Location: St. Joseph's Children's Hospital

Date: June 20^th, 2008

Time: 10:00-12:00

Queens: 17

Heroes: 15

Volunteers: 15   

     The Tampa Chapter of Queen for a Day made its way back to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital for our annual summer party on June 20^th, 2008.  With the fire fighters and a fire truck outside, make-up and nail polish set up inside at tables surrounded by Bay Area pageant queens, we were ready for the fun to start.  The patients poured into the lobby of the children’s hospital, excited for what was to come.  The boys went directly outside side to see the fire truck.  They didn’t know it, but they were in for a real treat.  The boys had an opportunity to go on the fire truck!  As I walked out to capture memories I saw patients on the back of the truck hanging to the handles, in the front with their hands gripped tightly around the steering wheel and on the top learning all about the parts of the fire engine.  After the boys had their fun outside they came inside for a snack and some crafts.  The boys decorated fire hats, made sports door hangers and even neat slap bracelets. 

     The girls were definitely were not forgotten about on this special day.  There were more pageant title holders at this event than ever before, eight in all!  The girls were pampered from head to toe.  There was blush, eye shadow, nail polish, lipstick, sparkles, and top it off a beautiful tiara!! In the craft area there were stunning beaded bracelets, luau themed door hangers and princess foam crowns.  Fun was had by all and I could not have done it without the help of my wonderful volunteers and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Staff.  Thank You!

***St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital patients were treated to a day of pampering and fun at a special party in their honor Friday. During the celebration, girls were given the royal treatment during a “Queen for a Day” tea party. In addition to manicures and makeovers, the patients spent time visiting with beauty pageant title holders, including the current “Miss Gasparilla” and “Mrs. Florida” title holders. Local firefighters also attended the party to talk to boys, honored as "Heroes for a Day,"  about self-esteem and courage. Patients also had the opportunity to explore a fire truck during the event.  

The Tampa Tribune featured the party on their Web site Friday, and the story, with a photo collage, can be viewed at the following link or below.

Special thanks to the entire Child Life team for their help with this story.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/20/sick-children-get-royal-treatment-beauty-queens-fi/?news-metro

 Firefighters, Beauty Queens Give Sick Kids Royal Treatment

By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - Almost a dozen beauty queens, dazzling in their stylish dresses and impeccable makeup, plunked themselves down across from sick little girls at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital this morning. The queens painstakingly painted nails and applied blush to the girls' faces.

Outside, Tampa Fire Rescue firefighters hoisted hospitalized little boys up onto the gleaming red truck. Some yanked at the steering wheel while others, in hospital pajamas and plastic firefighter helmets, climbed on the back. Some were still attached to IVs dragged around behind them.

Two to three times a year, hospital administrators schedule a kids day like this.

"It's my job to make sure the kids are doing well," said Lisa Andrew, the hospital's child-life specialist, who coordinated the day.

And this day was a crowning achievement.

Little girls, some not so sick, others very sick, got the full queen treatment. "It is queen for a day [for the girls]," she said, "and hero for a day [for the boys]."

Between 25 and 35 children were sprung from their rooms to come down to the lobby and take part in the party. They made arts and crafts and buddied up with blue-shirted firefighters and paramedics.

Two-year-old Austin Justice just couldn't get enough of the fire truck. He falls into the "not very sick" category, having just had his tonsils out. He was scheduled to go home today, but timing was everything. He beamed as he sat behind the steering wheel of the truck.

"He loves fire trucks," said his mom, Micheal, of Tampa. "He loves to drive, too."

Leah Campanella runs the Tampa chapter of Queen for a Day, a nonprofit national organization. She said such events, where beauty queens are called into service, happen several times a year. Pageant queens are here from as far away as Lakeland, Pasco County and Clearwater.

"We're here to pamper the kids," she said.

At one table, 3-year-old Savannah Allison, bald from treatment for an undisclosed disease, had a serious look. She let Miss Pasco County Fair Lisa Noury paint on nail polish and brush on some blush, but the little girl wanted to dab on her own lipstick.

Noury, 19, said she has done about four such events during her tenure. She could only grin at her young charge, as she pursed her lips and looked into a mirror. "She's having a ball with that lipstick."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

Date: April 5^th, 2008

Queens: 2

Volunteers: 3

Time: 12:00-2:00

             This was the Tampa Chapter of Queen for a Day’s first PRINCESS PARTY.  I thought of the princess parties when I heard about a child who had cancer, but was not hospitalized at the time.  She is out of school for one year and three months into her treatments. I wanted to bring the program to her and create a day she would never forget.  Kayla invited her friend Hannah to her princess party.  Kayla and Hannah met at All Children’s Hospital during their treatments. The party went just like any other Queen for a Day party, just on a smaller scale.  Kayla and Hannah created pretty princess wands and blooming door hangers.  After craft time was finished, they were ready for the real pampering.  They were both so excited to get their makeup done, but most of all they wanted their crowns!  Each of the girls picked out their favorite colors of blush, eye shadow, lipstick and nail polish.  Volunteer Kayla did Princess Kayla’s makeup and volunteer Alysa did Hannah’s makeup.  The girls had so much fun being pampered and looked brightly beautiful when they were finished.   At the end of the party each girl was crowned Queen and given a gorgeous tiara.  The princess party was the absolute highlight of my day.  Kayla and Hannah were both little balls of energy and a blast to “play” with for a few hours.  They both wore a huge smile and made all of us laugh all day.  I will never forget their smiles, cute comments, and captivating energy. I wish we could have stayed longer.  I look forward to seeing Kayla and Hannah again, along with doing more Princess Parties! Please take a moment to look at the fabulous pictures from this day….these pictures really are worth 1,000 words!

