LEGO bricks have long sparked the imaginations of people of all ages. Ole Kirk Kristiansen founded the LEGO Group in 1932, with its name being an abbreviation of the Danish words “leg godt,” meaning “play well,” emphasizing the power of play. Today, LEGOs serve as building blocks of hope, learning and opportunity for underprivileged children.

This is the mission of Creations For Charity (CFC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks by uniting fans from around the world. Nannan Zhang is an adult fan who has been active in the online community for eight years. Initially, a college student with a lot of free time dedicated to LEGO sets, he wanted to see fellow builders in the community use their extensive building skills to give to others.

As such, Zhang founded the CFC in 2009 with the intent of showcasing the talents of fellow LEGO fans and giving to needy youths.

How It Works

The CFC is entirely volunteer-run and hosts an annual fundraiser. The nonprofit prides itself on its unique fundraising strategy, which involves selling one-of-a-kind creations donated by volunteers from around the world from October 15 to November 30. Coordinators then use the funds to purchase new LEGO sets for underprivileged children.

In hopes of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks, the CFC’s coordinators travel around the world and use these funds to purchase brand-new LEGO sets, donating them to local organizations of their choice that serve underprivileged children. Such organizations include shelters, orphanages, hospitals and impoverished schools. People can also make monetary donations through the organization’s website.

Zhang has acknowledged the high prices of the creations displayed in the CFC’s store. He explained that those who have put in immense effort into their creations deserved recognition. Near the end of the sale, discounts are made for remaining items.

The CFC has collaborated with popular LEGO event organizers, including Brick Convention and Beyond the Brick. Brick Convention is a long-running event that features numerous LEGO attractions, including massive creation displays, retired LEGO sets and life-size models. A portion of the money raised during the convention goes to the CFC, supporting its goal of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO.

Beyond the Brick’s YouTube channel, hosted by Joshua Hanlon, houses the CFC’s annual 24-hour livestreams. Hanlon founded Beyond the Brick in November 2011, initially as an audio-only podcast. It is usually held on the day after Thanksgiving.

Many LEGO fans from around the world have participated in the livestream since 2014. In 2025, Beyond the Brick delivered sets to Transformation Ministries, an organization that provides food and other necessities to underprivileged children.

Successes and Contributions

The Creations for Charity has traveled to both developed and developing countries in support of its cause. For example, the team has traveled to Hungary, Kenya, Brazil, Chile and Japan. Since 2009, CFC has raised approximately $17,000 annually, which it used to donate more than 1,100 new LEGO sets to organizations such as Make-A-Wish and children’s hospitals.

In 2024, CFC donated 150 LEGO kits to refugee children in Nairobi, Kenya, where more than 800,000 refugees sought shelter from war, famine and natural disasters. In 2025, the CFC raised $25,906, with $4,500 from the sale of custom creations and $7,000 from the live stream. The rest came from donations from the Brick Convention, Brickworld and the Great Palia Charity Hunt.

LEGO builders and event organizers alike have collaborated for the sake of brightening children’s holidays with LEGO sets. As of now, the CFC plans to travel to 17 locations around the world, which have yet to be fully disclosed.

The Impact of LEGOs

It may seem surprising how the Creations for Charity’s mission focuses on brightening children’s holidays with LEGOs. However, the truth is that the language of play is universal. As freshman computer science major Jenna Curtis put it: “That’s why they’re so relevant, because you don’t have to change the formula. You can just rearrange what pieces you use and create something different.”

Not only do LEGO bricks encourage creativity, but they also help to hone fine motor skills, vocabulary, cooperation and problem-solving abilities. Approximately 90% of brain growth occurs before the age of 5. LEGO kits facilitate learning through imagination and independent play. A 2022 study found that LEGO sets have been used for developmental art therapy for children.

These building blocks are versatile and can enhance social and behavioral skills in children, which are crucial to a child’s future.

Conclusion

Through his simple love for LEGO bricks, Zhang has built the Creations for Charity into a foundation for fostering creativity and brightening children’s holidays with LEGO bricks. When children play with LEGO blocks, they aren’t just building for fun. They’re also building their futures with one brick at a time.

– Cindy Nguyen

Cindy is based in Albuquerque, NM, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr