When an 18-year-old student died after a head-on crash on a Texas highway, her parents decided to turn their grief into a lasting tribute to the strangers who tried to save her life. Kenli Riney was driving along the highway when her vehicle spun off the road into a ditch and caught fire. The Argote family was travelling behind her and witnessed the crash. Mike Argote and three other people immediately ran toward the burning vehicle and pulled Riney from the wreckage. Although Argote suffered burns during the rescue, he quickly began performing CPR on Riney. When he became too tired to continue, his 14-year-old daughter, Ema Argote, took over and continued trying to save her life. After realizing that Riney had died, the Argote family gathered beside her on the roadside and prayed together. Riney's parents, Marjohn and Kevin Riney, knew very little about the people who had spent their daughter's final moments trying to save her. The family eventually learned who the rescuers were after Riney's uncle found a Facebook post describing the crash. This discovery led to…
Texas teen died in car fire; parents' foundation awards $67,000 to 67 people
In short
The Kenli Foundation provides financial aid to students attending trade schools, colleges, and graduate programs, supported by local business sponsorships and an annual charity golf tournament. Among its specialized honors is the Argote Award Scholarship at San Saba High School, created for the family who risked their lives attempting the roadside rescue. Inaugural recipient Ema Argote, who helped pull the victim from the wreckage as a teenager, now attends the University of Texas at San Antonio. The charity's distribution network has grown from a local effort to granting dozens of annual awards spanning 24 states and international regions.
Key points
- The Kenli Foundation commemorates an 18-year-old student while honoring the heroic citize…: The Kenli Foundation commemorates an 18-year-old student while honoring the heroic citizens who tried to save her.
- Annual scholarships assist students attending colleges, graduate schools, and trade progr…: Annual scholarships assist students attending colleges, graduate schools, and trade programs across 24 states and international regions.
- Community events and corporate sponsors sustain the organization as its distribution expa…: Community events and corporate sponsors sustain the organization as its distribution expanded to 22 scholarships per year.