Cool Kid Emily Rahhal helps veterans through nonprofit fundraiser

TARZANA, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Our ABC7 Cool Kid for Thursday, Nov. 12, is Emily Rahhal, who focuses on helping veterans returning home from deployment.

Emily met Shad Meeshad, the president of the National Veterans Foundation, and he taught her about some of the work being done to help veterans transition from the battlefield back to civilian life.

She wanted to help and decided that since her birthday fell on Valentine's Day, it would be the perfect way to make something happen.

She threw a birthday party, but she turned her party into a fundraiser for the organization.

In addition to raising the much-needed funds, the night ended up serving a much more personal purpose for a few of the veterans who attended.

"A night like Saturday night allowed each one of the veterans in attendance to share their story with someone, and connect with someone, and feel their support," Emily said.

The success of that event inspired Emily to do even more. She knows how much our veterans have given up for our country, and she's doing what she can to give back.