Between math homework and soccer practice, most teenagers are too busy to even dream of starting a nonprofit. Kelsey Wendelberger found the time. Wendelberger, who cofounded Ordinary Heroes, a nonprofit that provides relief to victims of mass shootings, is now the Senate Budget Committee’s newest Republican policy assistant.
"You hear lots of comments about the villains and bad guys, so I wanted to show that heroes do exist," the high school graduate told a local reporter at the time. "I wanted to help and show that anyone can be a hero and that there is good in the world."
In addition to raising money, Ordinary Heroes asks volunteers via Facebook to write letters to those who have lost loved ones to mass shootings. Within 24 hours of its creation, 10,000 people had joined the group's Facebook page.
"The impact that we were able to have on everyone who's heard about us, helped us or has been affected in any way has been so encouraging," Wendelberger said.
In 2012, she received a certificate of recognition for outstanding service from her hometown of Waukesha, Wis. She went on to graduate from Wheaton College.
She previously worked for the committee as a bipartisan staff assistant and interned for the House Small Business Committee. Wendelberger has also worked as an independent contractor for international relief and urban development.
