We held our 10^th QFAD party and 6^th Heroes party today at LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center.  There were 10 volunteers there.  Our title holder was Richelle Jones, Mrs. Tennessee Galaxy 2006, and our Hero was from the Thaxton, Mississippi Fire Department (he brought his fire gear and put it on for the boys)!  We had about 30 girls and 20 boys attend this party. Their ages ranged from newborns to teenagers. 

We had a Welcome table, a Tiara table, a Nail table, 2 Goody tables, and a Game Table for the boys.  We had a Princess Rocker and a USA rocker donated by Levels of Discovery for the children to sit in to have their pictures made.  The girls received a certificate naming them “Queen for a Day,” a feather boa, a tiara, a beaded bracelet, a journal, a coloring book, crayons, jewelry and make up (that were all packed into a gift bag that had the Queen for a Day logo on it)!  The boys received a certificate naming them “Heroes,” a firemen hat, a beaded bracelet, a flashlight, a ball, a coloring book, crayons and a bag full of firemen goodies (action figures, fire trucks, etc.).

The party went great…many children attended and they all enjoyed the party (we enjoyed the party as well)!  Their parents were grateful we were there and loved seeing their children have such a fun time.  One of the Child Life Coordinators told me that one of our previous queens had passed away not too long after our last party there.  She said that the family used her Queen for a Day picture at her funeral and how special the party had been to them.  While I was heartbroken to hear about one of our queens passing away, it made me realize what an impact these parties can have on just one child (or one family).  I was glad that we could have given the child and family a special memory and given them a day where the whole family could escape the reality of being there in the hospital and see their child be a child (and let that child be a child).  That is what Queen for a Day is truly about! 

Thank you so much to all my volunteers and sponsors…you are all wonderful and I would not be able to have these parties without your support!  Also, thank you to the wonderful staff at LeBonheur…we love coming there and look forward to many more parties.

We had a great party today!  It seems like the parties just keep getting better and better!    There were about 30 girls and 30 boys that attended!  I think most of them were there at the same time, so it was hectic (but great)!  Their ages ranged from newborns to teenagers.  There were 10 great volunteers there, plus the wonderful staff at LeBonheur helped out.  One of our volunteers was Mrs. Tennessee Galaxy 2006, Richelle Jones.  She helped paint nails, posed for pictures with the children, and signed autographs.  Richelle’s husband, Thomas Jones, is a US Navy Submarine Officer so he came as our Hero!  He played games with the boys and handed out their goodies to them…the children loved him as well!  The two new Nashville Queen for a Day Directors, Dana Bivins and Kimberly Wathne, also came to help out and get ideas for their first upcoming Queen for a Day party!  It was so great getting to meet other directors!

 The place was just buzzing with excitement as soon as we arrived!  They were so excited that people were standing around waiting on us to get finished setting up so that the party could begin (and we arrived early)!  LeBonheur had their own personal photographer there taking pictures of the party and, of course, they also made their wonderful cookies and punch.  The staff at LeBonheur kept on bragging about how wonderful Queen for a Day was and how glad they were that we come and have the parties there.

 We had our usual set-up: a Welcome table, a Tiara table, a Make-up table (for my wonderful make-up artists from Clinique), a Nail table, a Game table for the boys, and our photo area (equipped with a Princess rocker and a Hero rocker from Levels of Discovery)!  The girls received a tiara, a feather boa, a certificate, a beaded bracelet, a bag of goodies from Clinique, and a Princess bag filled with goodies from Queen for a Day (this included a Princess journal, a pen, stickers, a beaded necklace, and a blinking ring).  The boys received a firemen hat, a certificate, a beaded bracelet, and the Hero goody kit that Headquarters provides.  We also left the rocking chairs at LeBonheur and they were put in the playroom…that way the children can continue to enjoy them!  The staff at LeBonheur really loved this idea and gladly accepted the rockers!  Everyone there absolutely loved the rockers!  One security guard even took a Levels of Discovery brochure to order a Princess rocker for his granddaughter…he absolutely had a fit over the rockers!

