Miss Southern California Regional 2012: National Pancake Day!

Today is the one day of the year you can get a free stack of pancakes! Why? Because IHOP has made it a tradition, while giving out free pancakes, to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network (CMN)! IHOP is a partner of CMN, so it's a great thing to see the home of our favorite pancakes give back! You're probably thinking what does the Miss America Org. have anything to do with pancakes? Well, Miss America is a major partner with CMN as well, so I have the opportunity to be a part of this great cause- to help local kids! As a contestant I have the privilege to visit IHOP on National Pancake Day and help raise money, so I decided to go to the IHOP on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood! Miss America herself was there too! I was so excited to meet her and help out with the festivities!
Last year when I was Miss Garden Grove, I went to the same IHOP when Teresa Scanlan (Miss America 2011) was there and it was so much fun to meet her. Today I got to meet Miss America again and she is SO beautiful and poised! What a great role model!

With Miss America 2012, Laura Kaeppeler

I was not the only titleholder there; many other local girls came to help too! It was so much fun to see everyone there! After taking pictures with Laura, we all walked around the restaurant and talked with the guests. So many did not know why IHOP has this special day every year, so I am glad I could help educate people on that! Even better, barely anyone knew that the actual Miss America was IN the restaurant and when they found out they got really excited. I was able to meet a couple of guests who actually are the co-chairs of the official fan club for the amazing movie, "Somewhere In Time." It was fate that I met them because I LOVE this movie! On top of all that, this cute couple is from Wisconsin! Because Laura is from Wisconsin, I flagged her over to them so she could talk to her fellow Wisconsin-ians. :) Overall it was a great experience being able to meet Miss America and be a part of raising money for such a wonderful organization.

I also met a little girl named Sophia, who was also here last year to visit. She has survived many complications and still takes treatment at the Los Angeles Children's Hospital. She just looks like any little girl you would see and she looks lie a princess, especially with that tiara and sash! Sophia's father told me that if it weren't for the LA Children's Hospital, his daughter would not be alive today, and that the only reason the hospital has been able to help her is because of the funds that come from CMN. This is the perfect example of why there are fundraisers for CMN-- so that there are funds to help local kids have a fulfilled and happy life. This is why we as Miss America contestants raise money for CMN before we compete somewhere. This is why I ask repeatedly on FB and Twitter for donations. Every cent, every dollar counts towards helping kids. If you weren't able to make it to IHOP today, no worries! You can get your free stack next year, but I encourage you that in the meantime you donate to Children's Miracle now. So many kids need your help!