March 27, 2012

Contact: Bevin Theodore, Director of PR & Communications

610-799-7797

800-25-PEACE

bevin.theodore@kidspeace.org

KidsPeace seeks donations for second annual Inner Beauty Pageant

North Whitehall Township – In preparation for the second annual Inner Beauty Pageant on May 2, KidsPeace is seeking the donation of clothing and services from the community.

As part of the pageant, a group of 17 teenage girls will model casual and formal attire, showcase talents and participate in a question-and-answer panel. Each participant in the event will go before a “positive praise” panel, which will provide feedback.

“The idea behind it is that every girl is a winner,” says Nicole Thomas-Grube, an art therapist at KidsPeace who is helping to plan the event.

Although the focus of the event is on inner beauty, the organizers would still like the participants to have the opportunity to dress in a way they feel befits the occasion. KidsPeace is seeking donations of formalwear, casual attire and shoes in all sizes. Other donations that would be appreciated are flowers, tiaras, decorations, food for the participants, dry cleaning services and a tailor to help with temporary alterations. The hope is that the donated clothing will be able to be reused by other KidsPeace residents for future events. Anyone who has items or services to donate should contact Terence Callaghan at 610-799-7990 or Terence.callaghan@kidspeace.org.

Some formal gowns have already been donated, namely from former Miss Pennsylvania candidates and Angela Showalter. Showalter and her husband, Buck Showalter, the manager of the Baltimore Orioles, have been involved with many activities related to KidsPeace’s foster care program in Maryland. Metro Beauty Academy is once again donating hair, makeup and nail services for pageant participants.

The pageant is the culmination of an eight-week course, which allows the participants to get to know themselves and each other and practice social skills. As part of the course, former Miss Pennsylvania Nicole Brewer, who now works for CBS 3 in Philadelphia and also serves on the board of Teencentral.net, will speak to the group on April 11. Female staff members and residents, as well as family and community members who are important to the participants, will be invited to attend the pageant.

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