A Letter From the 2010 Miss Marigold Jordan Davis

Dear Friend,

Last fall I had one of the best experiences of my life when I entered and then won Pekin’s Miss Marigold Pageant. It was the first time I had entered a pageant and from the first contestant meeting on, I have had the opportunity to meet new people and experience new things I never imagined.

One of those opportunities that have now come my way is the chance to compete at this summer’s Miss Illinois Scholarship Association Pageant as Miss Pekin. The pageant will be held June 28- July 2 in Marion, IL.

The ISA is part of the Miss America organization and awards thousands of dollars in scholarship money each year. The pageant follows the same structure as the Miss America system and I will be competing in Interview, Talent, Swimsuit, and Evening Gown competitions. Although it has been several years now since Pekin sent a representative to the Miss Illinois pageant, we do have a strong history of success (including three former Miss Illinois Queens!) and I am so excited to get our community involved once again.

As I mentioned before, the Miss Illinois pageant is a scholarship pageant and as such, I will be competing for scholarship money to help me further my education. I have been accepted to the University of Illinois and will be headed there next fall to study Biology. The pageant also emphasizes the importance of community service and philanthropy by requiring contestants to raise money in support of the Children’s Miracle Network.

In light of that and other expenses I will accrue in order to attend and compete in the nearly week-long competition this summer, I am asking for your support and a donation to help cover those expenses. The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Marigold Festival Committee has generously supported me already by paying for my pageant entrance fee, but I will still have approximately $2500 in expenses for meals, hotel accommodations for my local pageant director/escort, my wardrobe, and the mandatory CMN donation of at least $300.

I have established a separate checking account at Herget Bank and pledge that any money I raise above what is needed for my minimum expenses will be put toward the CMN donation. Please understand that all the money I raise will be used for Miss Illinois expenses or donated to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Additionally, I am eagerly looking for opportunities to play the piano for audiences as a means of practicing for the talent competition. If you know of any such opportunities, please contact me or Shannon Tebben-Sandoval (at 347-2408.)

 I hope you will give careful consideration to my request. I appreciate any support you can give me and I look forward to representing our community well and making Pekin proud this summer!

Sincerely,

Jordan Davis

Miss Marigold/Miss Pekin 2010

Donations may be made payable to “Miss Illinois Fund-raiser” and sent to any Herget Bank location or to Jordan Davis at 1814 Valencia, Pekin, IL, 61554.

Thank You!