Why a National Platform?
In 1989, the Miss America Organization founded the platform concept, which requires each contestant to choose an issue about which she cares deeply and that is of relevance to our society. Once chosen, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen and the state titleholders use their stature to address community-service organizations, business and civic leaders, the media and others about their platform issues. This legacy will continue. Now, in addition to her personal platform, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen will also be a goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. This national platform will provide the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization the opportunity to not only raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, but also to raise additional funds for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Scholarship Foundation, thus maximizing exposure, awareness and impact for both organizations.
What is Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals?
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has grown dramatically since its founding in 1983 from a televised fundraiser in a small studio to one of the North America's leading children’s charities.
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was founded with 2 goals:
Help as many children as possible by raising funds for children’s hospitals.
Keep funds in the community in which they were raised to help local children.
The organization was founded by Marie Osmond and her family, John Schneider, Mick Shannon and Joe Lake. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals most recognizable symbol and greatest fundraising tool is its red and yellow Miracle Balloon icon. As of 2011, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4.3 billion—most of which is donated a dollar or two at a time.
Children they help:
They touch the lives of more children and their families than any other children’s charity. Whether they suffer from common childhood afflictions like asthma and broken bones, or fight bigger challenges like birth defects or cancer, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals provide comfort, treatment and hope to millions of sick kids each year.
These kids aren’t in faraway countries or from opposite sides of the nation—they’re in your community. They may be your own children.
Every year, they identify a child with a remarkable medical story from each state. These “Champions” serve as the face for the millions of children treated at our hospitals every year. Our Champions and their families travel to Washington, D.C., and Orlando, Fla. each year to highlight the vital work of children’s hospitals.
Now you can help!
I'm getting ready to compete in the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant. As a contestant, I need your help to raise money for Children's Miracle Network and the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Scholarship Fund. Please help me reach my goal of $1000.00 by clicking on the link below. Your donation will be considered a charitable donation for tax purposes and a receipt will be provided via email if donation is by credit card or e-check. If donation is by a paper check and over $250 then a receipt will be mailed at year end.
Once you have completed a secure on-line donation, your donation will be included in my fund raising total on my personal page. To help even further you can forward this message on to other friends and family to help me in my fund raising efforts.
This year the Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organization has teamed up with Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of children by raising funds for 170 children's hospitals. This new partnership gives each contestant the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for two great organizations: Miss America's Outstanding Teen Scholarship Fund and Children's Miracle Network.
