Gator Bowl Parade

 It was an exciting day but bittersweet.  Today was the amazing Gator Bowl Parade and the last appearance that I will make with my Jacksonville Queen Sisters:  Danielle DiPatre, Liz Stiles and Sarah Snyder.  I have learned so much from each of them.  Sarah and I have been friends since elementary school and Danielle and Liz have been great role models for me and were always there for me with advice for my future.  I know that we have created lifelong friendships.

It wouldn't have been the wonderful year that it has been without my amazing pageant directors, Emily Haines and Ruth Sidbury.  They were there with guidance and suggestions at every turn as well as creating opportunities for us to get together and be the pageant family we are.  I know we will always stay in touch.  Thanks for the opportunities you have given me this year!

Promise to Kate Junior Board

Every time Promise to Kate has an event a lot of kids are there because their parents are helping out. So I thought it would be great to start a Promise to Kate Junior board so that not only can they also feel a part of Promise to Kate but they can help fund raise and get more involved. This week I held the first Promise to Kate Junior Board meeting! It was so exciting to hear all of the other members good ideas for upcoming 2013. This will really help Promise to Kate get out there more, because the more people that are aware the better.  Look for great things to happen this year!

1st Meeting of the PTK Junior Board!

Big day!

I am so proud to be a part of working with Promise to Kate Foundation.  Mr. and Mrs. Conte have made a Promise to Kate that they will do everything they can to find a cure for Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy.  The money they raise goes to research and diagnosis of children with the disease. Watch the video below to see Kate's story. 





This afternoon I was proud to be a part of a visit to Wolfson Children's Hospital where Promise to Kate made a $10,000 donation to pay for the 3Tesla MRI machine that helps diagnose young patients quickly.  It is cutting-edge technology.  It cost much more than $10,000, but this donation will help pay some of what they still owe for the machine. Wow!  Thank you to everyone who participated in the fundraisers this year and I can't wait to help PTK do some amazing things in 2013!

Miss Nassau Pageant

I was honored to help crown some new queens at the Miss Nassau Pageant last night. 

Congratulations to all the new winners.  Can't wait to see you rock the stage at Miss Florida 2013!

Seasons of Giving

As a yearly tradition, the elementary students at Chets Creek Elementary (my old school!) have a Seasons of Giving auction at the beginning of December.  Each class makes something to auction off for a charity they choose.  Many of the classes this year chose to auction off an item to benefit Promise to Kate Foundation so I wanted to join in!  I bought an unfinished wooden advent calendar and painted it holiday colors.

Here it is on the auction table.  I hope it helps raise some money for my platform, Promise to Kate.

Coloring Book Drive

Knowing my sweet little friend Kate and doing fundraiser work with Children's Miracle Network inspired me to do something special for the kids at Wolfson Children's Hospital.  I called the Child Life department and got the suggestion of collecting coloring books for the kids.  I set up collection boxes at Chets Creek Elementary and am asking friends and family to help me put smiles on the faces of sick kids.
Coloring Book Drive

I asked the people at Wolfson if they would like me to bring the coloring books during the holidays but they asked me to come the first week of January because they get so many visitors in the month of December that January ends up being slow. This will be a nice New Year's treat for sick kids!

Please help if you can!

Wagon Parade

I had such a wonderful time at the Children's Miracle Network Wagon parade that was put on by the Wolfson Children's Hospital. It was so fun to pull little Kate around in the Minnie Mouse theme wagon my mom and I decorated for her. You never realize how blessed you are as a person until you see kids that are struggling just to make it through each day. I know all the kids had such a great time as I did myself.  It was fun walking around and waving and giving those children a chance to do something special and to raise awareness for Wolfson and all the wonderful services they provide.