Live Out Loud Charity

“Love the Skin You’re In” Pajama Party

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:06:04 +0000

Miguel Juarez Middle School and the “Live Out Loud Charity” Team Up to Host, “Love the Skin You’re In” Pajama Party
The lives of over forty teen-aged girls were transformed Friday night when they attended a unique pajama party at their middle school. The “Love the Skin You’re In” Pajama Party, the dream creation of fourteen-year-old Ms. Christina Gimondo, Ms. American Elegance Teen 2012 and Official Spokesperson of the “Live Out Loud Charity”, is aimed at building self-confidence to reduce the effects of teenage bullying and depression.
Ms. Gimondo along with Ms. Sherrie Gearheart, Miss Southern Illinois, founder of the “Live Out Loud Charity”, and editor of Tiara Magazine, were joined by five other beauty pageant queens (Ms. Dawn Cook, Ms. American Elegance Lifetime; Ms. Lauren Ransom, Ms. American Elegance Woman; Ms. Kaitlin Maconowicz, Ms. Lindenhurst; and Ms. Brittany Gallarneau, Ms. NISP Supreme Star), as well as more than thirty-five volunteer staff members of the Miguel Juarez Middle School for an evening of shared stories, workshops on self-esteem, team-building, coping-skills, modeling and pageantry. Ms. Gimondo, in cooperation with Ms. Martha Carey, the school’s Social Worker, three of the building’s interns (Ms. Lindsey Landa, Ms. Sheril Phillip, and Ms. JoAnn Jacobs) and members of the counseling staff at Miguel Juarez, created this program to help girls discover their positives, as well as provide an opportunity for them to shine among their peers.
Another component of Ms. Gimondo’s event included a workshop for parents, conducted by Ms. Gearheart and Ms. Carey, which provided valuable information about local resources, as well as basic coping-tools for supporting their daughters as they enter the often difficult teenage years.
The self-esteem workshop included the crowning of each participant; along with an opportunity to walk a professional runway where each student presented a personal introduction that allowed them to publically shared their aspirations and recognize their attributes. The entire event was captured by professional photographer, Derek Tokarzewski, for a future edition of the internationally known Tiara Magazine. The program concluded with dancing to the sound of DJ Mike Mazur of Fun Times DJ.
Ms. Gimondo procured the $2000 sponsorship necessary for funding this project from Steven’s Restaurant of Gurnee, Favelli Decorating of Highland Park, Fun Times DJ of Gurnee, M. G. Painting Company of Libertyville, and Mr. Armando Martinez of Waukegan.
Requests have already been submitted to hold this event at other schools, as well as offers made to provide future sponsorship.

Hugs from Children in Southern Illinois

admin — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:12:57 +0000

Hugs from Children in Southern Illinois

It is amazing how a simple hug can impact a child and an adult alike. During Sherrie Gearheart’s school tour in Southern Illinois she was well received after speaking to the students. Below you will see photos of children hugging Sherrie while they explained how they were impacted by her speech which was geared around letting go of fear, how to follow your dreams, anti-bullying techniques, and raising self esteem exercises. A hug says a million words in this one simple gesture. A hug is filled with love, acceptance, care, and gratitude. Remember to hug one another.

It has been proven that hugs help reduce stress. According to a recent study, hugging increases oxytocin levels, which is a ‘bonding’ hormone—this chemical reaction can help to reduce blood pressure, which in turn reduces the risk of heart disease, but it can also help to reduce stress and anxiety. Hugging is a healthy way to show kindness while increasing quality of life.

