Mayor's Shinning Star Award

Photos by Liston Abbott
On Saturday, April 25th, I became the proud recipient of the Hightstown and East Windsor Mayor's Shinning Star Award. What a night!!! One of the best evenings of my life. We raise funds and support organizations simply because we care and for no other reason. To be recognized for your efforts is thrilling! I thank my very best gal Pandora for nominating me. This coming Wednesday, April 29th, the event will be televised in our area on channel 27. During the gala dinner I received a Proclamation from East Windsor, a Certificate of Honor from Hightstown and a Certificate of Recognition from Mercer County. There were many friends and family there (over 400 in attendance) and I introduced my husband as Mr. New Jersey during my speech :) Great fun! Wish I could relive the evening.

Thank you Mayor Mironov, Mayor Patten, Pandora and the award committee. I am honored.

On April 26th I had the pleasure of attending the March of Dimes Walk in West Windsor. The best part of the day was seeing a previous co-worker, Tracey, who had twins which required special care at birth. We hadn't seen one another in 8 years and I had no idea of the difficult time she endured when her twins were born. Seeing Tracey, speaking with her and seeing photos of the twins soon after their birth gave such purposed to my visit, I was moved beyond words!!!

NAACP Gala and Awards Dinner

This past Friday I had the privileged of being an invited guest to the NAACP Awards Dinner and Gala. There I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most amazing people ever! Sitting next to the keynote speaker, I was amazed by the hard work she does to help others, especially teenagers. Her name is Janice Teetsell, a judge in Essex County. It was also a joy to watch my sister, Councilwoman Jacqueline Johnson, present a proclamation to one of the awardees (she is so well spoken - must get her to enter a pageant!). When photos are available, I will be happy to post.

Spa Day and Lunch with Former Mrs. NJ's and 09 Contestants

What a FABULOUS DAY! Recently some of the 2009 Contestants, Mrs. New Jersey 2004, Beth Leska, Mrs. New Jersey 2006, Susan Huntley, and I enjoyed lunch and spa facials. We had such a wonderful time talking, looking at photos of Susan and Beth's crownings, eating sushi and having soothing facials!! Thank you ladies for attending.

Queen of Hearts Foundation

This past Saturday I was honored to be an invited guest to Carissa Palumbo's "Queen of Hearts Foundation" fashion show and luncheon to raise funds for the American Heart Association. Carissa (in 2nd photo below) did an awesome job pulling this event together. Even with the pouring rain, many came out to support Carissa's cause and platform. Carissa is competing in the Miss New Jersey America pageant on June 20th as Miss Gateway. Photos courtesy of Richard Krauss Photography.
With the wonderfully vivacious Ashley Fairfield, Miss New Jersey America 2008
The event organizer, Carissa Palumbo, Miss Gatway 2009. Carissa did a great job as the MC and was a gracious hostess.

Mrs. Delaware United States 2009

Congratulations to Marci for winning the title of Mrs. Delaware United States 2009! It was a pleasure watching you being crowned. Wishing you much success. Enjoy Vegas!
Mrs. Delaware United States 09
Mrs. Delaware America

Trenton St. Patrick's Day Parade

The Mrs. New Jersey United States organization was well represented at yesterday's St. Patrick's Day parade in Trenton where over 60,000 people came out in the nice weather to celebrate. Thanks to the 09 contestants for their time. A wonderful time was had by all while highlighting this wonderful organization! Many thanks to my sponosor, Windsor Nissan, for providing not one, but TWO cars and drivers!!!!

American Heart Association Luncheon

What a pleasure it was to help raise funds for the American Heart Association with so many beautiful women!

Turn for the Judges Poll

Thank you to all who voted for me during the recent TFTJ "Best Gown" poll. Truly an honor to have been selected as the winner of Best Gown in Mrs. Pageants for 2008. Thank you also to whomever nominated me and forwarded the photo.

Check it out: http://www.tftj.com/News/Poll_Finalresults.htm/191


THANK YOU ALL!!

Crowning Touch Trunk Show

Last year I purchased all of my wardrobe from the Crowning Touch. Swimsuit, interview suit and evening gown including the earrings! What a great selection they had. I highly recommend that all pageant ladies take the time to visit Crowning Touch on March 13 & 14. Time well spent. The Crowning Touch also donated my gown for Nationals and I have been nominated for best gown in a Mrs. Pageant for 2008! And, as you know, I made top 12! Many said it was because of evening wear. Without a doubt, I will be at the trunk show shopping for a gown to crown my successor!

Turn for the Judges

What a wonderful surprise and honor it was to see that I'd been nominated for the 2008 Best Gown award!!! I am truly touched! The gown I wore at nationals was part of the gift package as Mrs. New Jersey 2008 and was donated by our sponsor The Crowning Touch.

