Witnessing Miracles--My Visit to St. John's Children's Hospital

One of my favorite experiences as Miss Capital City is my experience visiting the children at St. John's Children's Hospital in Springfield, IL. Let me tell you--actually meeting the patients who are being treated and helped there is extremely moving. It was amazing to meet 'miracle kids' who had beaten the odds and survived various life-threatening health problems. Besides the kids, I met many of their family members who must put their lives on hold and spend countless hours in hospital rooms, waiting for their children to be diagnosed, treated, and hopefully start their journey to recovery.

I met the majority of the patients during my visit. Among the children there, I met a toddler who was recovering from major burns on his body, several kids recovering from having their appendixes removed, and children with rare kidney or genetic condition. I also talked with a girl who was about to go back home after getting her tonsils removed. I let her wear my crown, which definitely brought a smile to her face!

All of the kids there have different stories and each one touched my heart. However, I was most affected by two patients: While in the ICU, a young boy's grandma shared with me that her special needs grandson named Jeffrey had just gotten off life support that day! She said that the doctors did not think he would make it, but he miraculously pulled through. Praise God! It was just amazing to be there and hear the emotion in her voice as she told me her good news, and I was so happy for Jeffrey. Finally, I was allowed to visit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and I will never forget my experience there. I was taken into several 'pods' where the nurses care for premature babies, who each have their own little (and extremely expensive) incubator. Marco was born 16 weeks early and weighed 1 pound, 11 ounces--he was the smallest human being I have ever seen. It's hard to express what it's like to meet one of these precious babies, who are now able to be treated with much higher survival rates with the advanced technology and amazing doctors they have there. He was so tiny and precious, and it was very moving to witness. You can see the nurses holding one of the preemies in the background of the picture below. Experiencing that really reminded me that people are so valuable- no matter how small or what stage of life they are at!


It's comforting to know that when children in Central Illinois need treatment, there are some amazing facilities close by where they will be taken care of extremely well, especially because of the funds provided by Children's Miracle Network--including St. John's Children's Hospital in Springfield and the Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, IL. Please consider making a donation to support CMN on my donation webpage http://www.missamerica4kids.org/m.aspx?i=24788EEA3B471B. I saw first hand that those kids need it and deserve it!

Chopsticks, AG Fashion Show, and other updates..

Today was the last day of the CMN fundraiser I did with Panda Express, so I made an appearance there this evening. It was fun to see people using the flyers and talk with the Panda workers--they were so friendly and we took some pictures together. I also met a sweet little girl and her mother, pictured above. She asked me how to do 'the princess wave,' so we practiced that together! Thanks to everyone who participated!



I had a blast last Saturday emceeing the American Girl Fashion Show in Springfield. It was a huge success! The models took the runway, dressed up like their dolls, as information was read about the different historical time periods and the lives of the American Girls. Several 'miracle kids' who have been treated at St. John's Children's Hospital were in the show, which was so inspiring! They all did a fabulous job! I thought the ballroom was decorated adorably, the food was delicious, and we received great service from the Abraham Lincoln Hotel hotel staff.

I got to talk with some of the girls before and after the show and during the intermission. Lots of them were so excited to take pictures with me, and I signed some autographs as well! During part of the show, I enjoyed talking with a little girl named Olivia who came with her grandmother. I sat next to her at our table for part of the show. I gave out photo cards with my contact info to many of the girls and was happy to get an email from one of the girls I met this week. What a fun event for a GREAT organization!


One more announcement: Pam Cather of Reflections, etc photography has entered one of the photos she took of me at the piano into a photography competition! If you'd like to vote, here is the link: http://www.ppmag.com/cover-contest-2010/vote/12044/

Spring Happenings..

During the past couple months, I've made several appearances that I haven't mentioned yet--I helped with crowning at a local Sunburst pageant held in Bloomington, IL. I won several Sunburst Illinois State titles as a pre-teen and teenager and had some great experiences--in fact, my very first pageant was the local Sunburst Pre-Teen title that I won in October, 2000--so that was fun and brought back a lot of memories. I also enjoyed supporting the contestants and watching the new titleholders crowned at the Miss Champaign/Urbana and Miss Central Illinois preliminary pageant in February.

