Kayla Abramowitz began a nonprofit when she was 11. Now 20, she hopes to create a TV present to show consciousness and understanding of individuals with disabilities.
DALLAS — Kayla Abramowitz utilized on a whim.
She didn’t assume she’d finished sufficient to be thought-about for one in all 100 scholarships former President Barack Obama was providing to younger folks he thinks will change the world.
She didn’t assume she’d get a re-examination.
Even although she began a nonprofit when she was 11.
Even although that nonprofit has now donated greater than 40,000 instructional and entertaining toys to 450 kids’s hospitals and medical services in 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Quebec and South Africa.
Even although she did all of it herself whereas battling painful ailments.
This week, Abramowitz, now a 20-year-old promoting main and member of the Longhorn band on the University of Texas at Austin, admitted she’s glad she utilized.
She is one in all simply 100 college students from throughout the nation chosen to obtain a Voyager scholarship from Obama and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky.
The Voyager scholarship gives $25,000 in scholarship cash for a pupil’s junior and senior yr. It additionally features a $10,000 journey stipend and free Airbnb housing anyplace on the earth for the summer season earlier than the recipient’s senior yr. A ten-year, $2,000 journey stipend follows that.
Abramowitz has battled juvenile arthritis, Crohn’s illness and uncommon eosinophilic ailments.
She instructed WFAA it’s been a painful journey and generally she must be in a wheelchair.
That’s why she launched her nonprofit, Kayla Cares 4 Kids.
“I want to provide what I call positive distractions to other children and alleviate the fear and pain from a hospital stay,” she stated.
She has huge plans she hopes come to fruition due to her Voyager scholarship alternative.
“I want to create a TV show the likes of Sesame Street that’s targeted to younger children to create awareness and understanding for children with disabilities,” she stated. “We’re kind of all the same and I feel representation in the media is the biggest part of understanding that at a young age.”
The Abramowitz household lately moved to Little Elm from Florida.
Her mom, Andrea, stated the scholarship is life altering for his or her household, but in addition for the North Texas neighborhood.
“Kayla has such big goals and she always meets them,” she stated.
They’ve already frolicked on the native Ronald McDonald House.
Kayla was on a Zoom name with the former president on Tuesday which she known as “touching.”
“He was basically telling us that what we were doing was good for the world and that we’re serving the public sector. His specific quote for parents and kids was, you done good, and I really liked that,” she stated.
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