Be kind. Be compassionate. Share a hug. You deserve it.
For more information email info@liveoutloudcharity.org

Southern Illinois School Tour

admin — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 01:11:39 +0000

Sherrie Gearheart, Miss Southern Illinois 2013 and the founder of Live Out Loud Charity, spent an entire week in Southern Illinois serving the town of Marion, IL as well as surrounding communities. She spoke with students on raising self esteem, finding a cause they believe, how to make their dreams come true, and the importance of education. She also performed for different schools with the operatic piece, Danza Danza Fancuilla Gentile, the piece she sung when she won Miss Southern Illinois 2013. Although Sherrie is from up North, around the Chicagoland area, she made a promise that if she won the title of Miss Southern Illinois that she would service the people of Southern Illinois. In Illinois, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among youth ages 5-14. This rate is alarming and devastating. Live Out Loud Charity has several programs set in place to help our students prosper as our future leaders, teachers, and lawmakers. Sherrie has also served around the entire state but has made a point to travel the 7 hours downstate to impact children living in rural areas. Below are photos from her final school day visit where she went to three different schools. You may also read the other posts to learn specifically what Sherrie spoke about as the founder of Live Out Loud Charity. To learn more you may email info@liveoutloudcharity.org

Mall of Asia, Smiling Faces

admin — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 19:08:44 +0000

After walking through Mall of Asia I later visited the Freelance Writers Guild.
Pageantry has a purpose. For example, the leading scholarship provider among young women is in fact the largest nationally televised pageant in the USA called the Miss America Organization. However, try telling that to an average American. In the USA pageants have a bad rap due to the on-soar of Toddlers and Tiaras and the latest Honey Boo Boo outrage. Behind the glitz & glamour of fake tans and sparkly dresses, and the horrifying attitudes of parents portrayed by media, pageantry happens to be so much more. As with any industry, there is the good, the bad, and the ugly, including politics that exist. In this case, media has had a fiesta portraying such negative aspects of the industry while the rest of the pageantry gurus and veterans sit back horrified that they are being misrepresented. Truth is there are different aspects to pageantry. There are natural pageants based on inner beauty, scholastic achievements, community service, and more. Then there are glitz pageants based on young children wearing making an average twenty year old would wear while parading around in an on average $2, 000 evening gown per area of competition. It’s no wonder, when you mention the word “pageant” in the USA, why the average American crinkles their nose, squints their eyes, and stares at you in dissatisfaction. Although glitz pageants make up about 10% of the entire world of pageantry, the media makes it appear otherwise. Due to the power of television, this pseudo reality has left the other 90% of beauty queens, feeling a bit distressed as they have to face the world and explain how Honey Boo Boo does not represent what they are about. Here is why: 10% of the pageant industry is made up of glitz pageants as explained above. If you are still unsure of what that means, simply watch an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras. The other 90% of pageants have areas of competition based on community service involvement, interview, evening gown presentation, and speech to name a few. When you break down these areas of competition you soon realize the purpose is geared around applauding young girls and women that take an active role in their community to make this world a better place. You also realize the main goal is for young girls and women to better themselves, overcome their fears, learn interpersonal skills that will help them succeed in life, and to gain confidence so they can believe in themselves. When traveling overseas, I could not believe how well accepted I was an as American Beauty Queen. The Filipino people were such a happy and proud culture that readily accepted a queen with a warm smile. In the Philippines, pageants are celebrated across the country. They support their Miss Philippines every year as she gets ready to compete at the Miss Universe pageant. The country rallies around by making sure that nearly the entire Philippines is tuning in to watch her, to cheer her on, and to say they are proud of her. They understand the hours of hard work and preparation these girls go through to be where they are and how they overcame the hardships life threw at them while never giving up or looking back. Above are photos taken when visiting Mall of Asia where I was greeted by strangers with a sense of awe, childlike wonder, and gratitude. It was an amazing feeling and one I will always remember. The number one thing I took back with me from my humanitarian trip to the Philippines is a sense of warmth and a smile. When speaking to students here in the USA, I show them the hardships the Filipino people face from lack of funding for education and medicines/vaccines for diseases eradicated here in the USA, to housing that is falling apart, etc… I ask the students…. “What is the one thing the Filipino people still have on their face regardless of how hard or sad things may seem?” And they always answer with this, “A smile” as I turn to the next slide that showcases a smile made from gummy bears. They laugh and promise me they too will smile when they feel down next time. Turn that frown upside down.

