| Upcoming Events |
National Headquarters
National Be Your Best Self Week
Monday, April 22 - Friday, April 26 Nationwide Find out more...56th National Finals
June 27, 28 & 29 Mobile, AL Find out more...
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| Donate |
Whether you are able to contribute financially, provide in-kind services or help us secure a new sponsor, we appreciate your efforts to support Distinguished Young Women. Donate TODAY! |
| Countdown to National Finals |
63 days left until the 56th Distinguished Young Women National Finals! June 27, 28 and 29, 2013 in Mobile, Alabama.
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| About Us | The mission of Distinguished Young Women is to positively impact the lives of young women by providing a transformative experience that promotes and rewards scholarship, leadership and talent.
Distinguished Young Women
National Headquarters
751 Government Street
Mobile, AL 36602
(251) 438-3621
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Celebrate National Be Your Best Self Week!
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This week is National Be Your Best Self Week and Distinguished Young Women across the country are reaching out into their communities to share the positive message of the Be Your Best Self program with children and teens. As a result, thousands of young people will pledge to be healthy, stay in school and serve their community. Distinguished Young Women is proud to present this week-long, nationwide outreach event for the fifth year and with your help, this will be the best year yet! Help us spread the word! - JOIN the National Be Your Best Self Week event on Facebook to show your support for the Be Your Best Self program and the Distinguished Young Women who are presenting the program in their communities.
- Engage with Distinguished Young Women on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@distinguishedyw). Share, retweet, and like our content to help spread the word about National Be Your Best Self Week and Distinguished Young Women.
- Use the hashtag #BeYourBestSelfWeek in your posts on social media.
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Update: $56K for 56
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 This year, in honor of our 56th anniversary, we are setting out to raise $56,000 through our annual campaign. Funds raised through this campaign will go to providing scholarship opportunities to deserving young women and expanding the scope of resources provided to all state and local programs across the country.
As of today, we have raised close to 20% of our $56,000 goal for our annual campaign! Thank you to each of you who have donated toward furthering the mission of Distinguished Young Women. All donors at any level will be entered to win prize packages between now and the 56th annual National Finals in June. Drawings will take place in May and June and prizes will include merchandise, free tickets to National Finals, and other fantastic surprises. In addition, all individual donors will be listed in the 2013 National Finals Program Book and on the Distinguished Young Women website. Please remember to check with your company about matching gift donations. The winner of our drawing for April is Ellen Bigony Winner (West Virgina's Junior Miss 1970). Donate TODAY to be entered to win our next prize drawing! Join us today in celebrating our 56th year and supporting our mission to positively impact the lives of young women! Click the link below to donate today! Are you a past participant of the program? If so, click the link below to make your donation. |
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April is National Volunteer Month
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 Did you know that the Distinguished Young Women program is made possible across the country by a network of more than 17,000 volunteers?
As we celebrate National Volunteer Month, Distinguished Young Women would like to express our sincere thanks to each and every individual that dedicates their time, resources and energy to making the Distinguished Young Women experience available to young women year after year. Whether you open your homes as a host family, coordinate meals for participants, choreograph production routines, solicit donations, serve as a judge, or countless other volunteer roles, we appreciate the service you give to Distinguished Young Women so that we may positively impact the lives of young women and empower them to reach for their dreams. Are you interested in volunteering with Distinguished Young Women in your area? Visit the Distinguished Young Women website to locate a program near you. Join in the fun and become a part of the Distinguished Young Women family. |
| Volunteers Make it Happen! |
Charles and Traci Fant
Program:Distinguished Young Women of TennesseeCurrent Volunteer Role: State Chairpersons
How long have you served in a volunteer role with Distinguished Young Women?
Traci became involved in 1999 when she returned back to Tennessee after attending law school in St. Louis, Missouri. She judged her first local program in 1999. She then joined the Tennessee board shortly thereafter. Initially, she assisted in various roles from volunteer coordinator, judges' co-chair and then chairperson, financial secretary/treasurer, as well as serving as the non-profit state organization's legal counsel. Charles began judging local programs in 2002 and he joined the board in 2004. Charles has been going "full speed" ever since this time!!! They both became state chairpersons of the Tennessee program in 2007 when the prior state chairpersons moved to Germantown, Tennessee. Even though this was not the most opportune time for them to assume this state chair role (with 1 year old twins at home), it was very important to Traci that the program that gave so much to her continue without any interruption. Charles agreed, and after much prayer, they decided to assume the role together.
When/how did you get "hooked" on Distinguished Young Women?
Traci participated in the program in 1991 as Cleveland's Junior Miss and Tennessee's Junior Miss. She represented the state of Tennessee at the national program in 1991. Because she learned so much about the person she was (at the time) and who she wanted to be through this program, it was always her desire to return to her home state and give back to the program that helped mold and develop her to be a well-rounded person. Charles became "hooked" on the program after an experience at a local program that he judged. It was his second program to judge. He asked one of the participants during her interview to tell him about her "junior miss" experience so far, and her response was that when she started the program, she did not have any friends, and now she had 18 "best" friends. As she was giving this response, one tear fell from her eyes. He did not know anything about the program growing up, but he does understand teenage dynamics and issues that teenagers face (as a high school football coach). He was encouraged that a scholarship program could have such a profound effect on a participant of a program (and not just the overall winner).
What is your "day job?"
Traci is an in-house attorney for a financial services company, and Charles is a teacher and high school head football coach for Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
What is your favorite aspect of the Distinguished Young Women program?
Traci's favorite aspect is the interaction with the young ladies and their families during the process. Being blessed with 3 young men at home (ages 12, 6 and 6), Traci sometimes feels that she misses out on the "girl" experiences. It is such a joy seeing the young ladies, who participate in this program, develop and mature throughout their participation! For Charles, it is the growth of each young lady from the beginning to end of program, and the close-knit friendships that develop and last beyond the program week.
What has been your most rewarding moment as a volunteer for Distinguished Young Women?
For Traci and Charles, ONE of the most rewarding moments (there are so many) was when a state program participant in 2012 sacrificed so much to participate in the program. This young lady came from an area where not much is known about the program. She raised a substantial amount of advertising/sponsorship money to support the program and contribute toward her at-large license fee; she also worked to pay her expenses to participate in the program (including purchasing a self-expression dress). She was always so upbeat and positive, even when she learned that her mother would not be able to attend the state program to see her performance. She also did not become upset or complain when she discovered during the week of the program that the dress she selected for self-expression could not be worn, because it was floor length. She borrowed a dress from the state program clothing closet, and she was awarded by the judging panel one of the preliminary awards for self-expression (as well as the Spirit Award). This young lady continues to stay in touch with our family and comes to visit from time-to-time. She also returned last year to volunteer during state program week. It is now her desire to get the news about this program out to the young ladies in her community and encourage participation in the future. Stories and moments like this make volunteering very worthwhile!
Across the country, more than 17,000 volunteers make it possible for Distinguished Young Women programs to take place at the local, state and national level. Each month, we will feature one of our outstanding volunteers to give a closer look at the individuals who work tirelessly to ensure our mission is carried out nationwide. Interested in becoming a Distinguished Young Women volunteer in your community, click here to locate a program near you.
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Sponsor Spotlight - Mobile County
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