Feb 20 - Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

What a great day!! We has some amazing little girls and boys join us today. We had 14 girls very excited to have the Queens painting nails and adding some gloss on the lips. We love having The Tutu Ladies join us!! Actually I think they must become a fixture at our parties, the kids LOVE the time and attention these ladies put into making their visit the best. We watch as little girls twirl around in their own tutus and the boys running with capes flying behind them. 

Such a precious site to see these little girls looking up to the Queens that take the time to attend and make these little girls smile so big. In their eyes they are true Queens. And we are so blessed to have wonderful ladies represent their titles so very well.

One little girl could not quit looking at the Queens crown and was so happy when she got to pick her very own out and had her place it on her head.

The boys were treated to the Vanderbilt Policemen attending our party. What a great job they did greeting the boys and helping them pick out special party favors. We had 7 boys excited to pick out capes and to chat it up with these guys. 

As always so looking forward to our next party day. A HUGE thank you to all the volunteers that devote their time to help me put huge smiles on these precious children faces if only for an hour, the memories made in that hour will last a lifetime.

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.