobb was just named Texas’s top two youth volunteers for 2012 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. He was recognized by Allen High School in Allen, Texas.
Additionally, Cobb’s efforts were recently recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Greater Dallas Chapter, who awarded him with the Youth Philanthropist of the Year distinction.
**A little-known fact about homelessness …***
Twelve percent of the country’s homeless population are veterans, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.