Happy Anniversary!

10 years ago today, Queen for a Day officially began. Hosting its first event at Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, 3 young girls became our first queens.

Jalisa, age 7, and Randa, age 8, attended the party and indulged in cupcakes, candy, chips, and juice donated by Kroger of Clinton. Founder Jenna Edwards, the reigning Miss Teen All American 1999, performed make-overs and manicures for the girls. The girls relished the bright pink lipsticks and blushes. Jalisa left pink kisses on everyone’s cheeks.

Then Jenna visited a 13-year-old in her room. This young lady was especially down because she recently had her leg amputated due to chemotherapy complications.

A few months later, Jenna received news that Jalisa had passed away, but kept her Queen for a Day Polaroid on her wall. Realizing that she had given Jalisa a lasting memory til her final moments gave Jenna the inspiration to continue spreading the joy of Queen for a Day.

2 years later, Jenna received an invitation to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show where she not only received a generous donation from Oprah’s Angel Network, but she also received a surprise visit from Randa who was then in remission.

Thank you for your continual support of Queen for a Day. Without our volunteers, supporters, and local chapter directors, hundreds of children and families would be without the priceless memories and moments from Queen for a Day and Heroes.

Please continue to read through our website, especially through the Events page, where you will find reports on all our hospital visits in the recent years.

If you have a Queen for a Day story to tell as a volunteer or a participant, we welcome you to share it with us! Email your story to JEdwards@qfad.org and we will feature it on the website.

25.06.2010