www.qfad.tampa.org

Location: St. Joseph's Children's Hospital

Date: February 8^th, 2008

Time: 2-4

Queens: 20

Heroes: 13

Volunteers: 10 

       For each party the Tampa Chapter of Queen for a Day hosts, we like to plan our parties around a fun theme. Since the party took place the week before Valentine’s Day, we decided to plan activities to go with the holiday.  We had a table set up with yummy valentine’s cookies and candy.  Each patient was able to make an adorable heart door hanger for their hospital room doors, which made their rooms a bit more festive.  The girls also made pretty princess crowns and wands. The heroes interacted with two firefighters and even had the opportunity to try on a real firefighter’s uniform (it was REALLY heavy!).  Our ten volunteers, some seasoned and some new volunteers were incredible.  They made each patient feel comfortable and kept smiles on their faces throughout the whole party. We were fortunate enough to have the St. Petersburg Times there to cover the event, capturing memorable moments.

      Something special about this party was all of our pageant queens.  We were fortunate enough to have Mrs Clearwater 2007, Miss St. Petersburg 2007, Mrs Florida 2007 and Miss Gasparilla 2008.  Each patient enjoyed the time they spend with our beauty queens and we look forward to having each of them back for our next event. 

       The party went by fast and before we knew it the lobby of the hospital began to clear out.  I appreciate the hospital staff for being so helpful throughout the entire day. We also sent many items up to the rooms of children who were unable to leave their hospital room.  We do not want any children to miss out on the Queen for a Day experience.  Our next party with St. Joseph's children's will be this summer.   

The Tampa chapter looks forward to our Holiday Queen for a Day party all year long.  It is important for the Tampa chapter to host a party around the holiday season to bring some light into the lives of the children that are in the hospital over this special time of the year.  The party was a hit with the children, parents and hospital staff.  At this party we were very fortunate to have one volunteer for each queen, so each girl was personally pampered and had the opportunity to get to know our volunteers.  The crafts for the girls at this party were holiday door hangers, foam tiaras and beaded jewelry.  Needless to say most of the queens spent most of their time at the craft table.  By the end of the party our queens had beautiful new lipstick, nail polish, eye shadow, many fun gifts but most importantly a shiny new tiara.  Each queen had the opportunity to hand pick the tiara that she wanted.  It was a fun day that lifted many spirits and put some magic back in their holiday season. 

The heroes had their own party on this day also.  They were in a different area of the lobby with their own firefighter table.  We had a lot of heroes at this party; thankfully we had wonderful volunteers from the local fire department there to help.  The boys had an opportunity to try on a real firefighter uniform, it was very heavy!!  Along with a fire hat, our heroes were given a fire safety booklet and a bag full of goodies.  They created sport door hangers and even decorated fire hats.  This December party was a huge success.  We are thankful for all the help that we had for making this happen.  We are truly blessed to be able to bring joy to others through Queen for a Day over this holiday season. 

Queens:  7

Heroes:  8

This was our first time at St. Joseph’s hospital this year.  It had been a while since our last party so all of the staff and volunteers were excited to put on this party. We were fortunate again to have the Hillsborough County Fire Department with us for this party.  They brought 5 firefighters and the main hit at the party; a fire truck. 

The party started out with 5 boys and girls who were the first ones to come down to the main lobby from their rooms.  The boys made door hangers for their rooms and decorated them with sports stickers.  They were also given firefighter hats and goodies.  The girls decorated crown door hangers and foam tiaras.  These crafts were perfect for Queen for a Day.   After the girls did their crafts they were them pampered by our wonderful volunteers.  We did their nails, lipstick, eye shadow, blush and to top it off they received their very own sparkling tiara.  Through out the party some of our firefighters took the patients outside to see the fire truck.  The children were able to squirt the hose, and learn about the items on the truck.  This to me is the best part of the party. 

By the end of the party we had 15 total children who experienced the Queen and Hero for a Day party.  This was another successful party with a spectacular group of volunteers and hospital staff.  We are excited to do our next Queen for a Day party in December. 

