Latest news with #Kada'sPromise
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Kadance Fredericksen named forever Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA — title retired
BAKER, Fla. – The Miss Florida Teen USA organization has officially retired the title of Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA — permanently awarding it to Kadance Fredericksen in her memory. UPDATE: NAS Pensacola lifts lockdown after reports of shots fired onboard Corry Station The announcement was made by Jaclyn Nesheiwat Stapp, director of Miss Florida Teen USA, in honor of Fredericksen's lasting impact on the pageant community. 'From this moment on, Kadance will always be the FOREVER Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA,' Lisa Fredericksen, Kadance's mother, shared in a statement. 'There are no words to fully express what this means to us.' Kadance, 18, died in a car crash on Feb. 17. She had been involved in pageantry for years and used her platform to support charitable causes, including founding 'Kada's Promise,' a nonprofit that donated more than 15,000 teddy bears to children in crisis. Her family said the title retirement is a meaningful tribute to her legacy. Wild black bear hunting may become legal soon in Florida 'It feels amazing. In one aspect, it's hard to believe that my daughter at 18 could have had such an impact. But at the same time, it doesn't surprise me. That's just who she was,' said her father, Matt Fredericksen. Kadance's family said future pageant contestants will now represent their city rather than Okaloosa County. 'She was more than a titleholder. She was a light in this world, and she will always be remembered that way,' Lisa Fredericksen said. Kadance had been accepted to Mississippi State University and Auburn University, where she planned to study veterinary medicine. She was also a National Honor Society member and recipient of the Ellison McCraney Ingram Foundation Scholarship. Miss Florida Teen USA officials said the title retirement is a permanent decision, ensuring that Kadance's name will always be part of the pageant's history. Travis Lofton sentenced after killing Daphne restaurant manager 'We are grateful to everyone who continues to love and remember Kadance,' her mother said. 'She may not be physically here, but her love, kindness, and passion will never fade.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Family of Kadance Fredericksen speaks out, vows to keep her legacy alive
BAKER, Fla. (WKRG) — The family of Kadance Fredericksen is speaking out for the first time since the 18-year-old's death, sharing their grief and determination to continue her work. Fredericksen, a pageant titleholder and founder of Kada's Promise, died in a car crash last week. Her nonprofit has donated more than 15,000 teddy bears to children facing trauma. Her father, Matt Fredericksen, said her mission will continue. VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering moving Mobile operations to Pensacola 'It means everything to me to be able to continue her mission because it was something that she was passionate about, something that she cared so deeply about,' he said. The organization is now expanding its efforts. 'We're trying to get as many teddy bears in first responders' vehicles as possible,' he said. 'First responders are typically the first ones to come in contact with kids that are being abused or neglected.' Kadance Fredericksen was known for her generosity and leadership — both at home and in her community. 'She was always present in the moment and always willing to help out whether it was doing stuff around the house, taking care of the animals, or cleaning up,' her father said. Her kindness extended beyond her family. 'She always had a soft spot for the girl on the corner that didn't fit in,' he said. 'She would always take time out of whatever she was doing to make sure that girl felt special and part of everything.' Fredericksen was a top student with a 4.23 GPA and had been accepted to several universities. Her father recalled a lighthearted moment that captured her personality. 'She was probably the smartest girl in school… but she was a little air-headed,' he said. 'She grabbed an air freshener that said 'fresh air' and said, 'I want to smell what air smells like.'' The outpouring of support from the community has helped the family navigate their grief. 'I think probably the biggest source of strength through all of this has been really just the community reaching out—not just the community of Baker or Crestview, but the pageant community and people all over,' her father said. Fredericksen's impact reached far beyond her hometown. 'It feels amazing,' he said. 'In one aspect, it's hard to believe that my daughter at 18 could have had such an impact. But at the same time, it doesn't surprise me. That's just who she was.' For families dealing with loss, he offered words of encouragement. 'If I could say one thing, it's that it doesn't necessarily get easier, at least not at this point,' he said. 'But tomorrow is not that far off. One day at a time.' He wants people to remember Kadance for who she was, not just what she accomplished. 'I want the world to remember her as the goofy, fun-loving, caring, and charismatic person that she was—and really, she is and will continue to be in the hearts of a lot of people,' he said. If he had the chance to speak to her again, he knows exactly what he would say. 