Vick Tan
Co-founded Fish Hut and, at age 16, was named a 2025 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes winner for expanding free-access “Fish Hut boxes” and youth fishing festivals to support youth mental health (Barron Prize 2025 winners announcement).
What they built
Co-founded Fish Hut at approximately age 14–15 with his younger brother William — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth mental health by getting young people outdoors and fishing. The core program places Fish Hut boxes, each stocked with ~$150 worth of free-to-borrow fishing equipment, at libraries, YMCAs, schools, and public lakes in underserved communities. Motivated by noticing that few young people were fishing in their Eden Prairie neighborhood, Vick asked why — and concluded that stress, lack of access, and cost were the barriers. Fish Hut has placed 50+ boxes across Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, hosted free fishing festivals including Minnesota's largest free ice fishing event (300+ youth in 2024), and taught over 80,000 youth to fish. The nonprofit has raised $35,000+ from sponsors including Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Starbucks, and plans to distribute 1,000 Fish Hut boxes nationwide.
View ProjectThe F18 Thesis
Verified track record
- Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes 2025 winner (barronprize.org/meet-the-winners/2025-winners/); Star Tribune feature Oct 9, 2025 (startribune.com); Sun Sailor News Sept 27, 2025; WJON Radio Oct 1, 2025; Game & Fish Magazine March–April 2026; Fox News interview (fishhut.org); Barron Prize press release Sept 16, 2025 (prnewswire.com)