Hope of America

Cherry Hill Elementary has got some serious spirit! A few days before they went to perform in the Marriott Center for Hope of America, I got to give them my little speech on creating the good. I challenged them to use the music from Hope of America to inspire themselves and others. As always, I requested that they do something nice for somebody before they take off the wristband.

 Just about all of the kiddos got to sign my journal :)

You've got to love a good group selfie!



Her name is Madeline too!

 

Abby and I loved going to the performance on Thursday night! Our job was to direct the military families and first responders to their seats. That job allowed us to see some of the performers backstage, which was pretty awesome.

 

 

 It is impossible to go to this program and not leave beaming with patriotism and pride for America. I am SO proud to be an American and love this country with my whole heart. I think my favorite song is "We Can Be a Light!" "We can be a light, shining everywhere, all across America, showing people that we care. So let your light so shine, helping others find their way, we can turn the darkest night, into the brightest day." AMEN and hallelujah to that. {platform alert!} this song goes right along with Create the Good. We CAN change the world one person at a time.


Speaking of America! Miss America initiated a National Day of Service so all the participants in the Miss America Organization could come together and perform service together. I am 100 zillion % in support of this brilliant idea. Service is easily my favorite "S" of the crown (style, service, scholarship, and success). This program rocks.

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

#createthegood

createthegood.org

 

 

 

Bowls for Humanity - Food and Care Coalition

The Food and Care Coalition combats homelessness by providing shelter, food, dental care, and salon services for homeless people. Additionally, they teach interview skills and other skills that will help the residents do well in the workforce.  And my favorite part about it, the payment for these services is volunteer hours! This goes right along with the point of my platform, Create the Good, and shows that service can have an objective. As these participants get involved in service, they can learn that they are valuable, needed, and that they can contribute to society in many ways! We are all able to combat social and economic inequality by participating in volunteerism and giving freely of our time and talents.

As you can see, I am in full support of the organization and loved helping out with this fundraiser!

The point of this event is to sell all of this fancy pottery! These vases, plates, and bowls were donated from the students of UVU, BYU, and high schools from around the area. I loved seeing the awesome variety and creativity that came from the hands of all these students!

Here was the process: if you bought a bowl, you got free soup! Or you could buy the soup separately. What a great deal! The soup was divine, the bowls were beautiful, and the fundraiser was a definite success! Plus, there was a classic band playing across the field, which totally set the mood. 

Huge thanks to Jesse Craig and McCall Smith who came to help the entire time (these lovely women are two of the contestants who will be competing for the title of Miss Orem on May 16th).

Kayla also got to stop by for a little bit. Thanks for helping pour the soup, ladies!



Although I was originally assigned to help dish up soup, I was instead recruited to serve as a cashier! And let me tell you, people were very generous with their donations and purchases.

After seeing all these masterpieces, I now wish I knew something about pottery.

I love the doors that can be opened from these Miss Orem events. Thanks to our awesome events coordinator, I am aware of this incredible organization! This summer, I will be volunteering here to help teach interview skills to these wonderful people. I cannot wait to be a part of such a great cause!

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

#Createthegood

Createthegood.org

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, dedicated citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead

That quote was hanging up in the kitchen of the coalition. Amen and hallelujah to this statement!



Miss Utah Spring Workshop

After pulling an all-nighter, editing my paperwork again and again (with the help of some incredibly brilliant people), and struggling to put fake eyelashes on, I made it to the workshop with a smile on my face!! I had been looking forward to this workshop for months and I was so excited to finally be there! All the girls were so sweet and friendly, which got me even more excited for the week of Miss Utah. Now that all the paperwork is turned in, all that is left to do now is the fun stuff!

This morning consisted of a meeting, brunch, and the choosing of our contestant number (which determines which night you compete in which competition, and who your roommate is!)

 

This is my little group! In the middle is our hostess (aka mom for the MU week) and right next to me is my roommate!!! She is Miss Millard County, which I find a little hilarious. I love this girl, her name is Kennedy Springer and I actually went to her pageant and saw her crowned a few months ago. She is so down to earth and inspirational so we will definitely have a fun week together.

