News 'From the Heart' Blog Wonderful QFAD/Heroes volunteer Marcia Friedman blogs about the charity and a new product that she's donating to our chapter. http://beautyinfozone.com/2010/08/27/from-the-heart QFAD wins Avon's Hello Tomorrow Fund Esther E. Skiba is one step closer to fulfilling her dream of creating a better tomorrow for her community. Esther was named this week’s winner of the Avon Hello Tomorrow Fund, a weekly $5,000 cash award program to support individuals in their work to empower women. Esther will apply her award to help extend the reach of the “Queen for a Day” program, which aims to build self-esteem and counter the debilitating emotional side effects of cancer treatment in girls coping with the disease. read more Levels of Discovery Announces Partnership with Queen for a Day Deerfield, IL (Jan 2006) -- Levels of Discovery, a Chicago based children's furniture and decorative accessories manufacturer, is pleased to announce its recent partnership with Queen for a Day, a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise the self-esteem and self-confidence of children with cancer. Headquartered in Mississippi, Queen for a Day was founded in 2000 by Jenna Edwards, a former pageant winner and University of Miami graduate. To date, there are 33 local Queen for a Day chapters in 23 states. Each local chapter hosts "Queen for A Day" and "Hero" parties at area pediatric cancer facilities. Current and former pageant winners, along with other volunteers, pamper little girls with their very own tiara, manicures and feather boas. Little boys receive firefighter-themed play kits and are honored to spend time with real local "heroes" - firefighters and police officers. Levels of Discovery will be donating the ever-popular "Princess", "Firemen" and "Police" rockers to Queen for a Day chapters across the country. The beautiful rockers are the special seating at these parties for girls and boys to have their pictures taken - in full "royal" and "hero" attire. "At Levels of Discovery, we're all about kids and our mission is to bring creativity, fun and joy to children through our unique and FUNctional furniture pieces," says Jeff Hutsell, CEO and owner of Levels of Discovery. "We believe that every child deserves a little something extra, and Queen for a Day is a perfect fit. We are thrilled to partner with an organization that shares our desire to bring happiness to children and we are looking forward to an exciting year!" Levels of Discovery has been recognized for their furniture designs with the Juvenile Product Manufacturer Association's Innovation Award and iParenting's Media Award. Queen for a Day has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show twice and in People Magazine and Pageantry Magazine for their service to children. To learn more about Levels of Discovery, please visit their web site at www.levelsofdiscovery.com or call their toll free number at 1-866-980-2536. Queen For A Day Builds Confidence In Cancer Patients Queen for a Day (QFAD) is a non-profit organization designed to raise the self-esteem and self-confidence of girls coping with cancer. QFAD events, called "tea parties," are held at local hospitals and counseling centers where girls diagnosed with cancer are invited to participate in a day of beauty. Volunteers provide refreshments, crafts, jewelry making, manicures, makeovers and lots of love. Each girl benefits from the royal treatment, where they are dressed up in a queen's robe, pink feather boa and rhinestone tiara. The tiaras have been worn and donated by real beauty queens from around the country. The girls get to keep the tiaras. Established in 2000 by former Miss Teen USA All American Jenna Edwards, QFAD now operates internationally in 19 cities, including a chapter in South Africa. Since its inception in October 2002, the Metro Detroit chapter has visited over 400 children during tea parties held at William Beaumont Hospital, Children's Hospital of Michigan, U of M/Mott's Children's Hospital, St. Johns Hospital-Van Eslander, Cancer Center, Camp Quality and Gilda's Club. Additional visits will begin in September 2007 at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Mich. For information about Queen for a Day, volunteering or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Esther Skiba, director of the Metro Detroit chapter at 248.217.7656 or qfad.heroes@gmail.com. Birmingham's First Green Home To Benefit Queen For A Day The grand opening event for Birmingham's first environmentally conscious home was held on Friday, April 8, 2005. Funds raised from the event benefited Queen for a Day. Local architect Robert Prud'homme of Robert B. Prud'homme Design LLC designed the home, located at 142 Larchlea in Birmingham. Beauty Queens Donate Crowns 12 sparkling crowns were donated to Queen for a Day on Friday, August 13, 2004