Two on Two, Anyone?

Today, March 4, Southampton High School held their annual Charyse Torrence 2 on 2 basketball game! Charyse was a student athlete who attended Southampton High School. After a long battle with cancer, Charyse passed away during hersophomore year. She was an outstanding basketball player, whose passion for the game inspiredeveryone around her. Her friends and teammates chose this event to remember Charyse and raise money for the "Make A Wish" foundation, the organization that greatly helped Charyse's family during their time of need. I was so excited to be playing in the tournament with my dad (who turned out to be a very good player!).

We even made it to the 5th round! Although we didn't win overall, it was great seeing my

fellow students get out of the house and get some exercise for a good cause! Congratulations to everyone who participated!

XOXO,

Sarah

And the Countdown Begins...

Hello, all! I hope today finds everyone in a great mood! With everything that has been going on at school, I almost forgot about my meeting with Senator Schumer this tuesday! After getting a chance to relax for a little bit, I realized that that there's only three days until I get to travel down to Washington D.C. My, the time does fly! I'll be sure to keep you all updated during my day in the country's capital, and I'll make sure to post pictures too!

Click Here to view the official website of the Safe Routes to Schools Initiative!

Click Here to view the Safe Routes to Schools video that will be shown to Senator Schumer!

XOXO,

Sarah

IHOP National Free Pancake Day

You may or may not know that IHOP restaurants around the country will be giving out FREE pancakes on Tuesday, February 28. People are encouraged to eat a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes at their local IHOP, and when you leave, you are asked to consider leaving a donation for the Children's Miracle Network (the national platform of the Miss America Organization).

IHOP hopes to raise $2.7 million this year to donate to the Children's Miracle Network. So show your support and attend your local IHOP's National Free Pancake Day Celebration! Who knows? You might even see your local or state queen for the Miss America or Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organizations!

XOXO,

Sarah

Prom Gowns for a Cause!

Hello! Do you have any dresses that are just sitting in your closet? Doubt you will wear them again? Many girls are held back from going to prom because of financial situations. Make good use of your old prom dresses by donating them to someone who NEEDS that dress for their prom! Elizabeth Fetchel, Miss America's Outstanding Teen, has teamed up with a dress store in Florida called Loft 181 and a non profit organization called Caitlin's Closet (founded by former MAO Teen Caitlin Brunell) to do just that. She is asking for prom gowns, pageant gowns, and cocktail dresses, and she hopes to collect over 100 dresses to donate to Loft 181 on behalf if Caitlin's Closet.

To donate any dresses you have to help the cause, please mail the dress by March 10. Visit the link below for more information, and the address to send all dresses to!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/A-Special-Request-from-Elizabeth--.html?soid=1103429962985&aid=9Tu5I0DdJ2I

XOXOX,

Sarah

Heart U Facebook Page!

If you haven't already, please take a moment to check out the Heart U Facebook page. I created the page to reach out to many more people. In addition to this blog, the Facebook page will keep you up to date about everything that Heart U isaccomplishing! Thank you!

XOXO,

Sarah

Heart U Blog is up and Running!

Hi! I hope everyone's vacation is going well! I just want to take a minute to tell you about my new blog which is about my platform issue, Heart U: Raising Awareness of Living a Heart Healthy Lifestyle. I hope to update my Heart U blog as constantly as possible, because I will be working with the American Heart Association a lot over the next few months, as I also prepare for the Miss New York's Outstanding Teen competition in June. Phew! I guess the next few months are going to get a little busy for me (but that's okay. I like multitasking!).

Please take a few minutes to check out my Heart U blog! I'll be posting tips and tricks on how you can stay heart healthy, as well as new things that I am doing with my platform! Thanks again!

XOXO,

Sarah

Heart U Event at my High School!

If you know me personally, you know that the American Heart Association (AHA) is a cause that is very close to my heart. That is why my platform, 'Heart U: Raising Awareness of Living a Healthy Life Style' works very closely with Long Island's chapter of the AHA. I was able to hold an event at my high school that incorporated both theJunior Varsity and VarsityGirls' basket ball teams, because bothteams happened toe playing on National Go Red for Women Day (February 3). The AHA provided some amazing red shirts for the teams to wear! At half time I spoke to the crowds about my platform, and volunteers took to the stands to collect donations. We also sold snacks, redbracelets, and red dress pins! In total, over $200 dollars was collected, and all of it was given to the AHA for the Go Red for Women cause.A special thanks goes out to the JV and Varsity Girls' basket ball teams and their coaches for agreeing to wear the red shirts and help out at the event, Terri Zenobio from the American Heart Association for helping to make the event a reality, the volunteers, and everyone who attended the event!

XOXO,

Sarah