Sanford Children's Hospital

 On Thursday, October 28, I visited Sanford Children's Hospital in Fargo, ND.  Hillery Mork, the Children's Miracle Network Program Director (Sanford Children's Hospital, Fargo), gave me a wonderful tour of the hospital and informed me about what type of patients they help and special devices they use.  She is my local CMN  Liason between CMN and the Miss America Program.  In 2005, Hans Gilsdorf of Detroit Lakes, redesigned the environment of the hospital to make it more "kid friendly".  Alfunz, the mouse, greets the children when they enter the hospital and also responds to the letters children write him.  All the hallways have village themes throughout it and each room has the same signature clock.  The Children's hospital in Fargo is the only one in North Dakota.  They treat cancer patients, premature babies, and other infectious diseases.

Children's Miracle Network helps pay for many inexpensive and expensive things in hospitals across the country.  At Sanford in Fargo, the CMN money raised by me and many other people, pays for things as simple as toys, movies, DVD players and PlayStations, or as expensive as a Child Life Specialist, training, and fancy bubble IV machines that distract the children when they are being poked.  Training one flight nurse can cost $10,000 and that is why it is so crucial to have supporters and donors giving to Children's Miracle Network.  Keep encouraging people to donate as well as donating yourself! If you haven't already, I encourage you to visit a local Children's Hospital to learn what they provide for their patients. Children's Miracle Network is the national platform of the Miss America scholarship program and I have to raise at least $250 for the state level.  My goal is $500 though, and the money I raise goes directly to the Sanford Children's Hospital in Fargo.  Remember, I am still doing my Dine to Donate fundraiser with Perkins. Bring them into either, Fargo, Detroit Lakes, or Moorhead Perkins and the restaurant will donate 10% of your total bill to CMN! If you do not have a flyer, you can still tell them that you would like it to go to the CMN fundraiser. You can also make a secure donation at my online account. Click the link below and it will take you directly there.

https://www.missamerica4kids.org/m.aspx?i=12507a9f0+7+95de0

Always,

Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson

Miss Moorhead 2010

Habitat for Humanity: "Building Homes and Dreams One Nail at a Time"

Six years ago I began my journey with Habitat for Humanity in the Becker County area as a student representative on the executive board.  I attended meetings to learn budgeting, how we choose families, and organize fundraisers.  After high school I did not want to end my journey with Habitat, so I joined the North Dakota State University Habitat for Humanity chapter when I started my freshman year of college. I spent the year taking part in fundraisers, attending meetings, and building a house in Miami, Florida over Spring Break.  That spring I was chosen to be the fundraising coordinator for the next school year.  I learned responsibility, creativity, and not to give up when rejected.  Even though it was difficult to find people and businesses to donate with our state of economy, I was still able to double the amount of money raised compared to the previous year.  This year I was elected to be the Vice President and my goal is to double the amount of members in the NDSU Habitat for Humanity chapter.  I have now had the opportunity to build houses in Minnesota, North Dakota, Florida, and South Carolina!

Building a roof in South Carolina

The home recipient: Jamala

Working hard in South Carolina

Putting up drywall in Florida

Meeting the Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathon Reckford

Shingling in Florida

Habitat for Humanity International was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976.  They began building houses on the Koinonia farm land in 1968 by laying out 42 half-acres of land for houses.  In 1973, they traveled to Zaire with a goal to build suitable houses for 2,000 people.  A group of supporters were called together in 1976 to discuss future goals and ideas and this is how Habitat for Humanity International was formed.

In 1984, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, began the Jimmy Carter Work Project which brought a lot of national attention to the non-profit organization.  Each year they work in other countries around the world or states around the U.S.A.  Just this fall they spent a week in the Twin Cities area working on a community of houses.

Today, Habitat for Humanity has built over 350,000 houses which has sheltered more than 1.75 million people worldwide!

Always,

Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson

Miss Moorhead, 2010

Miss Twin Cities and Miss Capital City

Last night I attended the Miss Twin Cities and Miss Capital City pageant in St. Paul, MN.  The girls did such an amazing job that I had no idea what the outcome would be at the end of the night.  I was excited to see some of my pageant sisters and had the opportunity to meet new queens that I will welcome to my pageant family.  I want to say congratulations to the new Miss Twin Cities, Lauren Johnson and the new Miss Capital City, Aja Majkrzak!  Also, great job to the former Miss Capital City, Kaylah Dockter for a wonderful year. I wish you the best in your future endeavors.  To the former Miss Twin Cities and current Miss Minnesota, Kathryn Knuttila, you have done a great job representing our state.  Best wishes to you as you compete for Miss America in less than three months!

 Miss Moorhead Committee

 Miss Frazee 2009 & Miss Frazee 2010

Many of the Miss Minnesota 2011 contestants!