Also in February, I had a photo shoot with the talented Kimberly Smoot, who generously offers her services to Miss Capital City. My experience with her was very professional, and I'm very happy with the headshots we took! Her photographs are extremely high quality and she is such a nice person to work with. Thank you so much, Kimberly!! Please visit her website: kimberlysmoot.com

St. Patrick's Day was an exciting day for me this year because I found "The One"...the dress, that is!! My director Rachel, my mom, and I went to Melise's dress shop down in Marion, IL to look for an evening gown. It was definitely a quick and successful search--the first dress that I came out of the dressing room wearing was "The One." I just knew when I put it on that nothing else would top it. It is absolutely gorgeous, and it makes me feel like Miss Illinois! I really enjoyed trying on lots of dresses for fun that day--I never turn down the chance to play dress up! Haha! A huge thank you goes to Jo Rana for all your help!

So, for anyone who hasn't been to Melise's, please consider going if you are interested in working with wonderful ladies and exploring an amazing selection of gorgeous gowns. Whether you're shopping for prom, pageants, or a special occasion, you will definitely find what you're looking for--or better! My experiences there have been fantastic, and I would love to recommend Melise's shop to everyone. Here is the link to their website:http://www.melises.com/ and they have are also on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=681179492#!/group.php?gid=50488097650&v=wall&ref=ts

Last month, I had the opportunity to have photos taken by a friend from church, Pamela Cather, whose photography business is "Reflections, Etc. by Pamela." They are very dramatic--I wore a tiger print gown and she photographed me at the piano. I had never had professional photos taken with the piano, so I am really excited about how they turned out! We had a lot of fun during the shoot. Thank you so much, Pam! Her website is http://www.reflections-etc.com/ and she recently added a post about our photo shoot: http://www.reflections-etc.com/blog/lights-camera-chinese/ She is also on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reflectionsetc
There are new photos in my slideshow, and I have a lot of events coming up...I'll be posting about them soon! Check back for updates!

The Miss Illinois Pageant is less than 2 months away (June 17-19)! TICKETS go on sale MAY 3!

I have been preparing to compete for the job and title of Miss Illinois for months (although in reality, I've actually been working towards this goal for years), and I'm so thrilled that the competition is less than two months from now! It is such an honor to have this opportunity, and I would love to have you share the experience with me and support me in the audience! The pageant will be held up in St. Charles, IL. Here is the information:

WHAT: Miss Illinois Scholarship Association 2010 Pageant
WHEN: JUNE 17-19, 2010
*PRELIMINARY competitions will be held on June 17 and 18 at 7:00 p.m.
*The FINAL pageant and crowning of Miss Illinois 2010 will be June 19 at 7:00p.m.
WHERE: Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center
1040 Dunham Rd., St. Charles, IL

TICKET INFO: Tickets go on sale MAY 3 at 11:00am
For Tickets, call: 630.584.7200 ext. 10
PRICES:
Thursday and Friday - $30.00 each
Saturday - $45.00 each
Two day package (Friday and Saturday) - $55.00
Three day package (Thursday-Friday and Saturday) - $85.00

Here is the link to the Norris Cultural Arts center website: http://www.norrisculturalarts.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=events.eventDetails&EventID=191

BADGES:
***If you want to see me after the competitions, you must purchase a badge! Only guests with badges will be admitted to the Contestant Visitation each night, which will be held at the Pheasant Run Resort (4051 E Main St., St. Charles, IL) *If you let me know that you want to purchase a badge by May 20, you can purchase them for $10 each. Otherwise, badges will cost $20 each if purchased at the Pageant. After the final pageant, there will be a ticketed reception after the final night. More info to come...

Fans can bring signs to wave in the audience (no larger than 8 1/2x 11) and flowers/cards/gifts can be sent to:
Natalie Sherer~ Miss Capital City 2010
c/o Pheasant Run Resort & Spa
4051 East Main Street
St. Charles, IL 60174

I really hope that you can make it!! I can't tell you how much it means to know there are people supporting me and cheering me on in the audience!

