Kendra Windsor: Callaway County’s ‘Voice’

Singing competition raises more than $3,000 for CASA program

April 26, 2016 at 3:30 a.m. | Updated January 1, 2021 at 12:00 a.m.

Kendra Windsor, a third-grade teachers from Holts Summit, was named The Voice of Callaway County Monday evening, April 25, 2016 after a singing competition in Fulton. The 2016 event, a fundraiser for Heart of Missouri CASA's Callaway County branch, raised more than $3,400, with Windsor raising $1,036.
Kendra Windsor, a third-grade teachers from Holts Summit, was named The Voice of Callaway County Monday evening, April 25, 2016 after a singing competition in Fulton. The 2016 event, a fundraiser for Heart of Missouri CASA's Callaway County branch, raised more than $3,400, with Windsor raising $1,036.

Kendra Windsor, a third-grade school teacher from Holts Summit, was named The Voice of Callaway County Monday evening during a fundraising event.

While there was no sign of famous musical judges Adam Levine or Pharrell Williams, dozens of people came out to support Windsor and six other singers who raised money — more than $3,400 — for a good cause. First-, second- and third-place winners were ranked by how much money they raised, and Windsor herself raised $1,036 for CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates), a program supporting abused and/or neglected children.

“I raised most of the money from my church and teacher friends,” Windsor said. “Some of the donations, I had no idea where they came from.”

“The Voices of Callaway” is an annual fundraiser for the Callaway County branch of Heart of Missouri CASA. The Monday night event was at First Baptist Church in Fulton.

Other competitors included Amanda Kerr, Katie Speer, Peg Dzicek, Marlene Railton, Tom Clapp and Travis Feutz.

“The person who raises the most money becomes the Voice of Callaway County,” said organizer Suzanne Guerrant.

Guerrant is CASA’s director in Callaway County. Here, almost 40 children are represented by CASA advocates, out of about 200 abused and/or neglected children currently in foster care, she said.

“There are approximately 500 in care in the 13th Judicial Circuit, which is Callaway and Boone combined,” Guerrant added. “So we’re not reaching as many as we need to.”

Currently, Guerrant helps coordinate about 15 active volunteers with 20 on the roll. She added she retired from teaching in 2013 and started helping with CASA.

“I knew I still wanted to do something more with kids,” she said. “I advocate for six kids right now myself.”

Second-place winner was Marlene Railton, of William Woods University and Callaway Singers, and third-place finisher was Peg Dzicek, who was accompanied by her guitarist son Mike. The event was emceed by Erin Hart and Dave Patrick of the morning radio show on 94.3 Kat Country out of Jefferson City.

Clapp, a Fulton coffee shop guru who performed in black overalls, a white shirt and a bow tie, challenged each audience member to bring two more people along to next year’s event.

“What it’s about is an incredible need in our community,” Clapp said. “It’s about children — and the people who stand beside them. We have to make sure they’re not lost in the godawful system we have in this country.”