Senior Spotlight: Teen Philanthropist Brings Giving Spirit to UCLA

For Liberty High School senior Imanni Brar, success has never been measured by what you gain, but what you give. An entrepreneur and philanthropist from a young age, Imanni has set her sights on the University of California – Los Angeles, where she plans to study Business Economics and further her nonprofit enterprise.

Imanni earned admission to all nine UC campuses, along with several other prestigious universities across the country, but in the end chose UCLA for many reasons: campus culture, diversity, location, but mostly because it has always been her dream.

“UCLA has been my dream school since as long as the question has been asked,” she said. “It was the number one public university for the longest time, and it has a great educational system and opportunity for resources and networking.”

That networking will come in handy as she seeks to expand the nonprofit she started from scratch. Since junior high, Imanni has poured her artistic passion into Compassionate Creations, raising funds through baking, artwork, embroidery, nail art, and handmade crafts.

“Different phases of my life correlate to different creative outlets,” she said. “I started baking. Then I expanded on what I was doing. I do nails, sew hoodies, and embroider designs. I sell artwork, anything that I can think of.”

Those creative pursuits go hand in hand with business sense, something taught to Imanni and her siblings by her mother, Raji Brar, who owns a local commercial development firm and founded the Sikh Women’s Association. Everyone in the family has their own nonprofit or causes they champion, stemming from their Sikh values of seva, or selfless service. The family spent Raji’s 40th birthday volunteering at and donating to the homeless center.

“You’re helping others, but I think it helps you,” Raji said. “It’s such an amazing feeling, and it’s so rewarding. That was the biggest present for me.”

Imanni agrees, crediting her family with sparking her passion for giving back.

“I’m so thankful for my family, because if it weren’t for my parents being role models at home, I would have never had inspiration or the opportunity to start such an idea like this,” she said.

Instead of selling her creations for a profit, Imanni chose to save up those funds and donate them to a cause close to her heart — the Kern County Network for Children and the Dream Center, which support current and former foster and homeless youth. This spring, Brar presented a check to the Dream Center for $12,000. Staff says donations help provide much-needed supplies and services for youth, and this gift will make a huge difference in their lives.

“You helping us closes that gap,” said prevention services facilitator Edward Wilson. “You’re really helping people; this is going straight to them. That’s awesome.”

Inspired by her own experience in foster care before being adopted at age eight, Imanni said supporting current and former foster youth became deeply personal.

“When I learned about the Dream Center, it grew near and dear to my heart,” she said. “Access to education and resources for youth who don’t have proper opportunities is so vital.”

At Liberty, Imanni has balanced an impressive list of activities while maintaining top grades and a rigorous course load. She played four years of basketball, along with volleyball and water polo, served as vice president of the National Honor Society (NHS), participated in Dream Builders, led Link Crew for freshmen, tutored students, coached track at her former elementary school, and recently became certified as a Pilates instructor. She joked that she had so many activities, she couldn’t remember them all.

“I’m always doing something; I don’t remember the last time I wasn’t doing something,” she laughed.

Aside from her studies and her nonprofit, Imanni is looking forward to her time in LA, especially getting out on the water.

“I’m excited to go to the beach. I like playing sand volleyball at the beach, and I like swimming a lot, so I think that’s what I’m most excited for,” she said.

Imanni plans to expand Compassionate Creations while attending UCLA and hopes to eventually bring her work back home to Kern County permanently. One dream includes opening a bakery that would help fund the nonprofit’s mission.

“I think that’s my purpose in life,” Brar said. “We’re not here for that long, so why not help someone while you’re here?”