Volunteers: 11

Children: 15

Each Queen for a Day party is very special for all the volunteers, children and their families.  It was important for me to do a party around the holiday season.  I cannot imagine how hard it would be to have a child in the hospital over the holidays.  I knew that this party would be very special.  At this party we crowned 15 beautiful queens.  For the craft the children had an opportunity to make door hangers for their hospital door and bracelets for the girls to wear.  I love doing the crafts with the children because it gives the volunteers a chance to talk to the children and get to know them. 

             QFAD was fortunate enough to have 4 volunteers from the Hillsborough County Fire Department.  The firefighters brought a fire truck and allowed the children to go outside and squirt the hose.  Each and every boy at the party really was a hero and by the smiles on their faces you could tell that they knew it too.  One particular boy named Ari really touched all of the volunteers’ hearts.  He first came to the party very quiet and shy.  He stood back from everything for the first few minutes and the next time I looked at him he looked like a totally different child.  He was trying on all of the fire fighter equipment, he was outside squirting the hose (he even squirted the Bay News 9 Camera man), and most of all he had a huge smile on his face.  When the party was winding down he did not want to leave.  He even began to take pictures of all the volunteers.  Ari and boys and girls like him are the reason why we do what we do with Queen for a Day.  There is no better feeling than making a difference in a child’s life.  This truly is an amazing organization and I am very blessed to have QFAD in my life. 

            This party is going to be featured on Bay News 9 as an Everyday Hero story on January 3^rd, 2005.  I am very touched to be featured as an everyday hero because with QFAD the children are my heroes.  I want to thank Jennifer Holloway (Bay News 9 reporter) for coming to the party and helping crown our Queens.  Queen for a Day touches the lives of everyone that is involved.

Volunteers: 9

Children: 20

           This was the second time that we have done a party at St. Josephs Children’s Hospital.  The staff was excited to see us and was very helpful with the set up for the party.  From what I was told Queen for a Day was the talk of the hospital after our last party in July.  We set up in the lobby of the hospital.  We had a table for food, crafts, and make-up, and one table for the boys.  The crafts of the day were foam door hangers and beaded jewelry.  There were 8 volunteers including Nicole Roman, DeSoto Queen and a local firefighter.  It seemed like all the children came down at the same time, which became a bit hectic.  We had 3 volunteers at the make-up table, two at the crafts and firefighter tables, and I was running around taking pictures and handing out goodie bags. 

            This past summer QFAD Tampa was fortunate enough to become the philanthropy chosen for the University of South Florida’s Panhellenic Recruitment.  Because of this we were able to give each queen their own sash, picture frame, mirror, wand, purse and beaded jewelry that were made by sorority women at USF.  Overall we crowned 15 Queens and 5 Heroes.  Each one of the volunteers that attended the party had an amazing experience with Queen for a Day.  This program not only touches the children that we are helping but it touches the heart of the parents and volunteers.  I feel honored to have the Tampa Chapter of Queen for a Day. The day went by fast but as always was a bunch of fun.  We are excited for our next party at St. Josephs in December. 

Thank You to our volunteers and the staff at St. Josephs Children’s Hospital. 

LOCATION:  St. Josephs Children’s Hospital

We were very excited about this party at St. Josephs Children’s Hospital because it was the first one of the QFAD Tampa Chapter.  As we arrived at the hospital we were excited to see that a local TV station was there to cover the party.  For our first party this was a big event for the Tampa Chapter.  We set up all of our fun door hanger crafts along with the food and make-up and we were ready to go.  We had 10 volunteers, 2 of which were local firefighters.  Children started coming down around 12:30 and from then on things were non stop until the end.  The children came down a few at a time to the party.  The children each had the opportunity to make a foam door hanger for their rooms, the girls were all treated like “Queens” and the boys were our heroes. 

I will never forget the first little girl that sat down in the chair for her royal treatment.  Her name was Kiana, who was in the hospital with a diseased heart.  She had a huge smile on her face and she was adorable.  She chose her 3 favorite colors which were red, blue and green.  She had blue and green eyes and bright red cheeks.  She picked 2 colors of pink for her lips.  The best moment for me was after her treatment she came up to me and I turned around and saw her will a bright pink boa on that she had received in her goodie bag.  She was a true “Queen” and I could tell that our program made an impact in this little girl’s life. 

            Throughout the rest of the party time we had 13 girls that received the royal treatment from Queen for a Day.  From bright pink lips to red nails, the girls all left with huge smiles on their faces.  Each of them received a beautiful pageant tiara which was theirs to keep remembering their day as Queen. 

We did not forget about the boys on this special day. We were very fortunate to have 2 amazing firefighters who were great with all of the children.  They brought hats, stickers, and pencils for all of the boys to have.  Each boy was able to put on a real fireman hat, pants, boots, and jacket.  They absolutely loved this, and so did their parents.  It really brought a smile to all of our faces to see how much the children were enjoying this party. 

Overall the party was a huge success.  We cannot wait to go back to St. Josephs Children’s Hospital for another party.  The Tampa Chapter of Queen for a Day was featured on Bay News 9 around 5:30 that night after the party in a segment called Lighting up their lives.  This really meant a lot to the Tampa Chapter.