Suburban kids giving back in big ways

Twin sisters Jayden and Carsen Forte are bright, active 7-year-olds from Lake in the Hills. They enjoy arts and crafts, dancing, playing baseball and the violin. They have even started modeling, recently participating in a photo shoot for Kohl's department stores.

Their latest accomplishment was starting an Encouragement and Care ministry in February. T-shirts and business cards proudly display the girls' motto: “Pen-Pals with a Purpose — Encouraging One Heart at a Time.” Their mission is simple — to encourage others who may be going through a difficult time through handwritten cards and artwork.

The idea came from an experience Jayden and Carsen had with their grandfather, who had cancer. They spent time with him at his home in Canada earlier this year. While he was resting, the girls would color pictures for him on a flip chart. When they saw how much these drawings lifted his spirits, they started thinking that maybe they could use their talents to help others as well.

Their mother, Shelly Forte, home-schools the girls. She and her husband, Willie, talk regularly with their daughters, as well as their two older sons, about the importance of giving back.

“We ask the questions, ‘What are we doing here? What is our purpose?' We're not here on this Earth to only think about ourselves. We're here to serve others, use our talents and gifts, and show God's love.”

The Fortes don't just talk about serving others, they live it out. In 2009, they partnered with Safe Families for Children, a Christian social service agency that provides temporary homes for children whose families are in crisis. They are caring for their 10th child through Safe Families.

By setting an example of serving others and providing the tools needed for their projects, Shelly Forte offers support to help the girls carry out their mission.

“I remind the girls of who they are serving, provide guidance, and take care of the website design and online requests, but it has to be their heart. I want them to take ownership of this ministry.”

Once a month, for an extended period of time, the Forte girls pull out their art supplies and cards and get to work. At their desks or at the dining room table, they hand-write thoughtful, heartfelt notes and create beautiful artwork to send along in the mailings.

Carsen recently sent a card to a 12-year-old girl from Chicago, who is having a difficult time dealing with a younger sibling's autism diagnosis. She also made a card for a woman battling stage IV breast cancer. An 86-year-old widow from Wisconsin recently received a card from Jayden that said, “I hope you have a Happy Easter, and that you are feeling better. God bless you.”

When asked how it feels to encourage someone who is sick or lonely, Jayden said, “Happy that we're doing this.” Carsen agreed. “I like when we send cards because I know it will make the people happy.”

One life at a time

Seven years ago, an 11-year-old girl from Wheaton felt inspired to give in a big way. After seeing an Oprah Christmas special about orphans in Africa, Kendall Ciesemier was hit hard by the reality that kids her age were left to care for their younger siblings after their parents had died. She decided to take $360 from her savings and sponsor a child for one year through World Vision. When she received letters from her sponsored child sharing how that money had changed her life, allowing her to attend school, Kendall wanted to do more.

Kendall was born with a life-threatening illness that required her to have not one, but two, liver transplants the following summer. For the Ciesemier family, this was an excruciating time. Kendall asked that in lieu of flowers and gifts, donations be made to help kids in Africa. After the second transplant surgery she had raised more than $15,000. In 2005, Kendall and her parents, Mike and Ellery, co-founded the nonprofit organization Kids Caring 4 Kids.

Mike says that giving became a way for their family to transform their pain into something good.

“The sicker she became, the more money came in. Kendall called it ‘sympathy currency.' It was our worst nightmare, seeing our daughter so sick and almost losing her. Those were very difficult days for our family.”

The mission of Kids Caring 4 Kids is twofold: to help kids in Africa, and to inspire kids in this country to get involved. Kendall raises awareness by speaking in schools, churches, at conferences and Scouting events. She is now 18 years old, a senior in high school. To date, Kids Caring 4 Kids has raised more than $850,000.

When praised for her amazing accomplishments, Kendall is quick to point out that she could not have succeeded without her parents' help.

“No child can do something of this magnitude without family to support them. I get to do the fun part, having a lot of creative control. I come up with ideas and run with them. My parents take care of the complicated, administrative aspects.”

Mike is candid about the challenges that come with managing a nonprofit.

“We've taken this seriously, the responsibility of fundraising, maintaining integrity in the organization. Kendall continues to do the things she did when she was younger, but now she does more follow-up, preparing for speaking engagements, and developing more of the relationships in the field. Our challenge has always been balancing governance with allowing her to express her heart. Helping her to accept what she is and is not equipped to do.”

Despite the success, Kendall sometimes feels discouraged. “It is challenging to keep the interest level up, to keep the momentum going. Fundraising in this economy is very difficult. The problems in Africa are so long-standing, and the poverty and devastation are overwhelming. Africa is like a tsunami every day. I sometimes ask, ‘Why aren't we making more of an impact?'”

That's when Kendall returns to the mindset she had at 11 years old. “If we can change one person's life, that's good enough.”

One of Kendall's favorite quotes is from Mother Teresa: “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

In the past five years, Kids Caring 4 Kids has engaged 6,000 kids in the U.S. to help 6,000 kids in Africa.

Kendall was finally healthy enough to take a trip to Zambia in the summer of 2010, where she spent time with more than 200 children, most of them orphaned, at Lifesong School. That visit rekindled her passion for helping African children. Her latest project is called Dance 4 Lifesong, a five-hour dance marathon held in high schools across the country. Her goal is to inspire 30 high schools to pledge to raise $5,000 through hosting their own dance marathons. Funds raised will go toward three new classrooms, a computer lab, supplies, staff and two meals a day for the children, which is almost unheard of in Zambia.

The Ciesemier and Forte families each have unique stories and areas of passion, yet common threads run through them both: their faith, giving and serving others are a way of life; the parents raise awareness, provide guidance and support; and the kids dream big. They are making a difference in this world, one life at a time.

The organizations mentioned in this story can be found at dance4lifesong.org, kidscaring4kids.org and encouragement.vpweb.com.

Get creative!

Think about what your kids are good at and love to do, then brainstorm ideas for how they can use their talents and give back.

ŸLemonade stand: “Get a drink, Give a drink.” Proceeds go toward providing clean drinking water for those who need it. www.thewaterproject.org

ŸLego-thon: “Build to Build.” Host a Lego building marathon, and give proceeds to Habitat for Humanity. www.habitat.org

ŸSummer reading: Children can ask sponsors to donate money for each book they read, and then purchase books for children at www.firstbook.org.

ŸAnimal lovers: Help a sick or elderly neighbor out by walking their dog for free.