Last month, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Children's Miracle Network/KEZK Radiothon at Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis. This has been one of my favorite volunteer opportunities this year for so many reasons. As you know, Miss America has teamed up with CMN as its national platform, enabling contestants on the local, state, and national levels to fundraise as a co-requisite to compete. While many have criticized this requirement, I welcome it with open arms, and if everyone had the same opportunity as I did, I am confident that they would share my feelings.I was joined by my Lacey, our director Gary, Lacey's dad, and my parents and sister, Jenna, who is Miss Kirksville 2008. We started off our afternoon answering phones and rece
iving donations for CMN, but a few hours into the day, we were presented with an even more exciting opportunity - the chance to visit with some of the pediatric patients in the hospital!! We played darts with Austin in physical therapy, and then had the opportunity to talk to and visit with multiple patients and their families, including 10 month old Destiny, 4 year old Emily, and 5 year old Madison and her sister Abby. A big thanks goes out to Angie from Glennon for her help in making our tour and visit happen! We had so much fun with the kids, and it meant so much to be able to give back to such an upstanding organization. Miss America contestants spend a lot of time and hard work raising money for CMN, but most of the what we do is behind the scenes. It means so much to be able to meet the families we work so hard for and it makes what we do a reality.
iving donations for CMN, but a few hours into the day, we were presented with an even more exciting opportunity - the chance to visit with some of the pediatric patients in the hospital!! We played darts with Austin in physical therapy, and then had the opportunity to talk to and visit with multiple patients and their families, including 10 month old Destiny, 4 year old Emily, and 5 year old Madison and her sister Abby. A big thanks goes out to Angie from Glennon for her help in making our tour and visit happen! We had so much fun with the kids, and it meant so much to be able to give back to such an upstanding organization. Miss America contestants spend a lot of time and hard work raising money for CMN, but most of the what we do is behind the scenes. It means so much to be able to meet the families we work so hard for and it makes what we do a reality.After our tour of the hospital, we met someone who has forever changed my life
- 12 year old Josh, the face of CMN at Cardinal Glennon. Since he was four days old, Glennon has been a second home to Josh. At seven years old, Josh underwent a successful kidney transplant, which was even more special because his mom was the donor. Within minutes of meeting Josh, I realized how special he is. He has a charisma and love for life that is unmatched, and his personality is contagious to everyone he meets. I got to talk to both Josh and his mom about their history with Glennon and CMN, and what an instrumental role both have played in their lives. Josh told me about some of his 
fondest memories made possible by CMN, including throwing out the first pitch at a Cardinals game and meeting his favorite player and long-standing supporter of kidney disease research, David Eckstein. Josh entertained KEZK listeners as he was interviewed live at the Radiothon, and I don't think I've ever seen someone so excited as he was when he was presented with an acoustic guitar autographed by Jewel, a gift from CMN and KEZK. Josh is an aspiring rock star, you know, and I have no doubt that he'll become one someday. We ended the night by singing happy birthday preemie Aiden in the NICU celebrating his 8-week birthday, before Josh closed the Radiothon and was presented with the official check, totalling $340,424.00. I want to extend a big thanks to KEZK for hosting the annual Radiothon, and an even bigger thanks to St. Louis for their support!
- 12 year old Josh, the face of CMN at Cardinal Glennon. Since he was four days old, Glennon has been a second home to Josh. At seven years old, Josh underwent a successful kidney transplant, which was even more special because his mom was the donor. Within minutes of meeting Josh, I realized how special he is. He has a charisma and love for life that is unmatched, and his personality is contagious to everyone he meets. I got to talk to both Josh and his mom about their history with Glennon and CMN, and what an instrumental role both have played in their lives. Josh told me about some of his 
fondest memories made possible by CMN, including throwing out the first pitch at a Cardinals game and meeting his favorite player and long-standing supporter of kidney disease research, David Eckstein. Josh entertained KEZK listeners as he was interviewed live at the Radiothon, and I don't think I've ever seen someone so excited as he was when he was presented with an acoustic guitar autographed by Jewel, a gift from CMN and KEZK. Josh is an aspiring rock star, you know, and I have no doubt that he'll become one someday. We ended the night by singing happy birthday preemie Aiden in the NICU celebrating his 8-week birthday, before Josh closed the Radiothon and was presented with the official check, totalling $340,424.00. I want to extend a big thanks to KEZK for hosting the annual Radiothon, and an even bigger thanks to St. Louis for their support! 
On Saturday, I hosted the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association Winter Festival at Fulton High School in O'Fallon, Illinois. I had so much fun as MC - maybe a little too much fun! - and watching all the color guards and drumlines from across the Midwest. A big thanks to everyone who helped out with the Gateway Flower Sale Fundraiser and to my Gateway little sister, Sydnee for helping out with MCing.
Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profundity.
Kindness in giving creates love.
--Lao-Tse
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