From QFAD to The For a Day Foundation - celebrating 10 Years

Queen for a Day is proud to celebrate 10 years of helping children living with cancer. As we continue to deliver our exciting and therapeutic programs to more kids, we are expanding our offerings and broadening our objectives. 

Moving forward, Queen for a Day will become The For a Day Foundation. Queen for a Day will continue as a program of the Foundation, along with Hero for a Day. We hope to add new and more creative programs to our service menu to better care for our patients.

10 years ago today, Queen for a Day officially began. Hosting its first event at Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi, 3 young girls became our first queens.

Jalisa, age 7, and Randa, age 8, attended the party and indulged in cupcakes, candy, chips, and juice donated by Kroger of Clinton. Founder Jenna Edwards, the reigning Miss Teen All American 1999, performed make-overs and manicures for the girls. The girls relished the bright pink lipsticks and blushes. Jalisa left pink kisses on everyone’s cheeks.

Then Jenna visited a 13-year-old in her room. This young lady was especially down because she recently had her leg amputated due to chemotherapy complications.

A few months later, Jenna received news that Jalisa had passed away, but kept her Queen for a Day Polaroid on her wall. Realizing that she had given Jalisa a lasting memory til her final moments gave Jenna the inspiration to continue spreading the joy of Queen for a Day.

2 years later, Jenna received an invitation to appear on The Oprah Winfrey Show where she not only received a generous donation from Oprah’s Angel Network, but she also received a surprise visit from Randa who was then in remission.

Thank you for your continual support of Queen for a Day. Without our volunteers, supporters, and local chapter directors, hundreds of children and families would be without the priceless memories and moments from Queen for a Day and Heroes.

Miss USA 2007 + QFAD

Los Angeles, CA - Miss USA 2007 contestants participate in QFAD event at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. 

During the 2007 Miss USA competition week in March of 2007, several contestants were invited to a Queen for a Day event at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles along with Miss USA 2006, Tara Conner.

In attendance were Miss Missouri USA Amber Seyer, Miss South Dakota USA Susie Heffernan, Miss Rhode Island USA Danielle Lacourse, Miss Nevada USA Helen Salas, Miss Hawaii USA Chanel Wise, Miss California USA Meagan Tandy, and Miss Florida USA Jenna Edwards.

Contestants participated in QFAD activities by giving patients make-overs, manicures, and tiaras. Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006, even crowned patients with her own Mikimoto tiara.