Fundraiser Honors Roswell Teen Who Passed Away

ROSWELL, GA — The parents of a Roswell teenager who died suddenly days before the Christmas holiday want to honor their child's love of mission trips by making sure other youngsters can use that experience to shape their lives.

The Mackenzie Kind Anderson Memorial Mission fund has been established to honor the teen who passed away on Friday, Dec. 21. Money contributed to the fundraiser will help teenagers pay for overseas mission trips.

Organizers are collecting money via GoFundMe through January, and will soon launch an independent website. The first scholarship is set to be awarded in the summer, and donations contributed to the campaign will determine the size of the scholarship and how long the teens will be financially supported.

While Mackenzie faced "personal struggles," her parents note she was able to have an impact on others during her short time on Earth, the GoFundMe page states. Overseas mission trips also allowed Mackenzie to develop a world view that places an emphasis on service to others, especially global residents who are less fortunate, the page adds.

Scholarship applications will be made available on the upcoming website, and those submissions will be reviewed by Mackenzie's family. Teens who are awarded scholarships will have to write a brief essay following their trip to showcase how the mission changed their lives.

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Mackenzie was a student at Roswell High School and was set to graduate in May, according to her Facebook profile. Her father, Tai Anderson, is the former bass player for the band Third Day. He's also a founding member of Positively Roswell, a group of residents calling for more awareness and civilized discussions in local politics. Anderson said he's been overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support following his daughter's passing.

"Every message, profile pic change, and green ribbon tied around a mailbox has felt like a warm embrace," he said on his Facebook page. "We can never adequately express our gratitude for each of you."

A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5 at North Point Community Church. The GoFundMe page adds the scholarship will allow the teenager's legacy to live on through others whose lives are changed by mission trips.

"With this vehicle, her entire family and all that choose to join us in this endeavor can feel a connection to thousands of changed lives," the page added. "This will be incredibly meaningful to all those that knew Mackenzie as a way to multiply how she lived, and her sweet, caring spirit."

You can consider making a donation to the Mackenzie Kind Anderson Memorial Mission fundraiser by clicking here.

Image via GoFundMe, a Patch partner