Fereshteh Tavakoli is the Founder of International Society for Children with Cancer (ISCC). ISCC was established in 2004 and began operating with Mrs. Tavakoli and a few of her friends. Since then, it has grown in size and scope, attracting a large member base, raising millions of dollars through fund-raising events, personal donations and charity sales. ISCC has donated funds to childhood cancer organizations in over a dozen countries, including four organizations in United States..

Mrs. Tavakoli is credited for invigorating a grassroots movement among the Iranian-American community in Los Angeles to take up her cause. She has been tireless in this effort: driving all around the state giving presentations and lectures at universities, social clubs and community gatherings; appearing weekly on Iranian radio shows to encourage social activism in the community; and establishing a youth chapter, drawing second-generation Iranian Americans to connect to their homeland.

Ms. Tavakoli was born in Tehran, Iran, and has lived in the United States, on and off, since the 1960s.

She became involved with MAHAK in 1991. Over the past 30 years, Mrs. Tavakoli volunteered as a social worker at public children hospitals, fund-raising coordinator, volunteer coordinator and public relations director. MAHAK is now Iran's leading and biggest NGO. MAHAK has a state-of-the-art research facility and hospital specializing in treatment of children with cancer. ISCC is a broader continuation of MAHAK's mission and dream of not letting any cancer-stricken child die due to lack of funds.