It's my lucky number!! I was so glad that #6 hadn't been taken by the time I got to choose. I am the 6th kid in my family, I am 6 feet tall, my birthday is the 6th month, my volleyball number was 6, and the past 2 Miss Utah's have been contestant number 6. I am pumped.

 

This is what I looked like for the entire week before the workshop. Working on my paperwork in the park, basking in the sun and fresh air! The platform statement and resume are what the judges will see far before they meet any of us. It's kind of a big deal because it gives the judges a general idea of who you are before they see you in the interview.

This is the red Miss Utah bible.

I cannot wait for the week of Miss Utah! A lot of time and effort is being put into the preparation, and I have no doubt that it will all be worth it. No matter what happens, it is going to be a BLAST! Plus, the support I have already gotten from my family and friends lets me know that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. I love them all.

Love, Maddi Millard
Miss Orem 2014-2015

#Createthegood

createthegood.org



Workshop Heaven

One of the best parts about the Miss Orem program is its emphasis on the workshops! The program does a great job in preparing the contestants for what they are about to experience. Our workshops consist of interview practice, make-up consultations, dress workshops, opening number practice, and walking coaching! We have a great committee that helps us out in every aspect that we need. Since the 2015 Miss Orem pageant is coming up (on May 16th), we have been involved in workshops for a couple of weeks now! It is so exciting to see the new group of girls. We have a big group and I have had a blast already!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our very first meeting all together as a royalty (minus Emily who was out of town and Kayla who had not yet been put in the royalty:) ). Such great memories! I look back at times like these and can't believe that a whole year has passed. I have felt so much growth as I have learned from these girls and as we've been through so much together. It has been an incredible experience.

 

 

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

 

#createthegood

createthegood.org



SHOES!

Power2Become has taken on the project of collecting shoes for Africa! All of the Miss Utah contestants are collecting as many as 1,000 pairs of shoes to be told in Burkina Faso so they can establish water wells and farmland. It amazes me how willing friends, family, and strangers have been to donate their used shoes to this great cause. I have learned so much from the project, but am not done yet! I'm collecting until May 2nd, so keep the shoes coming! (The contestant who collects the most will go to Africa as a reward!)

 

Yesterday I recruited my friends and family to count the shoes and make sure they all have a match. We had a lot of fun as we bagged and labeled them all :)

Thanks for helping to Create the Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are more of my favorite people in the world: these boys of mine were SO helpful on the morning that we delivered the shoes at the drop-off! They stayed for several hours and hauled all of my shoes, and the shoes of a lot of the other Miss Utah contestants. Quite the job, and it gave us a pretty good workout for the day! There will be another drop-off time in May, but this first delivery gave me the sum of 1,684 pounds of shoes! Holy Moly that's a lot. I am so grateful for all those who have donated and helped me in this project! I love you all.

Each of these shoes has a story... This pile has mission shoes, pageant shoes, running shoes that have been around the world, baby's first sneakers, favorite pair of snow boots, the list goes on! One incredible woman sought me out so she could donate all of her husband's old shoes after he passed away. I love seeing people rise to the occasion to donate to a good cause!

 

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

#Createthegood

createthegood.org



Lake Ridge Assisted Living

My sister lives right down the street from the Lake Ridge assisted living home and she told me that they would love some visitors! So I recruited a few of the contestants for this coming year and we went to perform for the residents. It was such a sweet experience, we could tell that they enjoyed our performances.

Since we had some extra time to fill, I played two piano songs and also sang two songs with the guitar! That part was a little unexpected, but I'm glad I could whip those out! And the other girls were equally as prepared. After they each performed their planned talents, a few of them performed again and did incredibly! It was good practice for us all to be able to perform on demand.

 

(Except for one thing: one of the men requested that I play the song bumble bee boogie. I do know what that song is because my brother used to play it all the time! Unfortunately I could not fulfill that request. I'd better get going on that for next time!)

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

#createthegood

createthegood.org