Wednesday, May 20, 2009





































HOMETOWN DAY
















5/16/2009
Summerfield Founder’s Day & Parade

My hometown had founder’s day, and a large parade to commemorate the founding of Summerfield! I was in the parade with over 200 other entries! It was such a nice day, I saw my old elementary school gym teacher (who reminded me the first day of school I told him I didn’t like to run!) and my favorite high school principal and his family! I saw the boy scouts, and recreational cheerleaders, my United States Congressman Howard Coble, district court judges and NC state house and senate members, as well as so many other wonderful people! The cheerleading team I used to coach: Northern High School, they were there along with their marching band and athletes! It was a very exciting parade! After the parade I walked around, Luigi’s of Summerfield provided lunch for me! I spoke with Red Dog Farm about helping with their pet adoption fairs, and I also met some wonderful Veterans who fought for our country! There were a few thousand people, and I met so many wonderful Summerfield residents! I was proud to be a part of that Summerfield family and participate in my hometown event! I made a special trip to the downtown Bryan YMCA for their 20th year celebration; they had food, kids and bands playing to commemorate that special event! I concluded my day by going to the Greensboro Grasshoppers Game where my grandfather sang the National Anthem with the Tarheel men’s choir!

JACK HANNA EVENT
















5/15/2009
6-11PM
Journeys with JACK HANNA at the Natural Science Center of NC

The Natural Science Center in Greensboro is a museum, zoo and soon to be aquarium! It is an all in one educational center designed to teach and engage everyone in nature and its inhabitants! This was a fundraising event for this local attraction with special guest Jack Hanna! Some know Jack from his annual appearances on the David Letterman show! There was food, and events and we walked around meeting different people and seeing the exhibits! It was all very exciting, and my family and I met Jack Hanna himself! During his presentation we learned about his life, and the service to the African country of Rwanda and the shelter he built for the children there! He taught us a lot about the animals he brought to the event! His special guests he brought with him included: 8 foot crocodile, a Python, a porcupine, Gibbons/Monkey’s, and a Cheetah! We also got to pet some farm animals, and see a kangaroo! After his performance, there was a silent auction! My parent’s company Pest Management Systems, Inc., a sponsor of the event; bid on the naming rights of the new Otter’s coming to the museum in a new exhibit soon! They were the highest bidders in the Otter naming, so now they can’t decide what to name the Otters! We are looking for suggestions! It was all very exciting and it was a great night to meet Jack Hanna, and his friends, and see the exciting new events and attractions coming to North Carolina! Serving the community through Science, at the natural science center!















BBBS
















5/15/2009
12:30PM-2:30PM
Falkener Elementary School EOG PEP RALLEY

On my normally scheduled day to go visit my “little” James, I was asked to speak and encourage the children in the third through fifth grade students getting ready to take their end of grade tests! With some of the lower income students, they have a harder time reaching testing scores and goals so they have a program to help with building the self esteem of the children who are taking the test!! Then after the assembly, they walk through the halls of the kindergarten through 2nd grade students who have made signs, and chants for them and who are cheering them on to do well on their tests!!! The Principal asked me to say a few words and answer questions for the kids, so that’s what I did! I told them to eat a good breakfast, and to study hard, ask questions, rely on their teachers and families to help them, as well as work hard and get a good nights rest before they take the test! I know each and every one of them will do well; after all I made them scream it to me that they would do AWESOME!! And that the EOG test was not going to get the best of them!!!! It was a lot of fun and I had some great questions….including “do you have a boyfriend?” (ha ha) My Little got to go to the assembly with me and walk through the halls of all the cute children waiting! As I walked through the halls I was greeted by so many talented, smart, beautiful children who were very excited I was there! I was in tears, and so honored to be there meeting all of these future doctors, teachers, scientists, actors, pilots and the limitless possibilities and opportunities for occupations they have to choose from!

