Helping Others

Cameo Foundation aids domestic violence shelters

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

When Herme Sherry was named Ms. Senior Arizona in 2004, she was asked what she planned to do during her reigning year.

“I said, ‘I want to help somebody,’” Sherry says. She, in turn, created the Cameo Foundation, the benefi ciary of the Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant. The Cameo Foundation originally raised funds for Alzheimer’s disease nonprofi ts, but Sherry has since changed her focus to domestic violence shelters.

The Cameo Foundation works with A New Leaf’s Faith House Crisis Shelter, a safe haven for women, children, and transgender and nonbinary people escaping domestic violence.

Sherry says now is the time to start talking openly about domestic violence.

“When I grew up, it was a secret,” she says. “You didn’t talk about it. It still is, to a certain degree. Ladies need to know that they do have an option. They don’t have to stay. The children are frozen in fear. And shelters are struggling for funds to keep the doors open.”

Although the Cameo Foundation donations are down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ms. Senior Arizona contestants are off ering help to Faith House. The Cameo Foundation holds fundraisers throughout the year to raise monies for those shelters. Keep tabs on cameofoundation.org for a list of events. The next Ms. Senior Arizona Pageant will be held in March 2023, as the current winner, Patricia Persons, will reign throughout 2022. For more info, call 602-788-9556. Ken and Herme Sherry, Ms. Senior Arizona 2004, run the Cameo Foundation. (Photo special to LLAF)

Live...continued from page 12 am part of the Cameo club and that we want to help those that have been hurt by domestic violence,” Person explains.

The Cameo Foundation showcases performances for nursing homes, veterans’ and children’s hospitals, schools, senior citizen centers, fairs, and other community and charitable organizations.

Person is also gearing up to compete in nationals next year.

The Ms. Senior America pageant, a nonprofi t corporation dedicated to enriching not only “the lives of seniors” but also to encourage them to “tap their energy to enrich the lives of others,” is slated to take place in September in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

“I’m feeling very good,” Person says. “Me winning the title here has built my confi dence, but I’m going against all of the winners. I like to say I’m competing with them because all of the ladies are so nice and friendly.”

Person will continue to work with her coach, Kim Anderson, to fi netune her skills before the big day.

For more information about Ms. Senior Arizona, visit the website at msseniorarizona.com. To learn more about the Cameo Foundation, head over to cameofoundation.org.

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