Always,

Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson

Miss Moorhead, 2010

Minnesota State University Moorhead Homecoming Parade

On Saturday, October 16th the MSUM Dragons invited me and Brianna, Miss Red River Valley's Outstanding Teen, to their homecoming parade.  Before the parade began, I was able to mingle with other parade participants. I met the Minnesota State Senator Keith Langseth and handed out many of my Dine to Donate flyers.  It was a great parade and I had a fun time.  The Dragons have awesome school spirit. 

I would like to thank my sponsors, Ward Muscatell, for donating their trucks for Brianna and I to ride on in the parade.

Always,

Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson

Miss Moorhead, 2010

Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Many of you know that the ABC Extreme Makeover team came to Moorhead, MN to build a new home for a well deserving family.  The Grommesh family of Moorhead was the recipient due to the son, Garrett, having spina bifida and the daughter, Peighton, with a pancreatic enzyme deficiency known as Axenfeld-Reiger's syndrome. The house they owned was in good condition, but not wheelchair accessible.  Since their original house was still "liveable", the Grommesh family decided to "Pay it Forward" and give their former house to the Hajdari family.  In addition, Concordia College donated full tuition for the two Grommesh children and $10,000 for four years for each of the Hajdari children.  The Extreme Makeover episode for this build will be aired the first Sunday of December and the theme is "Pay it Forward"! 

Unfortunately I was not able to participate in the build due to the overwhelming amount of volunteers that signed up.  It was estimated that over 6,000 people signed up to help and they only need between 3,000-4,000 volunteers. I did, however, go to the big reveal of the house to the family.  I was able to get close right in front of the house. The Extreme Makeover team was astonished that over 8,000 people came to watch the reveal.  They said it was the biggest crowd and most community support they have ever had for the Extreme Makeover show.  It is true, we are "Minnesota Nice".

Hope Inc. was a big supporter of the Extreme Makeover build since they are a wheelchair organization.  Hope Inc. wanted to host an event to support the build since Garrett uses a wheelchair.  So, on Friday, October 8th they attempted to make the Guinness Book of World Records by creating a word using the most wheelchairs.  They did make a new record with over 400 wheelchairs.  Since my aunt, Joyce Newton, is the Executive Director of HERO, and donated 23 wheelchairs, she invited me to make an appearance and be apart of this amazing event.  I met Miss Wheelchair Minnesota, Tonya and she was so excited to be apart of this event.

 

Always,

Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson

Miss Moorhead, 2010

Frazee Homecoming

On Friday, October 8th I had the opportunity to go to my hometown of Frazee.  The Frazee community invited me to ride through their Homecoming parade as the new Miss Moorhead and they welcomed me back with open arms.  Miss Vergas, Haley Daggett and Miss Frazee's Outstanding Teen, Ellie Bachmann, who are both Frazee residents, also rode through the parade.  Frazee is a town of many talented, athletic, intelligent, and supportive people and I am so glad to be an Alumni of the Frazee-Vergas School. 

After the parade, it was time to prep my yelling voice for the football game!  The Frazee Hornets won the football game 48-0! What a great game for me to attend.  The cheerleaders sure got a workout with all the jumping jacks they had to do after each touchdown. I would also like to congratulate a dear pageant friend, Katie Winter, for being chosen as this year's homecoming queen!  She is a beautiful young lady and I wish year all the best.

Always,

Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson

Miss Moorhead, 2010

Dine to Donate

Hello,

I would like to inform everyone about a charity I am continuously raising funds and awareness for.  Children's Miracle Network is the official platform for the Miss America Scholarship Pageant and as a local title holder I need to raise $250 to compete at Miss Minnesota in June.  However, I do not want to stop at $250. On September 1st I teamed up with Perkin's Restaurant and Bakery in Detroit Lakes, Moorhead, and Fargo to help me raise funds for CMN.  When you eat at any of these three locations 10% of your total bill will be donated to Children's Miracle Network at the Sanford Children's Hospital in Fargo, ND. You must tell the cashier that you would like your bill to be used for this cause or Perkin's will not record it.  I also have flyers that you can hand to the cashier.  If you see me, please ask me for one & I will be more than happy to give you some because it does make it easier for Perkin's to record the donations.

This fundraiser will continue through the month of April and my goal is to raise at LEAST $500. I can only do that with your help.  I will also be organizing many more fundraisers throughout the year so please keep following my blog so you can get the latest on my fundraisers and appearances.  If you live out of state and cannot make it to any of my fundraisers you can also make a secure donation for Children's Miracle Network at  http://www.missamerica4kids.org/m.aspx?i=12507A9F0+7+95DE0.

Thank you so much for your support!

Always,

Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson

Miss Moorhead, 2010