Thirteen-year-old Kayla Abramowitz of North Palm Beach was named winner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneur Academy Saunders scholarship for $30,000.

Kayla won over judges with her business plan for Kayla Cares 4 Kids, a nonprofit organization that collects and donates entertainment and educational materials, such as DVDs and video games, to hospitals.

Kayla Cares 4 Kids has distributed more than 8,000 items to hospitals in 45 states. Kayla, who recently completed the seventh grade, beat out five other finalists across the nation for the scholarship.

Kayla came up with the idea from her own experience at hospitals where she has received treatments for Crohn’s Disease and juvenile arthritis.

“I love creating things, having really good ideas and making them exist,” she said.

In addition to college scholarship money, Kayla won a business prize package, a shopping spree to Sam’s Club and a trip to see Sam’s Club’s headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.

The announcement was made at the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Small Business Summit this week in Washington, D.C.

mpounds@sunsentinel.com or 561-243-6650