Miss Warren Credits Heritage Pointe of Warren with Inspiring Her Dedication to Community Service

Long before Kendal Zavattaro was crowned Miss Warren, she was already doing good in her community, including writing regularly to a pen pal who lived at Heritage Pointe of Warren senior living community in Warren, Indiana.

That cherished correspondence, that started when she was seven, gave her an early connection to older adults and an appreciation for the positive impact a little time and attention can make in someone’s life, for both her and the resident.

“It just really meant a lot to me because I felt like I got to brighten her day,” Kendal says. “And I looked forward to getting her letters and just being able to talk to her.”

That childhood connection has come full circle. Now 17, Kendal works part time in Heritage Pointe’s activities department, spending time with residents, playing games, chatting with them and helping them feel engaged.

She also represents the greater Warren community as the reigning Miss Warren, a role that combines her interest in helping others with her commitment to serving.

Kendal credits her parents with instilling in her a spirit of service. Her mother, Jessica, has worked at Heritage Pointe for 27 years. She is a restorative certified nursing assistant whose responsibilities include helping residents walk and guiding them through exercises to help them maintain their strength and mobility. Kendal’s father, Matt, is a physical therapist, providing another example of a career dedicated to helping others through supporting their health and well-being.

Jessica encouraged her daughter to pursue a position in the activities department because Kendal enjoys interacting with the residents.

Kendal’s commitment to serving others extends to the broader Warren community. As Miss Warren, she enjoys representing the town at community events and encouraging younger residents to get involved. Being Miss Warren is more than just wearing a glittering crown and a sash although Kendal wears both, when she volunteers at community events, including working at a local food bank, painting fire hydrants for a festival, staffing fundraisers and helping out at concerts.

Her crown makes an impression on younger children who look up to her.

“A bunch of little kids have said I look like a princess,” she says.

It certainly seems the crown is a good fit for Kendal. Candidates in the pageant, which Kendal won in April, were evaluated on their volunteer work, community involvement, leadership and ability to represent Warren, all areas in which Kendal stands out.

During the interview portion, Kendal talked about her volunteer work and about her hopes to become a positive role model for younger girls and to make the community a better place to live.

Kendal says she was honored to win the title and strives to be a good ambassador for Warren. Her next opportunity to help her community shine will come in November, when she participates in the Indiana State Festival Pageant in Greenfield, Ind. The competition, associated with the Indiana State Festivals Association, offers the possibility of a scholarship.

Kendal says Heritage Pointe helped her understand the importance of service to others and fueled her interest in pursuing a healthcare career. Her long-term goal is to become a nurse.

The young girl who once looked forward to receiving letters from a special friend at Heritage Pointe has grown into a thoughtful and committed community representative. She is planning a future of service that will enable her to continue to make a positive impact on her community.