May 2008
This month has been the month of “Walks”!
During the first weekend, I participated in the Highmark WALK for a Healthy Community, along with other Miss Pennsylvania Local Titleholders, on behalf of the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech with Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, Elena LaQuatra. Though the weather wasn’t the best, walkers were there on behalf of the organizations/non-profits they were supporting and were ready to “get it started”. Since it was raining, we decided to only walk the “1 Mile Fun Walk” this year, and then head over to the Gateway Clipper Docks at Station Square, to enjoy a sightseeing cruise of the city of Pittsburgh, on Pittsburgh’s own “Three Rivers”. Thank you to Nic and his family, for providing complimentary tickets for our cruise! The following morning, it was time to go back to Heinz Field, as I was volunteering at the March of Dimes, March for Babies. I helped at the Registration Table and after we got all of the participants organized; my Mom and I participated in the walk as well.
On Mother’s Day, I participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Starting the day off nice and early at 6:30 a.m., I worked at the registration table. Then, once the 5K walk commenced, my Mom and I joined “Team Pitini” recognizing cancer survivor Kathie Pitini, after winning her battle against breast cancer. Once again, it was a rainy day for our walk, but Kelsey and I both finished the walk along with our Mothers!
The following weekend, was the kickoff of the BBBS Happy Hour Tour and the First Annual, Miracles and Fashion. The BBBS Happy Hour Tour kicked off to a great start and as the spokesperson, I helped to increase awareness of the positive effects mentoring can have on children, after being matched with a mentor after one year, by speaking from my own experiences as a mentor, and in addition, raise funds to support matches throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Miracles and Fashion was held at SteinMart on McKnight Road in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. I could write about this event for days, as I was the chairperson for this event, but I will include some highlights here, and you can also reference the coverage of the event on the Miracles and Fashion Page. Miracles and Fashion was a fashion show, proudly presented by myself and Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, Elena LaQuatra, and with assistance from Nicole Widowson, SteinMart Agenda Consultant, benefiting the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Fund and Children’s Miracle Network. The event included the fashion show featuring Miss Pennsylvania Local Miss and Teen Titleholders, entertainment by Rick Purcell and Shari Richards and emcee Marc Field, wonderful Chinese Auction Baskets, that I will mention included over $2,000 of donated items, delicious h'or derves including a chocolate fountain, sponsored by Teris Parking, and special guests Rachel Brooks, Miss Pennsylvania, and Chet Welch, from Survivor Micronesia. In order to market the event, I utilized various forms of communication including “plastering” businesses in the North Hills with our flyer, taping a commercial to be aired on KQV Pittsburgh that was broadcasted the entire week leading up to the show and personal invitations to members of the Miss Pennsylvania Family. Thank you to John Metzger, Miss Central Pennsylvania Director and Miss Pennsylvania Webmaster, for posting information about the event on the Miss Pennsylvania Website. I don’t think it is possible to put into words all of the work that went into the event, but overall, it was well worth it because we raised funds for to organizations that are very deserving. Thank you to all of our sponsors that helped us from our Corporate Sponsors including KQV 1410 AM, Reich, Alexander and Demas, SteinMart and Teris Parking, Event Sponsors including, Cedars of Lebanon Reception Hall and Chocolate Delights and all of our sponsors of items for the Chinese Auction including B&B Studio in Shadyside, The Bridal Suite of Johnstown, Bill Cochran of the Body Forum, Eat N Park, Famous Dave’s BBQ, Fitness 19, Gateway Clipper Fleet, Giant Eagle, Healthy Performance and Dr. Bridget Chufo, La Pomponee, the LaQuatra Family, my family, Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, Pittsburgh Public Theater, The Olive Garden, Roosters and Lace in Bridgeville, Salon La te Da in Mt. Lebanon and TSS, the Sports Section. As mentioned, this was the “first annual” event, thus, in the future I look forward to continuing to lead this fundraiser, although, next year, things will be a little easier, hopefully that is, since we will already have parts of the event to build off from, from this year’s event. Thank you to all who helped to make this year’s event a success!
A few days later, I was off to Mt. Lebanon High School, in order to watch a movie premiere entitled “Every Fifteen Minutes” including a viewing of the film produced by the Class of 2008, in order to inform and educate their peers about the dangers of driving while and impaired and how someone dies in an alcohol related crash, literally, every fifteen minutes. The message of the film itself was very powerful, but I was also impressed with the audio and visual effects of the movie. The students did a wonderful job putting it together, and as the message is so strong and important to relay, the film was shown to all of the high school students. In addition, the film will be used in the future as an educational tool, to remind students of the dangers of drinking underage, and the dangers of drinking and driving.
In order to participate in the celebration of Memorial Day in my hometown, I was invited to be a part of the Memorial Day Parade. Once again, my friend Chantal was my driver, and there was no racing, but we had fun riding through the parade and reminiscing about the days when we used to be in the parade, but marching as members of the Middle School Band. Those were the days…
I hope you all are able to enjoy the kickoff to the summer season, at picnics with family and friends, and I look forward to letting you know what was “in store” during the month of June!
Happy Picnicing,
Jessica Megliss
Miss Three Rivers 2007-2008