By Matt Carlstrom
Round Table reporter

KidsAreHeroes.org, a worldwide charity that focuses on sharing the good deeds of children, began in Frederick County two years ago, when a young MaryMargaret O’Neill came to her father, Gabe, with an interest in helping animals.

Since then, the website has exploded to feature “kids” all over the world who have taken time and effort to be creative and help others.

One of the kids, Diana Onyonyi, has raised $87,000 for the construction of a girls’ school in her homeland of Kenya. Middletown High School had the honor of hosting Onyonyi on Oct. 20, as she spoke to students about the importance of helping others and the unique opportunities presented by the KidsAreHeroes program.

Onyonyi is proud of her accomplishments and feels that her actions will leave an impact at her home in Kenya.

“The girls in Kenya often don’t receive much schooling, so helping them with such a basic need is a great way to give them a more positive life,” said Onyonyi.

O’Neill, now 11, and Onyonyi are both active in spreading the message of Kids Are Heroes by speaking in schools and promoting their causes with the website, along with all of the other kids, called “heroes”, on the site.

Several kids in the Middletown community are featured on the site, including Evan Ruderma n, a Middletown Elementary School student who bakes cookies to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

Students at MHS felt that hearing Onyonyi’s story motivated them to improve the world around them.

“I feel inspired by all that she is doing for kids. It’s very admirable,” said MHS junior Jessica Elliot.

Kids Are Heroes held its annual celebration of its participants, Kids Are Heroes Day, at the Francis Scott Key Mall on Oct. 23. Onyonyi and O’Niell were there spreading the word and letting people know that anyone can change the world, especially kids.