 There was one grandfather who came down and saw what we were doing.  He told one of our volunteers that his granddaughter’s parents did not want her to come down, but he went back up and brought her down anyway!  She was scheduled to go into surgery any minute to remove several brain tumors and he wanted her to enjoy the party before she went into surgery.  He spoke with several of my volunteers about how wonderful Queen for a Day was and how appreciative he was for us being there!  It touched everyone so much just to have him say that (it even made several of my volunteers tear up). 

We had about 18 girls and 22 boys at this party.  The ages ranged from babies to teenagers.  There were 6 volunteers there including Miss Memphis, Amy Lindberg.  We had a Welcome table (which is where we laid brochures and newsletters out to generate interest and awareness of QFAD), a Tiara table, a Nail/Make-up table, a Goody table for the boys, a Game table for the boys, one photo area for the girls, and one photo area for the boys.  At the photo areas, we had 2 new big throne chairs that were made especially for the Memphis chapter.  The girl’s throne chair was painted in pink and purple colors…perfect for a princess.  The boy’s chair was painted red, white, and blue for our patriotic theme.  They looked so great and all the children seemed to love them! 

 The girls received tons of goodies that included journals, pens, stickers, necklaces, blinking rings, beaded bracelets, stuffed animals, certificates naming them “Queen for a Day,” feather boas, tiaras, make-up, and disposable cameras.  To top it off, all this was in a princess bag!  The boys received the firemen kits from Headquarters, firemen hats, beaded Hero bracelets, and certificates naming them “Heroes.”  

 There was a little girl who came in to have her picture taken in the throne chairs…she was all dressed up in a pretty bridesmaid dress.  We found out that her father had gotten married the weekend before and she had been too sick to attend, so they were recreating the wedding at the Ronald McDonald House that day for her.  She looked so cute!  After the wedding, she came back and got the full Queen for a Day treatment!   

There were also two other little girls that came in all dressed up in matching princess dresses.  They all looked so precious!

 It is always so much fun going to the Ronald McDonald House, but we felt especially welcome at this party for some reason.  All of the staff was so eager to help and interested in learning more about QFAD!  The parents also kept on coming up to all of us and thanking us over and over again!  They were all so glad that we were there.  We have received two thank you notes from the Ronald McDonald House expressing their gratitude for us coming (one from the House Manager and one from the staff)!  As always, we can’t wait for our next party!

 We had about 30 girls and 30 boys at this party.  Their ages ranged from toddlers-12 year olds.  There were 11 volunteers there.  We had a big set-up that included a Welcome table (for photo consent, certificates), a Tiara table, a Nail table, a Makeup table, 2 Goody tables, & a Game table (for the boys).  Then we had a photo area for the girls & a patriotic photo area for the boys. We had these precious rockers that the children got to sit in to have their pictures made: a Princess rocker for the girls & a Patriotic rocker for the boys!  We also filmed this party for a QFAD promotional/instructional DVD. 

 The girls received a Princess purse that held many goodies including: Hello Kitty cosmetic bags, princess journals, pens, beaded necklaces, blinking rings, beaded bracelets (made by my mother), coloring books, crayons, and make-up from Clinique!  They also received certificates naming them “Queen for a Day”, feather boas, & tiaras!  The boys received the goody kits provided by Headquarters (that included whistles, flashing lights, badges, action figures, and fire trucks) , firemen hats, coloring books, crayons, slap bracelets furnished by the Mississippi Highway Patrol, beaded bracelets (made by my mother), and certificates naming them “Heroes!”

 We had so many memorable children come to this party!  One girl came in & was dressed in a gorgeous pink princess-type dress with a sun hat on.  She put her tiara on over her hat & walked around the room in her pink dress, pink hat, pink feather boa, & had her nails done pink…she was absolutely precious!  All my volunteers feel in love with her as soon as they laid eyes on her…she was dressed for the occasion!

 Then there was this other little girl who came in, had everything done, & went back to the nail table & just sat there swinging her legs watching the party!  She was so content & happy just being there watching all the activities!

 There was also an older girl that came in who was very shy & timid at first.  But before long, she was talking to everyone & smiling at the cameras.  She was just beaming at the end of the party…you could tell that the activities had made her feel so much better.  I was so glad to see the change in her take place at the party!

 Then there was this cute little girl who did not want to put her goodies down & did not want anyone to touch them.  She is even holding them in her pictures!

