Help us win $1000 for Promise to Kate!

The Junior Board for Promise to Kate has entered a contest on SignUpGenius.com to win $1000 that would go directly to the foundation.  This contest runs through June 2nd, but the challenge is to remember to visit the page every 24 hours to vote again and to get all our friends, family and supports to help us vote!  I made a little card that I keep by the computer to remind myself to vote.  Can you help us?  Please share...and share again!  Click here to vote!

Children's Miracle Network

Miss America and Miss America's Outstanding Teen support and do all they can to raise money for Children's Miracle Network. As an Outstanding Teen titleholder I want to do all I can to support this organization, but it is also important to me because my little Kate benefits from this organization through Wolfson Children's Hospital here in our hometown of Jacksonville.  If you can help me meet and exceed my goal of raising at least $100 I would appreciate your support.  I'm already halfway there!  Here's the link to donate.  Thanks in advance!

Support Children's Miracle Network

Surprise!

As I was walking out my front door on my way to school this morning I had a little surprise....
Look what landed in my yard overnight!  We were flocked!  I loved the flamingo flocking fundraiser that Promise to Kate foundation has been doing but I had no idea I would have a flock land in MY yard!  LOL  My little brother and sister loved it.  They have named all the flamingos and want them to stay forever. 

We were flocked!

Bake Sale at Kindergarten Round Up Night

Many of the kids in the Promise to Kate Junior Board attend Chets Creek Elementary School.  Each year the school does a "Kindergarten Round Up" one evening in April for kids that will be coming to school there in the fall.  We thought that might be a good place to set up a table for a bake sale!  So my awesome Junior Board members baked and wrapped cookies and brownies and some brought cupcakes. 

We greeted the sweet new incoming kindergarteners with smiles and many families not only bought baked goods, but left donations as well.  We raised over $200 that night! 

In our first 6 months as a group, this Junior Board has raised over $1500.00 for Promise to Kate foundation.  WOW!  I keep reminding the kids that every dollar will help scientists with research and hospitals with treating kids with Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy and similar health problems.  They may be small but these kids are making a BIG difference.  Go PTK Jr. Board!  Can't wait to see what we come up with next!

Mochi Night Fundraiser

Have you ever had delicious Mochi frozen yogurt?  If not, you don't know what you are missing!  And you never know what new flavors or topping will be there the next time you go.  Yummy!  A personal favorite.

The Conte Family

Then I found out that our neighborhood Mochi was allowing groups to have fundraising nights.  The Promise to Kate Junior Board and I set up our first Mochi night several days ago and it was a hit!  My sunshine princesses Lexie and Lauren were there thanking people for coming and asking them to put their receipts in the bucket for us to get 20% profit of the evening's sales.  Many other Junior Board members stopped by to help, buy some Mochi for themselves and also spread the word.  Even Kate's family came by to enjoy some Mochi!

The wonderful owner of Hodges Pointe Mochi, Patti Bethea, let us know the next morning that we made over $500 for PTK!   That was a tally of the 20% of receipts from the evening as well as a generous donation from Ms. Bethea herself.  Thank you so much!  We will frequent Mochi often and hope to do another fundraiser with you in the future!  And thank you to all our sweet friends and family that came out to support us.  More photos from the evening are here.

And I just have to ask...what's your favorite flavor?  My mom and I love Taro...

Brucci's Night for PTK

The Junior Board for Promise to Kate wants to do all they can to make money to give the hospital and scientists to find a cure for Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy.  The first official group fundraiser we planned was a dinner night at Brucci's Pizza.  Basically, the way it worked was the manager gives the wait staff the night off on Tuesdays and your fundraising group can serve, take orders, bus tables and clean up and you get all the tips for the night.   

The PTK Junior Board (and their family team of helpers) arrived for the dinner shift last night at 5 pm.  This picture shows the first shift, more helpers continued to arrive!

Promise to Kate Junior Board

We were so BUSY all night we barely had time for more photos but here are a few of the crew in action.

And one of the sweet little Kate we made a promise to...

The kids on the Junior Board ROCKED!  They were so sweet to all the customers asking to refill drinks, taking orders and cleaning up.  The owner of Brucci's said we did a FANTASTIC job!

And guess how much we raised?  $740.00!!!!!!

One especially special moment of the night for me was when my little brother, Chase (9 years old) told me he had written a speech to give at the restaurant.  I had to explain that it was probably going to be too loud for everyone to hear him but that I would post it on my blog.  Here it is:

In case it's too small for you to read, here's a translation (with his spelling):

Thank you for coming tonight but remember all the tips will go to the fodation Promise to Kate.  And the tips will go to Wolfsen Children hospital.  Now I will tell you a little bit about Kate she a little girl who has a very rare disease which is mitonic-musculers-destephey that disabels her body that is not as strong as us so please make a Promise to Kate and help this girl be like us.  thank you

This group of fabulous kids takes their Promise seriously.  Won't you join us?

Flamingo Flocking!

Promise to Kate recently kicked off a new fundraiser called Flamingo Flocking!  Basically, there are flocks of cute pink flamingos that can be "sent" to someone's yard if you pay to "flock" them.  And all the proceeds go to Promise to Kate foundation.  How fun is that? 

It costs $25 to flock a friend and the flamingos will migrate away after 48 hours.  They arrive with a sign stating that the owners of the house have been "flocked" by Promise to Kate.  Help us raise more money to find a cure for Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy and have a little fun.  Click HERE to go to the page to arrange your flock today!

 

THINK PINK!

Getting Geared Up for Picture a Cure!

Yesterday was a Promise to Kate - Junior Board work day to get ready for the big night - Picture a Cure!  We tied ribbons and cards on water bottles, counted out bunches of M & Ms in little baggies and stuffed gift bags.  But with all of us there working it was done in no time!

All of this will be seen at the big Picture a Cure fundraiser!  Last year was lots of fun for kids and adults as well as good food and many items up for bid on silent auction.  Check it out, I have my tickets, do you?

Wolfson One to Grow On Birthday Celebration

I've written before about my commitment to do whatever I can to support Promise to Kate Foundation, and Wolfson Children's Hospital is one of the organizations we support with the money raised.  This is a busy fundraising time for Wolfson Children's Hospital.  During their One to Grow On celebration they are having a variety of fundraising activities but the telethon was a great way to get the fundraising started!

During our time manning the phones little Kate had fun helping answer the not ringing phones to practice.  She said, "Hi, I love you, goodbye." That girl has phone manners!  I enjoyed getting to meet the news anchors and families of other children who have been touched by the amazing doctors, nurses and support staff at Wolfson Children's Hospital.

This year as a part of the One To Grow On celebration, Kate Conte was chosen as one of Wolfson's 55 children to benefit from their care in the past year.  Kate and her family were honored at the annual birthday celebration that followed the Ultra Marathon and other runs raising money for the hospital.  I was honored to be there to meet other families with children honored as one of the "55" and to help hand out the medals in the recognition ceremony.  What a special day and a special group of people.  Special thank you to my sister queens for coming out to support!

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!