Make a Difference

Anyone can make a difference in the world—no matter how old you are. Kendall was just 11 years old when she watched Oprah's ChristmasKindness. "That really touched her heart and when Kendall saw those kids suffering, she just instantly put herself in their shoes and wanted to do something," says her dad, Michael.

Kendall took $360 of her own money and placed it in an envelope. She asked her mother for a stamp. "I said, 'What are you doing?'" her mom, Ellery, recalls. "She said, 'I'm adopting an AIDS orphan.'"

And she did. All $360 went to Banite, an 8-year-old girl in Mauritania. But as Banite's life got better, Kendall's took a turn for the worse. Born with a rare liver disease, she underwent two liver transplants.

From her hospital bed, Kendall made a selfless request. Instead of flowers and gifts, she asked people to donate to children in Africa. "She's looked at the blessings that she has in her life and even though she also has great challenges, she's chosen to focus on how blessed she is and then turn her attention outward to others who she feels have less than she does," Ellery says.

Kendall founded her own organization, Kids Caring 4 Kids. She's raised more than $100,000—enough to help an entire village of children. Learn more about her organization at KidsCaring4Kids.org.