A 2019 Pella High School graduate and her family issued a challenge to raise money for a special cause at her graduation party. Kennady Klein held a raffle to fundraise for Blank Children’s Hospital. Klein says while she enjoyed meeting people as she celebrated her graduation, she wanted to do something extra to help others.

“I just wanted to give to something bigger than just thinking of myself,” she says. “I think that me doing this now will make it more likely I do it again in the future, because I got happy when I was donating the money.”

Klein says two of the winners of the raffle donated their winnings back to the cause, and she was able to present $500 to Blank Children’s Hospital. Klein hopes her project inspires similar efforts throughout the year and for the Class of 2020.

“When someone does something like this, it kind of stands out — I didn’t want to stand out, but it will maybe impact others to try and do this as well, to donate somewhere.”

Kennady was named a Shining Star by helping children and families at Blank Children’s. Hear more about the project on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.