Please vote for me by visiting the link below. Your time will be greatly appreciated!!

http://www.tftj.com/News/Poll_Vote.htm/191

Guest Speaker at the Chapin School in Princeton

On February 12, I was the invited guest speaker at the Chapin School in Princeton - what an honor! I will post additional photos as they become available.

Mrs. New Jersey Cabaret for a Cause Benefiting the American Heart Association

Some of the 09 Contestants who came out to support AHA
My wonderful Step-Mom Barbara along with my Good, Good Friend Pandora and her daughter Brittany.
2009 Contestant came out to support our 2009 Triumph Award winner Karen Stives.
Mr. Anthony Hooper our Champion for a Cause Award 2009 receiptant.

American Heart Association "Go Red" Day at Trenton Devils

A Note to the 2009 Contestants in the Mrs. New Jersey United States Pageant

My Dear Mrs. New Jersey 2009 Contestant!

Lucky you! What an awesome and wonderful experience you have embarked upon. There are so many moments which will be forever lasting in your memories over the upcoming months.

This past year has been so overwhelmingly gratifying I cannot even put it in words. This wonderful journey began in 2007 as I watched Heather Cunningham being crowned Mrs. New Jersey United States 2007...a very deserving reward. Being a contestant in 2007 was such a great experience, there was no doubt I wanted to enjoy being a contestant again in 2008! Thanks be to God I was afforded the opportunity.

Whomever becomes Mrs. New Jersey United States 2009 will have a year beyond imagination filled with moments beyond compare. Tears are in my eyes as I type this note to you...having lived this experience. We all have the commonalities of life to live, but life is so much more rewarding when you live your dreams!

Thanks must go to Michelle and Christopher, our wonderful Directors. For, if it were not for them, we would not be at this amazing place in our lives.

I wish all of you the best of luck on May 24th. Of course, there will only be one Mrs. New Jersey United States 2009! But, all of you will have had one of the best experiences of your lives!

Evelyn

Windsor Nissan / Roma Bank Networking Event

During this event by our sponsor Windsor Nissan, where the guest of honors included myself, East Windsor Mayor Janice Mironov and comedian Joe Piscapo, I was fortunate to be joined by some of the Mrs. New Jersey 2009 Contestants and Mrs. New Jersey America Parker Sanchez. Photo by Dana

Martin Luther King Day Celebration 09

With Governor Corzine and Mrs. Union County 2009. Photo by Richard Krauss

CABARET FOR A CAUSE II - AN INVITATION FROM THE MRS. NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES PAGEANT DIRECTORS - PLEASE JOIN US!

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope this email finds you well! We are reaching out to you to ask for your support on Saturday, February 7th for a fundraising concert sponsored by the Mrs. New Jersey United States Organization, which will benefit the American Heart Association. We will be hosting our Cabaret for a Cause II: A Heart for our Community, and we would LOVE for you to be a part of it! It will take place at 4:00 p.m. (silent auction preview at 3:30) at the Bart Luedeke Center Theater on the campus of Rider University (2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ). The cabaret will feature performances by professional singers that have performed at the Miss America Pageant, the Apollo Theater, New York City venues, Atlantic City casinos and the Cape May Jazz Festival.

As some of you know, we are the co-directors of the Mrs. NJ US pageant, and our reigning titleholder, Evelyn McCleod, is a volunteer spokesperson for the American Heart Association. Evelyn is heavily involved with the Heart Association through her platform "Healthy, Happy, and Wise," and has helped to raise thousands of dollars this year alone through corporate sponsorship at her employer, and by volunteering at many of the Heart Association's "Start Walks" throughout the state. She is also the volunteer coordinator of Church and Dwight's "Go Red for Women" campaign. Evelyn is so passionate about this cause, and knows personally what it is like to lose a family member to heart disease. We wanted to do something special not only to honor her twin brother's memory, but to help the NJ chapter of the American Heart Association continue its mission: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke."

We sincerely hope you can join us for what is sure to be a fantastic night! We PROMISE you will be thoroughly entertained with several professional singers and many of our local titleholders, in addition to our reigning titleholder Evelyn McCleod! We will also be honoring two individuals in the community with the Champion for a Cause Award and the Triumph Award. Tickets are available on our website http://www.mrsnewjerseyus.com or also at the door that night.

Yours in the spirit of giving,

MRS. NEW JERSEY UNITED STATES DIRECTORS

Your Mrs. New Jersey United States Alumni - Photos by Richard Krauss

EVELYN McCLEOD, MRS. NEW JERSEY 2008
HEATHER CUNNINGHAM, MRS. NEW JERSEY 2007
SUSAN HUNTLEY, MRS. NEW JERSEY 2006
BETH LESKA, MRS. NEW JERSEY 2004

Presenting Checks to the American Heart Association and Next Level Youth, who I sponsor, and Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen

Elijah's Promise was presented with a check for $5,000 from Church & Dwight!!!

Love Spending Time With The Pageant Ladies

Judge for Miss Mercer County America & Miss Senior 2009