In the gallery below you will see my visit to Mall of Asia and my appearance at the Philippine’s Freelance Writers Guild where I was able to discuss my suicide prevention efforts. I hope you enjoy the photos. Although a trip to the mall may seem trivial compared to my trips to the hospitals helping children with cancer, I want you to know that it brought a smile to everyone’s face. That smile is the foundation of a positive attitude, a loving heart, and a sense of happiness. Enjoy your day everyone! And remember to find a cause you believe in and to make a difference in this world. Start and end your day with a smile because you are worth it.

For more information:
Sherrie Gearheart info@liveoutloudcharity.org
Miss America Organization www.missamerica.org

Rochelle, Progeria Disease Cure

admin — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:51:12 +0000

UPDATE: Founder of LOLC and VP of Project Michelangelo Foundation, Sherrie Gearheart, is happy to report major changes in Rochelle’s condition. It is hard to believe that nearly seven months ago Gearheart met Rochelle for the very first time in person. Gearheart’s involvement in Rochelle’s life had been ongoing since 2010 when PMF decided to step in, naming Rochelle as their first Project. PMF helps children & teens with cancers primarily located in the heart of Philippines where resources are scarce and hardship is blatant. Rochelle, standing about 4 feet tall, at the age of 15, has the body of a 98 year old due to her condition, a rare genetic disease called Progeria. Despite her crippling condition she is the breadwinner of her family. Soon after Jojo Sayson, founder and President of PMF, met Rochelle, it was clear to him he needed to start a charity to help this young girl. Since the inception of PMF in 2010, the efforts of volunteers & staff, have granted Rochelle a dream vacation, given medication and medical care that was much needed, and the latest news announces that a cure has been found. PMF is working steadfast to facilitate this life prolonging cure to Rochelle. As an organization PMF is gaining funds and backing to allow Rochelle to the USA so she may be given a cure to steadily prolong her life. Below are photos taken in Bulican City when Sherrie Gearheart met Rochelle in person for the very first time. LOLC will report major changes in this case as they unfold.
For more information:
Sherrie Gearheart info@liveoutloudcharity.org
Project Michelangelo Foundation www.projectmichelangelo.org

Visit to Low Income Hospital

admin — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:39:43 +0000

Ms. Gearheart, the reigning Miss Southern Illinois 2013, gained recognition while walking through the malls in the Philippines with her crown on. She took each opportunity to give hope to those that need us most. After visiting the malls and speaking with young girls on the importance of believing in yourself, she then made her way to a local, low income hospital treating terminally ill children. She walked through the rows of beds greeting children suffering from diseases eradicated in her home country, the United States of America. It saddened Gearheart tremendously. As VP of Project Michelangelo Foundation, the objective of visiting the children was not only to uplift but to also provide coloring books & crayons, food, and supplies.

Children smiled as Mr. Sayson, dressed as superman, made his way to their bed offering one on one attention. Gearheart, Sayson, Veronica Lon, and the PMF staff of volunteers, prayed with each child, offered smiles of hope, and handed out much needed supplies to parents and patients.

For more information:
Sherrie Gearheart info@liveoutloudcharity.org
Project Michelangelo Foundation www.projectmichelangelo.org

LOLC 3rd Annual Show MAJOR Success

admin — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 23:37:20 +0000

Live Out Loud Charity’s 3rd annual suicide prevention show held on November 25th, 2o12 was a major success. The shows coverage included over 11 magazines, suicide prevention bloggers, global news outlets, and more. This year’s show titled, Celebrate Life, brought together 65 Beauty Queens from around the US and world, over 100 models of various sizes & heights, and 500 audience members all for one cause: suicide prevention. An eloquent speech given by LOLC founder, Sherrie Gearheart, taught audience members the signs of suicide to help combat the most preventable cause of death. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among adolescents in Illinois. As Miss Southern Illinois 2013, Ms. Gearheart, will compete for the title of Miss Illinois 2013 next June for a chance to represent her state live on television while vying for the title of Miss America. The winner of Miss Illinois 2013 is awarded over 10thousand dollars in scholarships, countless appearances in schools across the state while promoting worthwhile causes like suicide prevention, driving safety through State Farm, and Children’s Miracle Network. At LOLC’s 3rd annual charity fashion show funds were raised for both LOLC and Children’s Miracle Network. The event was well organized and well received by audience members. Live Out Loud Charity is gearing up for their 4th annual suicide prevention charity fashion show. Information is to be released within the next two weeks.

