Kids Caring 4 Kids.

Kendall Ciesemier with Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. As recognition for all of the hard work Kendall has done, Clinton surprised her at her high school and brought her downtown Chicago to be a guest on Oprah's popular talk show.

It has been a blessing for the Touch A Life Foundation to partner financially with Kids Caring 4 Kids. Kendall Ciesemier is a 15-year-old from Wheaton, IL, (which is my hometown! This makes our partnernship with this organization all the more exciting for me.) who started raising money in 2004 to benefit orphans with AIDS in Africa. The organization has turned into a group that raises money with the intention of donating it to various non-profits whose goals are focused on eradicating slavery, poverty, hunger and AIDS in African nations. 

Kendall is an inspiration to me. She is an example to youth everywhere that no one needs to wait another day before taking action to change the world. Kendall has undergone two liver transplants (both during the summer of 2004) yet she has a disposition of peace, confidence and strength. At age 15, I was nowhere near the level of maturity that Kendall has already achieved. I am so impressed by her grace and courage. 

I took the following quote from the Kids Caring 4 Kids Web site because I feel that this sentence sums up the organization perfectly:

:: By watching Kendall think of others during her time of need, many kids have been inspired to look at how they, too, can be a "kid caring 4 kids," seeking to make their own positive impact on the world. ::

Rachel