 We also had one girl who came to the party, got everything done, went up to her room, & came back just to have her picture made with the Mississippi Highway Patrolmen.  It was so sweet…the highway patrolmen loved it!

 The children also loved the rockers.  At this party, we had several girls that had their pictures made in both the princess rocker & the boy’s patriotic rocker!  There was also this cute little boy who sat in the patriotic rocker & just rocked & rocked…he loved the rocker!

Then there were these two sisters that stayed the whole time we were there & loved the party.  They kept coming back to have their pictures done at the photo area & were just little hams! They were posing like models & having themselves a good time!  Then when it was time to go, they came around, hugged every volunteer, & thanked us for coming…they were so sweet!  I was so touched by their appreciation! 

I guess you can tell by my long party report that we had a wonderful time at this party.  There were just so many memorable children there…we had so much fun with each & every one of them! 

We had another great party today!  I had 10 volunteers, 4 Memphis Firefighters, 3 Mississippi Highway Patrolmen, & 2 Memphis Policemen that attended the party.  We had around 22 girls come & around 16 boys come (which was a very good turnout since it was our 1^st Heroes party).  Their ages ranged from a few months old to about 13 years old.  We did one room visit and then sent goodies up to some children who did not feel like coming or having visitors.

 We had a big set-up that included a Welcome table (for photo consent, certificates, and nametags), a Tiara table, a Nail table, a Makeup table, a Bracelet making table, 2 Goody tables, a Cookie/Punch table, & a Game table (for the boys).  Then we had a photo area for the girls & a patriotic photo area for the boys. We had these precious rockers that the children got to sit in to have their pictures made: a Princess rocker for the girls & a Patriotic rocker for the boys!  The girls got tiaras, feather boas, make-up, princess purses (that held all the goodies), Pretty Princess coloring books & crayons, blinking rings, beaded necklaces, Hello Kitty stuffed animals, Hello Kitty coin purses, Hello Kitty journals, Hello Kitty sticker books, Hello Kitty writing sets, & Hello Kitty body glitters.  The boys got firemen hats, Spiderman coloring books & crayons, whistles, flashing lights, badges, action figures, fire trucks, & slap bracelets brought by the highway patrolmen.

 We filmed this party for a QFAD promotional/instructional DVD.  Since we were filming, Jenna Edwards (the founder of QFAD) flew out from Florida to attend the party.  We also had a local newspaper, the Commercial Appeal, present to take photographs.  They ended up putting a picture & caption in the paper the next day about the party!

 One girl came in with her mother & my volunteer painting nails asked her if she wanted her nails painted.  Her mother said that she would not want her nails painted & about that time the girl held up her hands, smiled, & said “Paint my nails!”  The mother was shocked, but so glad that her daughter wanted her nails painted…she was so glad to see her child participating in the party & enjoying it!  We had so many parents come up to us & tell us how great they thought QFAD/Heroes was & how glad they were that we were there!  It is so great to hear feedback like that…it lets you know that what you are doing does help these children & their families through this rough time in their lives!

 We had such a great time!  My wonderful volunteers once again wore some feather boas & tiaras to greet the girls as they came in.  I was worried the night before the party because we had gotten word that none of our firemen/policemen/highway patrolmen were going to be able to come.  I had no idea what we were going to do!  But, then I got a call the day of the party saying that the firemen would be there.  Then, once the party got started, the highway patrolmen showed up & later on the policemen walked in!  I was so relieved!  I was thrilled at how great these men were with the boys (& the girls)!  They were having a ball & it was obvious that they loved being there with the children.  They were holding them, talking to them, playing games with them, & jumping in pictures with them!  It was great to see how attentive these men were to both the boys & girls!  I was VERY pleased with the firemen, highway patrolmen, & policemen that we had there.  They were wonderful with the children!  I was so pleased with how well our 1^st Heroes party went (it went a lot better than my 1^st QFAD party)!

 I want to say a special thank you to my Heroes Coordinator, Anna Monroe, for doing such a great job with the Heroes party!  I also want to say a special thank you to the Memphis Firemen, Memphis Policemen, & Mississippi Highway Patrolmen that came…you all were so wonderful!  And of course, a special thank you has to go out to my wonderful volunteers that come to help with the parties!  I have wonderful volunteers & I am grateful for each & every one of them!

DATE:             July 15, 2004