Full Hearts and Sticky Hands

IHOP is a great supporter of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, raising funds throughout the month of February for Miss America’s national platform. I was fortunate enough to volunteer on Saturday, February 11th at my hometown (Shawnee) IHOP for this wonderful cause. Though it was eleven degrees outside, the IHOP held a scent of warm pancakes and big hearts – ready to serve the children of Oklahoma!

People are my passion and I was so very excited to spend the chilly morning with the friendliest, kindest folks of small town Oklahoma. I met tiny people and big people – many in PreKindergarten. We obviously had a lot in common since I teach PreK! I debated the Thunder’s season with a kindergartener and 1st grader, hearing about their love for Kevin Durant and telling them why I adore James Harden. There was a three-year-old who burst into tears when she saw me across the room and refused to calm down until she could meet the “princess.” I made new friends in Kayla, Zoe, Caitlin, and several other kids who wanted to help other kids. One man told me that I didn’t look old enough to compete for Miss America – guess it’s time to look my age! Haha, how many people are trying to look older at the age of 22?! I know I say it a lot, but this job really is one of the greatest in the world.

I met not one, but TWO Miracle Kids – Maddie and Jayse. Maddie often travels to the Oklahoma City Children’s Hospital due to diabetes. She was dressed to the nines – fur boots, pink bag, long coat, and definitely ready to take on whatever came her way!

Jayse is from St.Louis, Oklahoma and helped me raise funds for CMN today. We sold paper balloons and glow-in-the-dark bracelets – nearly selling out completely! Jayse has PKU,  phenylketonuria. People with PKU are missing an enzyme called phenylalanine hydroxylase, which is needed to break down an essential amino acid called phenylalanine. The substance is found in foods that contain protein. (This was obviously googled so I would be able to explain it better!) Jayse cannot eat protein, making his condition difficult, yet manageable by diagnosing it early and with the right diet. He is a vegan, meaning he does not eat any byproduct of animals. While Jayse and his mom make this sound fairly easy, I am still completely amazed at his positivity and ability to live with PKU, yet still feel like he has a pretty normal childhood.

The commonality between Maddie and Jayse is their outlook. Jayse’s mom said that while PKU is not always easy, there are a lot of others who have much more serious circumstances. These kids are both full of joy and passion for life. Their optimistic attitudes put our own daily struggles into perspective. I do not have diabetes or PKU – and neither of these Miracle Kids are the type of person to complain, just because their day is a bit more unique. Looking at what they must face – needles and constant checking of life-changing food ingredients – things like traffic and work issues are not important, or even comparative. These two really are Miracle Kids and we could all learn from their example of a positive life.

A Syrupy Sweet Saturday

This morning I took advantage of a wonderful opportunity to work with the Miss America Organization’s national philanthropy, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The MAO has not always had a national philanthropy, just like how Miss America has not always included platform (each contestant’s individual philanthropy/cause), talent, or on-stage question. (We began as a bathing beauties contest for women ages 16-35 during Labor Day weekend! My how things have changed!) Looking back, I think it’s safe to say that Miss America is constantly growing and changing to meet the needs of modern women. The organizations paired up just a few years ago, but the partnership has been incredibly beneficial to the children, families and new MAO volunteers.

If you haven’t heard of it, CMN is an amazing organization which raises funds for medical research, children’s hospitals, and most importantly – children and their families with life-threatening diseases. Prior to competing in the Miss Oklahoma system, I had heard very little about CMN. I’m fortunate to have learned so much in the past few years! The organization works with 170 hospitals across the country, including two in Oklahoma. By working with CMN, I have been blessed to meet children and families directly benefitting from the fundraising created by events like IHOP‘s National Day of Pancakes and Dancing With the Stars (a local take on the national hit). There is absolutely nothing like the feeling you get when meeting a child who was thought to have mere months to live, but has surpassed that timeline by years, partly because of the Children’s Miracle Network.

Miss Oklahoma local titleholders were invited to spend a Saturday morning raising funds and awareness for CMN at local IHOP’s. This Saturday special leads up to National Pancake Day – March 1st. On National Pancake Day, titleholders are able to fundraise for CMN at IHOP’s in order to help better the lives of hospitalized Oklahoma children. During the event, pancakes are given out for free, though it is suggested that a donation to Children’s Miracle Network be made in exchange for the free pancakes. On National Pancake Day, I will be at the IHOP in Oklahoma City on Meridian from 6-8 pm!

When I arrived at IHOP it was packed! No one in my family is necessarily a “morning person,” so I don’t think I had ever been to an IHOP during actual breakfast time. The manager and staff were extremely friendly and so helpful. When making an appearance, you never know what to expect. Surprisingly, sometimes people make assumptions about “pageant girls” and I’m always prepared to go the extra mile to change a negative, preconceived stereotype into a positive reputation about titleholders. This was definitely not an issue at the I-240 Service Road IHOP.

The last time I volunteered with National Pancake Day, no one really told me what to do so I hung out with kids and talked about CMN to restaurant patrons. Today was even better because the manager showed me what the staff had been doing and I ran with it! The staff had been selling paper balloons which are taped to the wall for a donation of $1 or more. They were also selling glow in the dark bracelets for $2 which read “GLOW FOR KIDS.” The manager told me it would be perfectly fine to walk around, talk with patrons, and try to sell both items. Being a public relations (somewhat of a marketing degree) major, I saw a challenge and set out to sell everything!

During the three hours I was at IHOP, I met some wonderful people and never had a bad reaction from diners. Most were even SUPER friendly! I met a man who had served in the Army for 35 years, a family from Tecumseh (the town next to my hometown!) with a man who was heading to a conference where Michael J. Fox was speaking (so cool), and another family from Bray, Oklahoma (near Duncan – there are more livestock than people…also home to the largest town in America – landwise!). There was a girl eating breakfast with her best friend from Kansas for her birthday, and later they were heading to Chuck E. Cheese. Three older women were also very supportive of CMN, and had big plans to see Beauty and the Beast at the Civic Center later. I was amazed at the number of kids up before noon as well! Several families seemed to bring the entire family – one which included 8 kids – to IHOP to enjoy breakfast together.

I didn’t have a goal in mind when I first arrived, but selling the balloons and bracelets worked out perfectly. The manager had to refill the bucket of bracelets several times! It’s really amazing how generous people can be when you just ask! At the end of the day, I had raised a total of $152! Granted, in the grand scheme of things that isn’t much, but in the long run it really can add up. I was thrilled to be able to take an active role in fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. If you’ll be in the Oklahoma City area (Meridian IHOP) on March 1st, please consider stopping by (actually, at ANY IHOP for that matter!) and making a donation. You definitely won’t regret it!!

Sidenote: Please forgive the truly terrible Oklahoma-wind induced hair day which I was having. I always try to look presentable, since appearance often makes the first impression and I wanted to represent CMN and MAO positively. The weather really took hold and I could feel my bangs drooping into my face all day. Fortunately, I was reminded that kids really don’t care about what your hair looks like, and think every girl with a crown on is Miss Oklahoma – even if your sash reads otherwise! The patrons were more concerned about my explanation of CMN and how the funds helped others than if my hair was big and full of volume. It’s nice to realize that we can strive for perfection, but in the end, your appearance is nothing next to the difference you are making for the children.  Enjoy these photos of the kids I was able to spend time with!