Six months after her tragic passing, the City of Crestview commemorated the life of Kadance Fredericksen with a memorial dedication at Twin Hills Park on Monday afternoon, August 4, 2025.
- City officials unveiled a memorial bench and plaque in “Kada’s Korner” near the children’s playground, celebrating the young activist’s remarkable legacy of compassion and community service.
Mayor Pro Tem Doug Capps and City Manager Jessica Leavins led the intimate ceremony, which took place following a gentle rain and was attended by family, friends, local teen pageant representatives, and community leaders.
Kadance Fredericksen, who died in February 2025 in a fatal crash at the age of 18, was named Crestview’s Citizen of the Year in 2019. She gained widespread recognition for her nonprofit Kada’s Promise, an organization dedicated to supporting children experiencing trauma. Before her untimely death, Fredericksen had collected and distributed over 12,000 teddy bears and blankets to children in need.
- “Her work inspired us all, and her legacy will live on in the countless lives she touched,” said Baker School Principal Michael Martello, her high school principal at the time of her passing.
Matt and Lisa Fredericksen, Kadance’s parents, expressed deep appreciation for the community’s continued support. The memorial bench serves as a permanent tribute to their daughter’s commitment to helping vulnerable children.
Fredericksen’s journey from a challenging childhood to a beacon of hope began when she was removed from an abusive situation and adopted by her biological father and stepmother in 2017. She transformed her personal experiences into a mission of compassion, founding Kada’s Promise and becoming an advocate for child abuse awareness.
During her brief but impactful life, Fredericksen was crowned Miss Okaloosa County Teen USA and dedicated over 210 volunteer hours in 2024. She raised more than $25,000 for the Ronald McDonald House and became a powerful voice for children facing difficult circumstances.
“Kada’s Promise is probably my greatest accomplishment to date,” Fredericksen had previously said. “It is my life’s story… I am so blessed that my pain was temporary and now I get to use my story to temporarily take someone else’s pain away.”
The memorial bench at Twin Hills Park provides a space for visitors to remember Fredericksen and learn more about her work at kadaspromise.com.
Those interested in continuing Fredericksen’s mission can visit the organization’s website to learn about ongoing efforts to support children experiencing trauma.
