Kennedy Jet Kulish was only six years old when her baby brother, Kaeden, was born.
She loved him very much, and she was so sad to learn that his little heart had a big problem.
He had to stay in the hospital for a very long time and have several surgeries on his heart.
By the time he was almost a year old, he was getting better, and Kennedy wanted to have a big birthday party for him!
But, “No presents, please,” she said.
Instead of presents for Kaeden, she wanted people to give money to Penn State Children’s Hospital, where little Kaeden had spent so much time during the first year of his life.
Kennedy also got a lot of her friends and classmates to help.
She called her helpers “Kisses,” and she called her project, “Kisses for Kaeden.”
That all happened four years ago, and since then, Kisses for Kaeden has raised over 71-thousand dollars not only for the children’s hospital, but for the American Heart Association, the Make a Wish Foundation, The Children’s Miracle Network, and many other organizations.
Kennedy is in the 5th grade now, where she is an honor student.
She also participates in sports; she is a Girl Scout and a cheerleader, and she plays the violin and takes dance lessons!
And even with all that, Kennedy still works hard for Kisses for Kaeden, the organization she started when she was just a first grader.
Last year, Kennedy got to meet President George W. Bush.
He personally awarded her the President’s Gold Volunteer Service Award!
So, remember that name… Kennedy Jet Kulish… because even as a child, she has become a very special hero, indeed.
— Jim Lord