Monday, May 28, 2012

Video: Youth beauty pageant returns to Woodland ... - Cancer Kick

Woodland?s only youth beauty pageant is back and better than ever.

The second annual ?Princess of Hope? Charity Beauty Pageant will be held on Saturday, Aug. 11 at the Elks Lodge, benefiting the Leukemia Lymphoma Society?s Light the Night Walk.

Light The Night Walk is the nonprofit?s annual fundraising walk to pay tribute and bring hope to people battling cancer.

The pageant, which starts at 5 p.m. and is organized by Tara Vittone of Woodland, is open for 3- to 18-year-olds. Registration is $75 and includes admission for two and a $10 concessions donation fee.

Those interested in signing their child up or purchasing single tickets ($15) can do so by emailing teamhopewoodland@att.net. Deadline for registration is June 30.

Up to 50 girls can participate in the pageant.

Last year?s pageant, which started off as an idea of Vittone?s daughter, Isabella, was held at the Woodland Opera House. About 180 tickets were sold for the evening, which raised more than $3,000.

Vittone is hoping to sell some 200-250 tickets this time around, but wouldn?t mind a sellout.

The Elks Lodge, located at 500 Bush St., is hosting this year?s rendition for free as a donation. The building holds up to 290 people.

?I want to thank them,? Vittone said of the lodge. ?They believe in the charity and that it?s for a worthy cause.?

The pageant is split into five divisions, including:

n a 3- to 5-year-old

Tiny Miss division.

n a 6- to 8-year-old Little Miss division.

n a 9- to 12-year-old Jr. Miss division.

n a 13- to 15-year-old Teen Miss division.

n a 15- to 18-year-old Miss division.

Under Vittone?s guidelines, contestants under 13 are not allowed to wear makeup.

Probable judges include Mayor Art Pimentel, Yolo Post 77?s Vince Olvera, Wayfarer Center Executive Director Leona Jull, WAVE TV President Al Smith and Woodland Chamber of Commerce?s Tom Galeazzi.

Contestants will be judged on good character, charm, poise and natural beauty.

A mandatory rehearsal will be held on the day of the event from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Elks Lodge.

The show is expected to run for more than two hours, with a local acoustic band performing during intermission.

Vittone is currently seeking donations for concessions and prizes for the girls who win their age divisions. Last year, prizes included toys, Barbies and gift cards.

?Woodland really came through last year,? Vittone said. ?Woodland is an awesome community.?

A raffle will be held during the pageant. Tickets will be $1 apiece.

Additional funds will be raised after the event when a DVD of the occasion is sold.

Monetary donations can be made directly

at pages.lightthenight.org/sac/Sacra1212/TeamHope.

Money raised will help the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, which supports families in their time of need.

Vittone herself knows all about the financial hardships a family endures when a loved one gets diagnosed with cancer.

She?s been there before.

In 2003, her husband, Mark, became ill. Doctors told Mark, that he had pneumonia.

But doctors had misdiagnosed Mark. It turns out Mark actually had Stage 4 Hodgkin?s lymphoma ? a disease which is often mistaken for pneumonia.
As Mark?s weight dropped from 250 pounds to 175, the cable splicing technician at ATT was unable to work and went on disability.

With the Vittones in need of assistance, hospital workers suggested the family should contact the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

?They helped us with co-pays and mileage to and from his appointments,? Tara recalled. ?It meant a lot when you have barely any income and three children at the time.?

Later that same year, Mark went into remission.

Ever since, the Vittones have pitched in to raise funds for the society that they themselves benefited from in their time of need.

Follow Matthew Kimel at twitter.com/whatsupwoodland

Article source: http://www.dailydemocrat.com/rss/ci_20725179?source=rss

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