Amazing Day Of Service 2010 video

( ratings )

Amazing Day Of Service 2010

Published: 2010/02/17 by vclemens

7:30 am came early for 65 Miss America volunteers on January 29,2010, as they gathered together in the lobby of Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada to celebrated the 4th annual "Amazing" Day of Service". This event honors the 53 bright and talented young contestants vying for the title of Miss America. The event took on a new twist with 3rd place winners of the Amazing race, our very own Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap and her husband Brian Kliensmidth, who brought along their friends from the CBS hit show "The Amazing Race". Winners of the Amazing Race, Meghan Rickey and Cheyne Whitney and Maria Ho (1/2 of the poker player team) joined Miss America's BeBe Shop, Miss America 1948, Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998, along with former state titleholders, state and local executive directors, family and friends of the contestants. The group boarded the Greyhound bus and headed out for a day that they would all long remember. Habitat for Humanity Las Vegas builds simple, decent, affordable single family homes in Clark County, and today because of the size of our group we were planning on working on two homes. We were met at the site by fifteen employees from Lowe's, "Let's build Something Together", our Signature Sponsor for event. Team leaders,President of the Miss Maine Scholarship Pageant, Valerie Clemens and Lowe's representatives welcomed the group as well as former Miss America's, Ericka, BeBe and Kate shared inspirational words to the volunteers. As the day began to unfold the volunteers signed in and photographers, Lisa Perez Miller, President of the Miss Kansas Pageant and Stanley Boyes, Director of Field Operations for the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Program photographed the entire event. There were plenty of laughs and smiles that made the hard work of over 100 hours of work accomplished by the volunteers fly by. At 10:00am, the Hospitality chairman,Luis Pabon the Executive Director and Producer of the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Program, announced the ever popular " Lollipop Break" to the delight of the group. Habitat for Humanity's Roger Cooper, Project Manager and Bobbi Hardy,Volunteer Coordinator and Youth United Advisor from Las Vegas were on hand to thank the volunteers from around the country for their kindness and mentioned that they look forward to our visit each year. As noontime approached a delicious lunch was delivered and everyone found a crub side seat and marveled over the work that was accomplished,two complete Habitat for Humanity Homes primed and painted in side and out! Our Greyhound bus driver, Jimmy was on hand for a couple of photos with the group and he especially enjoyed meeting the Amazing Racers! One of our Amazing Day Of Service volunteers, Avery Kano, General Chairman and Executive Director of the Miss Island Mokihana Scholarship Organization summarized the event in a special way..." "The Amazing Day of Service Event" was, and will continue to be a great way for us, "Miss America volunteers", to give of ourselves while in Las Vegas to support our state titleholders. I could not pass up this opportunity for myself and my local titleholders to volunteer for this event knowing that "service" stands for one of the points on the Miss America crown as well as it being our Miss Hawaii's platform - "The Priceless Joy of Serving". Having traveled almost 3,000 miles to Las Vegas from our island home of Kauai, we could have spent the day in the shopping centers or casinos - but knowing that we were able to help a family in need put a safe, decent, affordable shelter over their head - to us is priceless. Even though we were in Las Vegas supporting our individual state titleholders, we were able to enjoy the camaraderie among volunteers from other states to get the job done with a sense of team spirit. It was also a treat to be able to work side-by-side with former Miss Americas and the Amazing Race winners and finalists! I will definitely continue to volunteer for this event for years to come!" As we arrived back to Planet Hollywood with plenty of time to prepare for the evening events, we walked away knowing we had all shared our time and talents just as our contestants do everyday as state titleholders during their year of service. We were going to leave las Vegas knowing we were lending a helping hand. Thank you one and all from California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia,Florida,Hawaii,Illinois,Kansas,Kentucky,Maine, Massachusetts,Mississippi,Missouri,Nebraska,New Hampshire,New York, Pennsylvania,Oklahoma,Rhode Island and Tennessee. And a special thank you to our Signature Sponsor Lowe's "Let's Build Something Together" your support was very much appreciated. "It takes each of us to make a difference for all of us and together we are always able to accomplish what none of us could achieve alone".