Hey Ladies!
So I felt a little weirded out posting this on the main GC board but I figured it would be okay to post here amongst my sisters...
As some of you may or may not know I compete in pageants, specifically the local preliminaries for Miss Maryland America (the winner of which goes to Miss America)
This year, for the first time, the organization is requiring a $100 donation be made to the Children's Miracle Network (supported nationally by Miss America) for each local pageant a young woman competes in.
While the money goes to an amazingly worthwhile cause, it's really difficult for me, a college student who doesn't hold a job during semesters, to come up with the funds to compete the way I'd like to. In the past I've competed in as many pageants as I had time for, even when I knew I was far outmatched by other contestants and wasn't going to win, simply for the joy of being onstage, performing my talent, and the extra practice. There is a cap of $400 (after four locals a contestant is free to compete without any further CMN donations) so that's what I've set my goal at -however that's a little "beyond my means" if you will, so I'm reaching out to the different communities I have connections with and asking for help...like I said, shameless solicitation

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If you feel so compelled, the link to my donation page is:
http://www.missamerica4kids.org/m.aspx?i=5087C0DF3459F4
(*fun fact: the picture posted is from a Kay Dee formal

*)
However, CMN requirements aside, I also wanted to post here just to let you all know that I was competing and to ask you to please keep me in your thoughts and prayers for the next few weeks as my first pageant comes up (Feb 2nd for inquiring minds). I'll take all the good vibes I can get! I'll be sure to let you all know what happens...and with pictures if you'd like