Project Gratitude

e d u t i t a r G

Project

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WRITTEN BY Darci Hansen

rom Miss America to award-winning ESPN broadcaster, Sharlene Hawkes has reached the top of two starkly different worlds by having the courage to step out of the norm and creating a life that encompasses motherhood, family, career, and philanthropy.

In 1984 Sharlene played the Paraguayan harp and sang in Spanish for her talent presentation at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City.

Traveling nearly 250,000 miles that year, she often relied on her fluent Spanish, being the only foreign-born and bilingual Miss America in the pageant’s history.

In 1988 she and her husband, Bob, moved to Connecticut where Hawkes worked for ESPN as the host of Scholastic Sports America, a weekly halfhour program. Sharlene became one of the first women to work on-air for ESPN, covering such world-class events as World Cup Soccer, the Kentucky Derby, the French Open, World Cup Skiing, College Football, even the World Lumberjack Championship. Her work at ESPN earned her national recognition, including the Women’s Sports Journalism award and an Emmy nomination.

Today, Sharlene is partner and chief marketing officer for StoryRock, the leading provider for core technology of interactive and print historical archiving for both consumer and military use. In the last four years, she has pushed her boundary even further. Her energy has gone into building Remember My Service, a new division at StoryRock that is creating an entirely new category of service to help the Department of Defense fill the growing need for assistance with historical records that are going uncompleted.

Working with the military and taking trips to visit soldiers at remote bases in Afghanistan and Iraq this past year, Sharlene was inspired to create Project Gratitude. When she asked me to assist her, I grabbed my elan woman laptop and went to work. Together we devised an ultimate weekend to allow 22 wives, and their daughters, of fallen military soldiers to enjoy royal treatment and some quality time together.

With major partners coming on board, the event grow into a weekend escape leading up to the Miss America Pageant.

Rich in history and social significance, the Miss America Organization is a not-for-profit organization that has maintained a tradition for many decades of empowering American women to achieve their personal and professional goals, while providing a forum in which to express their opinions, talent and intelligence.

Photo by: Chiemi McGhie woman

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Kelly Gibbons (left) and Jackie Finken (right) became friends in 2004, when their oldest daughters, Lauren and Emilie, became friends in kindergarten.

Lauren and Emilie, both having lost their fathers, have built an indescribable bond. They are soul sisters whose hearts are connected forever.

For Kelly and Jackie, it was the same. As Kelly reflects, she shared these moving thoughts about Jackie: “Words don’t even need to be spoken for me to read Jackie’s mind...an eyebrow raise, a smile, a laugh, or the squeeze of ours hands together say, ‘I am here for you’ without a word spoken. I will be ever thankful to God for our paths crossing during different stages of our grief. Having Jackie as a friend has been very healing for me.”

Above: Backstage with Donny, the girls enjoyed every moment with him Above Right: The first of many Ta-Da photos Above Right Inset: Our bus driver from Mesquite Bus Company, Dennis Swan - a true gentleman Right: Mariah May, Kylee Treece, Meagan Staats, Deborah May, Katie Staats Below: Donny takes a few moments with Jourdan and Davyn Ramirez The families were selected by TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), and Got Your Back (founded by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Andy Baldwin, M.D., aka the star of the ABC show, “The Bachelor: An Officer and a Gentleman”). The women, who refer to themselves as the “widows,” are bound by a single moment that changed the course of each of their lives forever. They are strong. They are courageous. They are focused on tending to their families and the responsibilities they were left to manage by themselves. They would have given anything to have NOT been on the list of families eligible for the invitation to Project Gratitude.

But they were. And I had the privilege to be in their presence and experience their undying commitment to their country, their families, and the memory of their husbands.

And so, if only for a brief moment, a generous group of partners came together to lay down the red, white, and blue carpet, and offer up a five-star experience to honor these women.