LOLC 3rd annual charity fundraiser

admin — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 02:14:56 +0000

Are you ready for the fashion show of your lifetime? Tiara Magazine is supporting Live Out Loud Charity in their mission of saving lives. Models and titleholders from nationwide are taking a stance by parading down our runway, to stop the most preventable cause of death, suicide. Incredible Media coverage from 11 magazines, top performers, suicide prevention seminar, electric fashions, and bold people…. It can’t get better than this. To learn more about Live Out Loud Charity you may visit www.liveoutloudcharity.org Purchase tickets below. All net proceeds will be given to Live Out Loud Charity. To be involved in our charity show as a volunteer, model, or titleholder, email editor@tiaramag.net Dress code: wear yellow or blue or an accent of yellow or blue.

EVENT DETAILS
November 25, 2012
Event begins 4pm
Doors open at 3:30pm

EVENT LOCATION
Doors open at 3:30pm
Medinah Shriners Banquets
550 North Shriners Drive
Addison, IL 60101-1444
(630) 889-1400

PURCHASE TICKETS at www.tiaramag.net/fashion-show/

Educational Future, Taguig City

admin — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:22:15 +0000

Mayor, Lani Cayetano, of Taguig City, Philippines met with Sherrie Gearheart, founder of LOLC, and Jojo Sayson, founder of PMF to discuss the importance of education. Before Lani Cayetano became mayor of Taguig, the educational system was struggling making Taguig one of the lowest ranking school districts in the Philippines. Upon becoming the mayor. Lani quickly took hold of a failing educational system and turned it around for the students making their rank in the top 10 best schools in the Philippines.

Mayor Lani’s main focus is the Cyber lab project being built in each school within her district. This lab teaches students how to become computer programers, graphic artists, and technologically savvy citizens. The Cyber Lab comes equipped with state of the art, brand new computer equipment coupled with programs that teach students the skill sets necessary to make them workforce ready upon graduation. This program also encourages students to further their education upon graduation thus making each student competitive ready. The strides mayor Lani has made in her three short years as the regions leader is simply astounding. Her work will change the future generation for the better.

Gearheart, made a surprise appearance to the Highschool located in Taguig City. Upon her arrival it was soon realized that Gearheart was the one in for the surprise. The moment she stepped foot on the school grounds, she had over 500 students cheering for her. After her speech, meet & greet with local officials, and the ribbon cutting of the Cyber lab, Gearheart soon found herself being bombarded by students for autographs, handshakes, and photos. Gearheart’s presence at the school was well received.

For more information:
Sherrie Gearheart info@liveoutloudcharity.org

Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary

admin — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 00:20:01 +0000

Sherrie Gearheart, founder of LOLC & the reigning Miss Southern Illinois 2013, visited the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary. The military group had been waiting Ms. Gearheart’s arrival for nearly a year. The excitement rose as Gearheart visited with each military official. Each member of the PCGA 103rd squadron is responsible for natural disaster recovery, helping those in need during a calamity. Gearheart sang for the group and offered an inspirational speech at the end of the meeting. Gearheart was informed by several PCGA members that they will travel to the USA to cheer her on at the Miss America pageant should she win Miss Illinois 2013. They have no doubt she has the heart and mind to win. They believe in her cause of suicide prevention and helping those in need. As Gearheart said to the PCGA members, “…. the world may not know what you do, however, God knows.”

For more information:
Sherrie Gearheart info@liveoutloudcharity.org