BBBS




May 14, 2009
Big Brothers and Big Sisters Luncheon
12-1pm
As one of the biggest non profits with the Volunteer Center, Big Brothers and Big Sisters has a wonderful program helped match mentors and build relationships to help make a difference in the lives of children! My Mom and I attended their luncheon fundraiser at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC! They had a lunch prepared for us, and a program with certain “bigs” and “littles” who shared their stories! At the beginning of the program the director of Youth Focus honored me for my participation and work with the program, which meant so much to me! I sat at the front table with the Volunteer Match Coordinator, her family, and the Principal and Social worker at the school that I go to when I work with my class based program and my “little brother.” But hearing the stories of the children and adults who have been touched by this program was so amazing! We heard from a community based match that has been together for over 20 years! WOW!!! The little said that “his friend, and mentor” put food on the table when his mother couldn’t, always bought him a backpack, was there for him when no one else was, and even gave him a job to help him support his family. I saw some friends of mine I met at the “celebrity bowl a thon” a while back, and it was wonderful to talk to them and catch up! Hearing everything that this program continues to do for children and the way it helps the mentors and changes them in the process is an incredible thing to be a part of and witness! I think we all needed tissues, there was not a dry eye in the whole place after hearing what a difference these people are making! They are heroes in the community!

MAKE A WISH CELEBRITY SERVE PART 2
















May 12, 2009
Dinnertime Celebrity Serve for Make A Wish Foundation

We did the same Celebrity Serve for dinner in the Piedmont Triad! I went to three locations as a volunteer, and helped! I guess my lunch serving determined my status for dinner…I didn’t serve any dinner!! (ha ha ha)! But I did have a wonderful time at TRIPPS, GATE CITY CHOP HOUSE, and 1618 WEST SEAFOOD GRILLE! I went and spent time with some other celebrities like TV personalities: Cindy Farmer and Lanie Pope! I was briefly interrupted, and had to run to campus and take a final exam for a communication class! Afterwards, I was right back on the road! At 1618, I got the pleasure of meeting up with the founder of the Chapter, Dr. Clark; and his family! His daughter Cameron and her husband, I have learned so much from watching them and their work with Make a Wish! I did a little serving, and put in a few orders, and cleaned a few tables! I grew a deeper appreciation for the staff at all the restaurants we go to! I also met two great volunteers, Joe and Kristen who volunteer with the organization regularly! They did a great job of staying at the locations and making sure everything went smoothly! I thank everyone for making a difference through this event! At 1618, we raised over $1,000 in tips alone, throughout the entire event we raised enough money for one wish! We raised about $6,000 dollars and we are still counting! It felt great to be able to raise that money for these children! I was so honored to help! My waitressing skills need some work though =) Next year is going to be an even bigger success with the 2nd annual Celebrity Serve!

MAKE A WISH CELEBRITY SERVE
















May 12, 2009
Lunchtime Celebrity Serve for Make A Wish Foundation

As a volunteer with Make a Wish Foundation, through the Volunteer Center, I was asked to be a “Celebrity Server” for their 1st annual celebrity serve in the Greensboro area! They usually have one in Winston Salem to benefit the central Carolina chapter annually, and this past year Make a Wish was able to raise almost $15,000 for wishes for the kids through this event! So for the first part of the event, I was at Beef O Brady’s on North Elm Street in Greensboro. I served lunch with 104.1WTQR radio personality Angie Ward. Never being a waitress before, I had help from the wonderful Jennifer! I learned the ropes of the restaurant business! I met not only some incredible people but also some wish families! I was even treated to lunch by the amazing director of the chapter: Don! We talked about the foundation and volunteering, and I learned that it was through service like what he has done that make such a huge difference in the Volunteer world! He told me some touching stories, and I learned what an inspiration he is! Hearing his work and why he volunteers was a great example of what service, sacrifice and generosity through volunteering is!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

I had fun on the go cart on my Mom's Birthday!
My New Best Friend, Mitch!!!!

The Fabulous Katie-Britt!!!


2nd Runner Up, Katie Godfrey! GIrl*You were amazing, you rocked the stage!!! Congrats!



The Amazing Shannon Devine, with Devine Consulting!!