Black Tie Ball Benefiting Big Brothers and Big Sisters

I was thrilled to help out for the 2nd year in a row at the Big Brothers and Big Sisters black tie auction and dinner. Having worked with this organization for 2 years as a youth mentor, I know the importance of this program and how the funds raised at this auction will go to benefit the children. In this program, high risk children are placed with either a male (big brother) or a female (big sister). These adults help mentor the child through bi-monthly meetings. We just hang out with each other and get to know more about what is going on in their lives, we also with help out with tough decisions. During my 2 years as a mentor I not only shared my experiences with my little sister, but she at the same time taught me more about myself. I took her to many different places and showed her that she has options in her life. She can choose what she wants, and that people don't have to tell her how her life is going to end up. Many times these kids just want someone to listen to them,and to have a positive role model in their life. During the night I helped during the live auction as a spotter. There were many extravagant vacations being auctioned off. Also many great pieces of art, I was so excited because the last auction was for a 10 piece art work that was commissioned specifically for this event. It was painted by 3 children in the program, and in the end I helped sell the painting for $6,250.00. We were also able to raise $210,000.00 in 10 minutes from some VERY generous donors! I'm glad that I could help raise money for this great cause that is near to my heart.

Jade Monfils at the Greater Lake Houston Heart Walk

This past weekend I traveled to Kingwood, which is right outside of Houston. I participated in the Greater Lake Houston Heart Walk which is put together by the American Heart Association. It started out bright and early at 7:00 with several "walkers" from the medical fields. I presented awards to the teams that raised the most money, and got to meet the emcee Dr. Susan Curling who is running for State Representative of district 127. It was wonderful weather for the walk, and the right before the walk trainers from Gold's Gym came and had everyone stretch out to the "I got a feeling" song from the Black Eyed Peas. Everyone had a smile on their face and was excited to be on the track of being heart healthy and staying fit. It was a good moment.

OneSight Helps Over 3000 Fresh Air Children by Giving the Gift of Eye Screenings

This past summer OneSight partnered with the Fresh Air Fund and helped over 3000 Fresh Air children. Making sure that every child who needed the gift of sight was screened. The Fresh Air Fund is so happy OneSight and their traveling optical clinic are able to help at Fresh Air camps. The Fresh Air Fund is able to partner with Onesight to provide free eye exams and eye wear to the children who need them each year. Here are some startling facts:



-One out of four school children in the U.S. has vision problems, and 86% do not get their vision checked before age 12.

-Many Fresh Air children do not have access to affordable vision care. Glasses break, are too expensive to replace, or are never prescribed in the first place. And often as a result, children's performance in academics, sports and activities suffers.

-For the fifth summer in a row, OneSight offered to bring their traveling optical clinic to all five Fresh Air Fund camp.

-Together with OneSight's Vision Vans, and a team of local doctors and volunteers. OneSight provides free eye exams and eye wear to thousands of children in need each year.

-This summer at Fresh Air camp, OneSight's staff screened 3,295 children and counselors, gave 1,757 eye exams, and made 1,629 pairs of glasses, with 1,458 of them on-site and 171 specially driven in. The team stayed at Camp Hayden-Marks for two camp sessions, to make sure every child who needed the gift of sight was screened.

Thank you so much to OneSight, please visit www.onesight.org for more information.

Miss Texas International at the TEXO Chili Cook Off

TEXO is an association for the construction industry, their vendors and those that support them. They had their 1st (of many) Chili Cook Off at the regional TEXO office. Each company brought can food that was donated to the North Texas Food Bank (6 HUGE boxes were dontated in all). I chose 15 chili judges from the crowd and presented the awards to the top 3 companies for the best chili. Charter Builders won the best chili and the people's choice for best booth theme.

Jade Monfils Celebrates in the Veteran's Day Parade

This Veteran's Day I celebrated and honored the men and women who so gratefully serve our country. We had a parade in downtown Dallas that ran from Reunion Tower down Main Street and ended at Dallas City Hall. There were 150 different groups in the parade which made it a long event (about 2 hours), but an exciting one. There were several military veterans as well as those who are currently serving. Also future recruits, there was over 250 ROTC teens. A BIG "THANK YOU"! to my fabulous driver Glen, and to everyone that has or is fighting for our country, making it what it is, and giving us the greatest gift of all..... FREEDOM!!!!

Building Inner Beauty's Pre-Teen Seminar and Pageant

This weekend I attended another Building Inner Beauty Pageant (www.buildinginnerbeauty.com). This time it was focused on pre-teens (age 11-13), I love working with children from this age group because this is an especially sensitive time where girls and boys start to feel insecure with themselves and can turn to destructive behavior. During our morning I helped the founder Crissy, and Mrs. Texas Galaxy Kayla in teaching the girls about social skills and how to introduce yourself in public and how to start conversations. Later on in the morning I taught the girls how they were going to walk down the "runway" for the pageant. Also skin care experts from Aveda came to talk to the girls about how to take care of their skin for life. After the pageant a limo from Sweet and Sassy came to pick up the girls. They loved it and said that they all felt like a rockstar, like Hannah Montana!