Eat at Panda Express to support CMN! APRIL 24--MAY 1

Want to use your chopsticks for a good cause? Well, now you can! I have an exciting announcement: I am partnering with the local Panda Express in Bloomington, IL. They have agreed to donate a generous 20% of the sales of each guest who dines in or takes-out--as long as the guest presents the flyer shown above at the time of their purchase. This is a great way to raise funds for the Children's Miracle Network. So print out a flyer, stop by the Eastland Mall Food Court (1615 E. Empire) for some orange chicken, and be part of this opportunity! BUT, this fundraiser is only taking place for a limited time--from APRIL 24--MAY 1. Don't miss it! I hope this will be a success!

This Weekend: American Girl Fashion Shows Benefiting St. John's Children's Hospital!

There is an exciting Children's Miracle Network fundraising event that I'd like to let you know about--The American Girl Fashion show will be taking place this weekend to raise funds for the children at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL. I had fun judging to help pick out the models for the fashion show in March. All the girls were so adorable! The girls and their American Girl dolls will be wearing matching outfits, and it will definitely be an enjoyable show that you won't want to miss. I will be emceeing the show tomorrow (on Saturday, April 24) at 2:00! The official photographer will be Kimberly Smoot (kimberlysmoot.com). A big thank you goes to Molly Sorrell, all the girls and their families, and everyone involved with this wonderful event!

**Here is the link with more information: http://www.st-
johns.org/cmn/americangirl/default.aspx

"The American Girl Fashion Show is a fun-filled afternoon for girls and their families, friends, and favorite dolls! Celebrate the experience of being a girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful presentation of historical and contemporary fashions. Enjoy elegant refreshments, purchase tickets to win raffle prizes, and learn how clothing has changed over the years to reflect history, culture, and girls’ individual styles."


WHAT: American Girl Fashion Shows
WHEN: Saturday, April 24 at 10:30 am, 2:00 pm, and 6:00pm
and Sunday, April 25 at Noon and 3:00 pm
WHERE: All shows will be hosted at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel & Conference Center in downtown Springfield.
WHY: To raise money for the Children's Miracle Network at St. John's Children's Hospital!!

"Green is Gorgeous" in Central Park~ Happy Earth Day!

Hello everyone! This past weekend I spent a few days in New York City visiting my friends from Manhattan School of Music, where I studied for two years. Since Earth Day is today, I thought it would be a great idea to do something to help promote Miss America's new "green" initiative. I organized a group of my friends to go to beautiful Central Park to help clean up litter. It's very easy to get involved with this--I just had to sign some paperwork at a visitor center, wear a volunteer lanyard, and use the trash grabber and plastic bag they provided me with while we searched for wrappers, plastic bags, straws, and litter of any kind. For more information, here is a link to the official website for Central Park and it's "Pitch in, Pick Up!" program: http://support.centralparknyc.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=9141

Central Park really is very well taken care of, but we still found small pieces of trash on the route we were assigned to. It was a fun time--Central Park is so gorgeous during the spring when the flowers have bloomed and the leaves are forming on the trees. Thank you to Julie, Gina, Kinneret, Charlton, Yeorim, and Wilson who came and helped out and supported this volunteer activity to help celebrate Earth Day! I encourage you to be mindful of how you can help promote a cleaner, greener planet through the way you use and dispose of your resources, not just today, but everyday. It's up to each of us to make right choices to take care of our environment. What will you do? Feel free to post your comments and ideas!

To find out more about how the Miss America Organization promotes "Green is Gorgeous!" visit http://www.missamerica.org/news/press-releases.aspx?id=417

I can now say that I have officially flipped pancakes at IHOP!

On February 23rd of this year, IHOP celebrated National Pancake Day, serving free pancakes to customers and asking them to consider making a donation to Children's Miracle Network. "Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Countless individuals, organizations and media partners unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that save and improve the lives of 17 million children each year." (Visit http://www.childrensmiraclenetwork.org to learn more.)

