| Subject: A charity twist for Miss World Canada contestants |
Author:
 Tommy
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 08:48:55 05/06/10 Thu
10 per cent of the marks at Friday's event in Surrey will be based on how much money they can raise for Variety children's charity
By Kim Pemberton, Vancouver Sun May 6, 2010 1:26 AM
Miss World Canada executive director Katherine Grefner with her 10-year-old daughter Edan Deley, who is a leukemia survivor.
The Miss World Organization coined the phrase "Beauty with a Purpose" 25 years ago and encouraged contestants to raise funds for children's charities. Now the organizer of Miss World Canada is taking the next step and making it a requirement.
The 32 contestants at Friday's Miss World Canada competition in Surrey will have 10 per cent of their marks based on how much they were able to fundraise for Variety children's charity in honour of 10-year-old leukemia survivor Edan Deley.
The Port Moody girl is the daughter of Miss World Canada executive director Katherine Grefner.
"Our pageant is really trying to drive home the message you need to give back to community. Through my daughter's journey with leukemia I met many families who struggled and relied on Variety children's charity to help them through.
"This is why we chose Variety. Along with competing for the title of Miss World Canada the women are raising funds for a great organization," said Grefner.
The Port Moody native, who was runner-up in the Miss World Canada 1993 competition, said this is the first time a B.C. organization acquired the rights to hold the pageant. Previously, it was held in Toronto.
This year's winner will go on to compete in the Miss World pageant in Vietnam in November.
The Miss World Canada pageant has come a long way since its inception in 1957 when contestants were judged solely on their looks. But since the '70s beauty pageants have gradually shifted to put more emphasis first on talent and now charity work, Grefner said.
"Basically it started off as something to generate tourism, more of a bathing suit pageant. But over the years it has evolved. They're not called beauty pageants any more. The winners are called ambassadors. Our girls are very service oriented."
Grefner said she is aware some might see the emphasis on fundraising as an attempt to cast pageants in a new light, but she said the contestants' desire to help Variety is genuine and gets results.
For the past five years that her company has had the right to hold Miss Teen Global, $100,000 has been raised for the B.C. branch of Variety, she said.
Miss Teen Global and Miss Canada World contestants have raised more than $70,000 for Variety so far this year, she added, and that's before Friday's event at Chandos Pattison Theatre.
One Miss World Canada contestant leading the fundraising charge is 20-year-old Sapna Sehravat of Markham, Ont. Before coming to Vancouver for pre-pageant events and rehearsals this week, Sehravat raised $12,700 for Variety.
The former self-described "high school nerd" said until Grade 12 she had no fashion sense, wore glasses and braces and had little self-confidence.
And while high school may have been a tough place, she said she enjoyed her time by helping others. She tutored fellow students and volunteered in the Best Buddies program to befriend a boy with autism. That involvement later proved beneficial.
"When I said I needed help, everyone who I helped before came through for me. Students were organizing fundraising events. Parents gave me cheques. It just goes to show you the more you give the more you'll get back," she said.
Vancouver Miss World Canada contestant Sherry Jobani, 23, has also been actively fundraising by speaking at different events to raise Variety's profile.
"Knowing this contest isn't just about beauty is exactly what I want. For me beauty is everything you put an effort into doing and not just the outward appearance," said Jobani.
Jobani has already been involved in fundraising for the
BC Cancer Agency and said she was happy when she learned funds raised by contestants would benefit children with special needs.
Contestant Denise Garrido, 23, of Bradford, Ont., said the winner receiving a title will help open more doors when trying to promote a cause.
"It's extremely important. It's an opportunity to be an ambassador, and to have a title that you've earned helps push the fundraising aspect," said Garrido. "It's not just about going on stage and presenting yourself well. It's also what you do to help others."
Abbotsford parent Lisa Radli, whose 18-year-old daughter Shayla is competing in the Miss Teen Global contest, said she feels the fundraising requirement gives the pageant more "credibility."
"To people where much is given, much is expected," said Radli. "We're lucky these young ladies can compete, but to help the children who have health issues is a great focus. The attitude of gratitude is what this pageant is about. It's a win for everyone."
Shayla said now that she has started volunteering for Variety, she plans to continue even after the pageant ends, win or lose.
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/charity+twist+Miss+World+Canada+contestants/2993171/story.html
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 