10News Leadership Award Winner Kendra Checketts
September 2007 - Channel 10 News

10News honors Kendra Checketts, a compassionate eight year old girl who has been organizing and implementing fundraising lemonade and hot chocolate stands, teddy bear and clothing drives to help fulfill the needs of those less fortunate. She has supported the efforts of many non-profit organizations including Casa de Amparo and the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation.

Kendra learned about philanthropy and community service by observing the fundraising efforts of her parents who have given back to the community through their business, Casa Blanca Salon and Spa in Rancho Santa Fe, for the past 13 years. At the age of 3, she approached her parents to help her build her first lemonade stand so she could help raise money for others and organize fundraising activities with the theme of "Kids Helping Kids."

Local individuals such as the children of Casa de Amparo have benefited from Kendra’s philanthropy by supporting the cost of safe shelter, nutritious meals, education, counseling and therapeutic services. Kendra's dedication to philanthropic work extends to locales beyond the San Diego community including her donations to the Red Cross that provided support to the children impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Foregoing play time with friends and family, Kendra devotes her time to visiting local businesses for donations and recruiting friends and classmates to help staff and manage the sale of beverages from her fundraising stands to raise money for worthy causes. She also spends her time painting and decorating the lemonade and hot chocolate stands and sending e-mail messages throughout the world to enlist the support of others to bring about world peace.

For more information, please contact Kendra Checketts at info@casablancasalonspa.com.