Day 1 The ladies arrived in Las Vegas for the Miss America pageant (MAO), compliments of American Airlines. They were greeted by a luxury 55-passenger bus boasting a richly painted American flag along its side, donated by the Mesquite Bus Company. After checking in to their celebrity-themed rooms, which were donated by the host hotel, Planet Hollowood, the group was swept away to the Donny and Marie Show. As guests of the stars, not only did the ladies and their daughters enjoy an amazing performance, but the celebrities recognized the families and paid tribute to each loved one who had made the ultimate sacrifice. Backstage Donny spent a generous amount of time with the girls, and even performed a few moves from his Dancing With Stars experience. woman

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Above Left: Future Miss America’s Above Right: Jasmine Reed, FOX News Gretchen Carlson, Darla & Jessica Reed Left Center: Sarah & Lisa Moehling Center: Lunch compliments of the Capital Grille Lower Center: Mariah May, Kathleen Gagg, & Deborah May Bottom Left: Girls gone shopping thanks to Macy’s Gift Cards Bottom Right: Tweens with Tude!

Jasmine and Jessica Reed, Sarah Hawkes

Day 2 At 8am Fox News taped interviews with these women for a segment that would later air on the network. Hosted by Gretchen Carlson of Fox and Friends, the interviews were moving as wives shared their reflections about their husbands.

By 10am the group was whisked away to Macy’s at the Fashion Show Mall, where the entire staff gave them a red-carpet welcome. With a spread of bubbling cider and pastries, the mothers enjoyed make-overs by Macy’s professionals, while the girls made their own Miss America sashes.

A shopping-palooza ensued, compliments of Macy’s Gift Cards, and the girls bought everything from much-needed shoes and clothing to new dresses for the pageant. The group dined on the Las Vegas strip, savoring an exquisite lunch hosted by the Capital Grille. The day wrapped up with gift bags loaded with items for each mother and daughter specifically selected by Macy’s staff members.

The night held in store an unexpected surprise for the families as guests of the Miss America pageant’s fundraising black-tie dinner. The MAO staff provided a formal presentation to recognize the soldier of each family with a photo montage. The recognition was followed by honoring all 22 mothers and daughters as Honorary Miss America’s, receiving the official Miss America pin.

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MARCH thru APRIL 2010

Above Left: Caroline & Julia Finken teach Miss Virgina the TaDa pose (priceless photo - Miss Virginia became Miss America!)

Above Right: 2004 Miss America, Erika Dunlap, Sharrell Shaw Center Left: Maria, McKayla, & Theadora Wiener Center: Keeping a step ahead Bottom: Former Miss America’s present Lisa Moehling with her official Miss America pin

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Day 3 Another early day was in store as the bus chauffeured the ladies off to yet another day of pure indulgence. Hosted by FINO, an upscale grooming salon owned by Alejandro Hormechea, and coordinated by Premiere hair stylists Andeen Rose-Clark and Zhane Richer (also personal hair stylist for Celine Dion), the women were all given nothing less than the celebrity treatment. From artistry hair styles, make-up, manicures, and massages to the tantalizing luncheon, compliments of Brio Tuscan Grille, the mothers and daughters were renewed from head to toe by Las Vegas’ finest.

From FINO it was back to the hotel for a quick change, then off to the Planet Hollywood Theater for the live broadcast of the Miss America Pageant. With a backstage tour and VIP seating, the pageant delivered all of the highlights and excitement that epitomize the glamour and history of Miss America.

The night concluded up with everyone gathering in my room for ice cream while Sharlene expressed her gratitude to the ladies for sharing this experience with us. Hugs, tears, laughter, and phone numbers were exchanged as the group planned to return home the following day.

With the memories of an amazing experience, Project Gratitude will never bring back what these families lost. But collectively, these women are the vision of courage, the epitome of compassion, and the symbol of why American’s can live within the land of the free!

Above Left: Zhane Richer preps Amy Hansen for the big night Above Center: Andeen Rose-Clark designs Hollywood style hair for Katie Staats Above Right: The girls teach the men of FINO how to “Ta-Da” Center: The Gibbons and Finken families have shared many moments together including this one. Back: Kelly Gibbons, Jackie Finken. Front: Emily and Lauren Gibbons, Julia, Emilie, and Caroline Finken Bottom Left: The beautiful ladies at the Miss America Pageant Bottom Right: Darci Hansen with Jessica, Darla and Jasmine Reed

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MARCH thru APRIL 2010