Come to Noodles!

Noodles and Co. Children's Miracle Network Benefit Dinner
Date: March 28th, 2011
Location: East Lansing, MI

The Children's Miracle Network is a band of children's hospitals in North America. It is the official platform of the Miss America Organization. As a titleholder, I work to raise funds and awareness for the Children's Miracle Network.

When I was in undergrad at Michigan State University, I was on a dance team known as MSU Bhangra. Since we competed at national and international competitions, we sought financial help from our community to help pay for our expenses. One of the ways we did that is through Noodles and Co. So, when I was brainstorming ways to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network, Noodles and Co. was one of the first businesses to come to mind. I called the other titleholders at MSU to see if they were interested in doing such a fundraiser with me. There are three of us at MSU: Miss Saginaw County, Miss Tip of the Mitt, and myself. Emily (Miss Tip of the Mitt) and I met with the manager at Noodles and convinced her that we were working for a great cause and that we were determined to help Noodles help us. We promoted the event through Facebook, fliers across campus, and by word-of-mouth. It was so wonderful to see our friends, co-workers, classmates, and even professors come out to support us in our endeavor.

The fundraiser was a success: we raised $237 dollars for the Children's Miracle Network! Emily and I also thought it was touching that a homeless man donated one of those dollars. We didn't feel it was right for us to take it from him, but he insisted we keep it. The benevolence of the human spirit never ceases to amaze me.