Kenya has made quite a name for herself in her small town. One of her biggest fans is Mayor Wang. “This is an individual, who, although very young in years, has seen a need for people to reach out and help other people,” Mayor Wang says of Kenya. He and other community leaders have watched Kenya quietly and consistently do many things for the town. “Kenya frequently assists the Greater Granby Area Chamber of Commerce with the ‘dirty work’ of setting up and tearing down special events, stuffing mailings, distributing flyers, and helping out with snow removal along our main street,” Ted says.
“I don’t mind doing it. Helping them is all I care about,” says Kenya of the dirty work that helps the Granby community. “It feels really great at the end of the day to know you’ve done something,” Kenya explains.
You can often find Kenya volunteering at the library. She does everything from re-shelving books to reading to younger children in the “Reading Buddies” program. She even organized a weekly knitting group to knit winter hats for the soldiers in northern Iraq. “Hopefully they help keep them warm this winter,” Kenya says.
While only 12, Kenya’s track record for helping others is impressive. In 2004, she won the Colorado Cares Rising Star Award, a statewide award from Governor Owens.
Mayor Wang summed up Kenya’s attitude and enthusiasm for giving her time to others by saying, “She is a breath of fresh air.”