Kara Kennedy Allen was born on Feb. 27, 1960, in Bronxville, N.Y.. She is the only daughter of U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy and Virginia Joan Bennett.

She married Michael Allen on Sept. 9, 1990 in Centerville, Mass. They have two children: Grace Kennedy Allen, born Sept. 19, 1994 in Washington, D.C. and Max Greathouse Allen, born Dec. 20, 1996, in Rockville, Md.

Kara formerly worked for Very Special Arts, a creative counterpart to Special Olympics founded by her aunt Jean Kennedy. She was also formerly on the board of directors for the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome .

In 2003, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. As of 2004, the cancer was in remission.