The idea sprouted in a cramped basement cupboard when Fan, then 13, sifted through her own library of forgotten titles. She realized that if her old My Little Pony story could still spark imagination, many more students could benefit from the same second‑hand literature. What began as a personal curiosity grew into a formalized distribution effort called AP Cycle, focused on repurposing Advanced Placement textbooks that students no longer needed.
By 2023, Fan had convinced ten classmates to donate finished AP books, and the operation expanded beyond the campus. She renamed the project Literacy Cycle to reflect its broader mission, now accepting SAT prep guides and children’s books. In September 2026, the nonprofit reported more than 7,000 titles shipped to recipients across Maryland and beyond.
Partnerships with local organizations such as the Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership and the Asian American Center of Frederick have amplified the reach, while international collaboration with Books for International Goodwill has enabled shipments to Gambia, Nigeria and Uganda. The organization’s Rwanda chapter, established in 2025, marks its first foothold outside the United States.
Fan’s efforts earned her a Daily Point of Light award from the nonprofit Points of Light in early 2026, a recognition she said would inspire other youth to launch community projects. Balancing the nonprofit with senior‑year coursework, she plans to study public or global health at university, hoping to analyze and address disparities that affect access to educational resources. Her next milestone is the opening of an Ohio chapter in November, which will serve as a new distribution hub for the next wave of donated textbooks.