The Miss America Organization has a very special partnership with Children's Miracle Network (CMN). In fact, it is the national platform for the MAO, all contestants raise funds for this wonderful organization, and Miss America is the goodwill ambassador for CMN. So, I was delighted to participate in celebrating National Pancake Day at the IHOP in Springfield, IL. I was one of several "celebrity servers" and had a good time serving the free short stacks of flapjacks to hungry-and happy- customers, while answering questions about my title, the Miss Illinois Scholarship Association, and the MAO/CMN partnership. It was neat to experience first hand how wearing the Miss Capital City crown draws attention and opens up important conversations with people. In the past, a crown may have solely represented winning a beauty contest, but now it has evolved into a powerful tool for influencing society as well as a mark of achievement and embodiment of everything the Miss America Organization stands for.

The most exciting part of my IHOP experience was when I was invited back to the kitchen, and they let me flip some pancakes! The first few were flops..but after that I started getting comfortable with proper pancake flipping technique! Haha! It really was a fun experience. I also enjoyed meeting the cutest little girl who came in with her mother, carrying a Disney Princess lunchbox--she looked so excited to meet a real princess! She was adorable, and I definitely had fun talking and taking a picture with her.

It was encouraging to see people making donations as they left IHOP that afternoon. Much of the money raised for CMN is raised a couple dollars at a time by people whose 'small' actions add up to a big difference. I recently visited the IHOP website to find out the results of this year's National Pancake Day fundraising (http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/index.html), and I'm happy to report that over $2.1 million were raised, and they have exceeded their goal of raising $5 million in 5 years. If you participated, thank you! It is because of you that it has been possible to achieve these goals, and your generosity is appreciated.

As Miss Capital City, the door has been opened for me to take advantage of our partnership with CMN and to really use my title to promote and raise funds for Children's Miracle Network through events like the one at IHOP. If you would like to get involved, it would mean so much to me--and the miracle kids-- if you would visit my website http://www.missamerica4kids.org/m.aspx?i=24788EEA3B471B and consider making a donation to CMN. Any amount helps and makes that "goal-o-meter" get closer to my personal goal of raising $1,000!

I fully support CMN and my desire is to be as involved as possible with our Children's Miracle Network hospitals here in Central Illinois. I have been working specifically with St. John Children's Hospital in Springfield, IL. One of the goals of CMN is to "keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children." So, when you make a contribution, you can be sure that you are impacting the children who need it most right here in Central Illinois. Thank you so much for your support.

Do you have any stories that you'd like to share about how Children's Miracle Network hospitals have impacted your life? Please feel free to share!

Hello!

Hello and welcome to my blog! Ever since I was announced Miss Capital City 2010 on November 22, 2009 in Springfield, IL, I have been very busy making appearances and preparing to compete for the job and title of Miss Illinois this June. My family was there to support me, and Limelight Studio Photography captured every moment of the competition and crowning. (They are the official photographer for Miss Illinois, and having had great experiences with them in the past, I would definitely recommend them! Their website is: http://www.limelightstudiophotography.com/) It's such an honor to be representing our state's capital, and my excitement about competing for Miss Illinois is through the roof! This has been a goal of mine since I was a little girl, although I now have a true understanding of what it really means to be Miss Illinois and what the Miss America Organization (MAO) is about.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the MAO:

"Rich in history and social significance, the Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit organization that has maintained a tradition for many decades of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent, and intelligence. The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance." Also, "..on an annual basis, Miss America state and local titleholders, along with the Organization's network of volunteers, participate in more than 12,000 community service projects, providing in excess of 500,000 service hours to worthy causes." (Read more by visiting the Miss America website: http://www.missamerica.org)

At each level of competition (local, state, and national), each contestant must compete in five areas of competition: Interview, Talent, Evening Gown, Swimsuit, and On-State Question. As titleholders at any level, we represent confident young women who are talented, intelligent, poised, relatable, and beautiful inside and out.
Holding the title and responsibilities of Miss Capital City is an honor that I cherish. I am humbled and thankful to have received this opportunity, and I'm so glad to be working with the wonderful director of the Miss Capital City pageant, Rachel Johnson. Thank you so much for your encouragement and help so far!

I look forward to keeping you updated! Thank you for your support, and please visit again soon! For more information about Miss Illinois, please visit: http://www.missillinois.org/.