President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and me! Can you believe it? I was so surprised and so excited to meet President Clinton at my high school and then to be on the Oprah Show the same day. During the show, President Clinton told me that a friend of his was giving KC4K $500,000! Unbelievable! The Oprah Show aired September 4, 2007 and again on Thanksgiving Day.

September 4, 2022 - Oprah.com

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 www.kidscaring4kids.org.

Inspired by Kendall's story, President Clinton wanted to do something special. It was a surprise that took the Secret Service to pull off!

Just a few hours before taping The Oprah Show, President Clinton spoke during a rally at Kendall's suburban high school. The students thought he was there to honor them for their donations to cancer research and Locks for Love—until he called Kendall on stage.

"I'm going into Chicago to talk more about giving with a friend of mine who wants to meet you, Kendall," he says. "So [your principal] has agreed to give you a little time off today so you can you can go with me to meet Oprah Winfrey and be on her television show."

In what she calls an "out of body experience," Kendall walks across the stage and sits between Oprah and President Clinton.

"I wanted you here today to say that you are the shining light for the rest of the world," Oprah says. "[President Clinton] has written a whole book about giving, but you are the prime example of what one person can do. From your hospital bed, even, what one person can do."

Kendall has raised $100,000, but she has higher hopes for the future. "My next goal is to raise $1 million for AIDS orphans in Africa," she says.

Little does Kendall know that she's moved a friend traveling with President Clinton—and he's ready to help make her dreams come true. During a commercial break, he whispers an unexpected surprise into President Clinton's ear.

"Kendall, the man who came here with me today—who absolutely forbade me to use his name because he wants to be anonymous—wants me to tell you that he is going to give you a half a million dollars."