Happy Holidays!
This month has absolutely flown by! So much has happened since the last time I updated you on my travels.
I celebrated Thanksgiving week in New York City. I kicked off the week as the honorary host of the New York City Rescue Mission’s 11th Annual Great Thanksgiving Day banquet. I spoke briefly at the beginning of each of the five dinners and then I served dinner to many of the grateful guests. I loved this experience. I had the best time cleaning, serving, having conversations and even playing with the band who volunteered their time to put everyone in the holiday spirit!
Later that week, I had the most amazing opportunity to ride in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was the first time in eight years that Miss America was invited to be a guest in the parade, and I was so honored to be there! I rode on the Lady Liberty float alongside ING New York City Marathon 2009 men’s champion, Meb Keflezighi, who was the first American men’s winner of the race since Alberto Salazar in 1982. It was so exciting to be there in front of literally, millions of people in person and via television! I had a great time and then flew back to Indiana for Thanksgiving dinner with my wonderful family.
The next week I participated in the National 4-H Congress in Washington D.C. I shared my 4-H stories with the students and encouraged them to dream big and set goals. The Congress was a great event, and I loved meeting all of the students.
From D.C. I flew to Chicago to meet with the Board of Directors of Dairy Management Inc. I shared my experiences with them about my upbringing as a dairy farmer and its importance in molding the kind of person I am today.
The next day I participated in 34 consecutive interviews in about 6 hours for Sears/Heroes at Home’s Christmas Campaign satellite media tour! It was tough, but getting the message out there about helping our military, made it worth it. I also participated in an interview with Pageant Talk Radio, which is set to air January 26. Watch for the tune-in alert!
After Chicago, I was in Dallas where I was a special guest at the Capital One Adolphus Children’s Parade in Dallas. The parade, which attracts a crowd of over 350,000 in downtown Dallas, officially kicks off the holiday season and is a fundraiser for the Children’s Medical Center. I rode in the parade in a lovely red Joseph Ribkoff gown with Rheagan, a child chosen from Children’s Medical Center to accompany me. I had a great time and I even got to spend some time with Miss Texas 2009 Kristen Blair!
The next week it was off to Columbus, Ohio where I helped MAO kick off their partnership with DSW Shoe Warehouse! Under this agreement, DSW will become the official provider of shoes for the Miss America pageant and a national sponsor for The Miss America Organization. The two companies will also work together to develop a unique brand of footwear, which will be a first for The Miss America Organization. I was so excited to be there to kick off this partnership. While in the Warehouse, I signed a brick in the building’s interior wall which bears the company motto, “Accountability, Collaboration, Humility.” All new employees sign the wall, and this was a rite of passage making Miss America an official member of the team. I am so happy to be working with a company that values community service as much as MAO does.
While in Columbus, I visited a school that DSW is working with as a part of the Columbus Reads program. I read a book to Kindergarten students and spoke with them about manners and kindness. The kids were so adorable and even did a school cheer for me! I then spoke with fifth grade girls about overcoming odds, staying in school and setting goals. It was so rewarding to be able to use my experiences to inspire these students. I know Miss America 2010 will enjoy working with students like them and DSW’s initiatives during her year!
From Ohio I flew to Philadelphia, where I recorded the voiceover for my farewell video, which will be played during my final walk at the 2010 Miss America Pageant. That weekend, I stayed in Philadelphia to participate in activities surrounding the Army/Navy Game. I had a great time at the Army/Navy ball where I watched the two schools’ bands battle against each other, met cadets, and met Lt. General Hagenbeck, who invited me. It was a great evening! The next day was the actual Army/Navy Football game at Lincoln Financial Field. We had great seats - right near the 50 yard line, so we got to see all the action up close! I met so many officers and wounded soldiers, and I thanked them for their unwavering commitment to our country. It was such a great day and I feel blessed to be able to be involved in this great event.
After Philadelphia, I flew to San Francisco to sing the National Anthem live at Candlestick Park in San Francisco for Monday Night Football, where I watched the San Francisco 49ers take on the Arizona Cardinals. I attended the game representing our new sponsor, Nature’s Bottles and helping to promote the message of preserving and protecting our environment.
Yesterday I sang the National Anthem at the Indianapolis Pacers game as a guest of the Indiana Dairy Council. The Pacers won, so I hope I was a good luck charm! It was great to see the players again, and I loved working with the Dairy Council on their health initiatives.
I’m currently in Indianapolis working with the Rural Electric Company. Oh – good news! You can now keep tabs on me on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter! So check out those websites and join our network!
I am so excited for the holidays and can’t wait to spend them with my loved ones! My year is winding down, but I’m cherishing every moment I have left. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday, and a happy New Year! We’ll keep in touch so I can share some exciting New Year’s Eve plans with you!
Best wishes,
Katie
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