'My heart and soul is on that ship': SS United States passenger travels over 700 miles to see ship 'I'd just tell her I love her one more time and how much I miss her,' he said. You can support Kada's Promise online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Candlelight vigil held in honor of Kadance former Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A small Panhandle community says goodbye to a young woman struck down in the prime of her life. Okaloosa County residents gathered on Wednesday night at the Baker High School football field for a candlelight vigil in honor of 18-year-old Kadance Fredericksen. Kadance was killed Monday afternoon in Santa Rosa County in a head-on traffic crash. She was a former Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA and the Founder of 'Kada's Promise'. Family members, plan to continue 'Kada's Promise' in her honor. Parents of two teens injured by drunk driver in Panama City Beach file lawsuit The charity donated more than 12,000 teddy bears and blankets to children in need. Kadance had already received nine college acceptances and had plans to become a veterinarian. During Wednesday's vigil, friends and family shared their fondest memories of her. 'That this many people came together because they love her and they want to honor the legacy that she's leaving. I think it's important to focus on her legacy and Kata's promise and how uplifting she was to everybody and how she serves as a beacon of hope and light for not just young women, but young people across the world,' one vigil attendee said. A celebration of Kadance's life will be held on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. inside the multi-purpose room of Baker School. Organizers are expecting as many as a thousand people to attend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
Miss Teen USA Queen Kadance Fredericksen Passes Away at 18
The death of Miss Teen USA queen Kadance Fredericksen has left the community and her family in shock. Known for her role as Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA 2024 and her involvement in Miss Florida Teen USA, she had a promising future. As tributes pour in, the details surrounding her passing continue to emerge. Here are more details about the death of USA pageant queen Kadance Fredericksen. USA pageant queen Kadance Fredericksen, an 18-year-old aspiring veterinarian, has tragically passed away following a car accident in Florida. The Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA 2024 winner was involved in a fatal collision on February 17 in Santa Rosa County. According to authorities, her vehicle unexpectedly veered into oncoming traffic, leading to a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer. She was pronounced dead at the scene, while the truck driver sustained minor injuries. The cause of the accident remains unknown. The Miss Florida USA organization expressed its condolences. In a statement, 'Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul — one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters.' Her mother, Lisa Fredericksen, remembered her as 'generous' and the 'most kindhearted' person. (via PEOPLE) Fredericksen, a student at Baker High School, had recently secured a full-ride scholarship at Mississippi State University. Her family shared that she had been accepted into nine universities and had ambitious plans for her future. Beyond her academic and pageant achievements, she was deeply involved in charitable work. In 2017, she founded Kada's Promise, a nonprofit dedicated to providing comfort items to children in foster care and shelters. Her own experiences inspired this initiative in an abusive home. Her family has encouraged donations to Kada's Promise to honor her legacy. Originally reported by Disheet Maheshwari on ComingSoon. The post Miss Teen USA Queen Kadance Fredericksen Passes Away at 18 appeared first on Mandatory.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
What Happened to Queen Kadance Fredericksen? Miss Teen USA Passes Away
The news of pageant queen Kadance Fredericksen's death has left the community and her family in shock. Known for her role as Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA 2024 and her involvement in Miss Florida Teen USA, she had a promising future ahead. As tributes pour in, the details surrounding her passing continue to emerge. Here are more details about the death of USA pageant queen Kadance Fredericksen. USA pageant queen Kadance Fredericksen, an 18-year-old aspiring veterinarian, has tragically passed away following a car accident in Florida. The Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA 2024 winner was involved in a fatal collision on February 17 in Santa Rosa County. According to authorities, her vehicle unexpectedly veered into oncoming traffic, leading to a head-on crash with a tractor-trailer. She was pronounced dead at the scene, while the truck driver sustained minor injuries. The cause of the accident remains unknown. Fredericksen, a student at Baker High School, had recently secured a full-ride scholarship at Mississippi State University. Her family shared that she had been accepted into nine universities and had ambitious plans for her future. Beyond her academic and pageant achievements, she was deeply involved in charitable work. In 2017, she founded Kada's Promise, a nonprofit dedicated to providing comfort items to children in foster care and shelters. Her own experiences inspired this initiative in an abusive home. The Miss Florida USA organization expressed its condolences. In a statement, 'Our pageant community has lost a beautiful soul — one who was a true light in this world. She was ambitious, driven, kind, and a leader among her pageant sisters.' Her mother, Lisa Fredericksen, remembered her as 'generous' and the 'most kindhearted' person. (via PEOPLE) Her family has encouraged donations to Kada's Promise in honor of her legacy. The post What Happened to Queen Kadance Fredericksen? Miss Teen USA Passes Away appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
