Miss Seminole County Teen USA Raises $7,000.00 for Tsunami Victims

Reprint from Tampa Tribune January 3, 2005

TAMPA - They could have canvassed neighborhoods asking for donations or just written a check. Instead, innovation took hold, and charitable Tampa Bay area men and women found quirky ways to raise money for the tsunami relief effort. Shy and reserved people became low-level scalpers. A beauty queen raised money in a casino lobby. A motor home sales manager started a special promotion for his $300,000 Tsunami model. It's not attention they crave, they said, but a way for people to enjoy donating to what has become a world cause.

Take native Sri Lankans Yasobha Ratnasekera and Chandika Wijesundara. They didn't know anything about scalping, yet they were given two Outback Bowl tickets with a combined value of more than $100 as a donation.

On New Year's Day, they stood outside Raymond James Stadium collecting money and handing out more than 1,000 fliers about the international relief effort. They sold the tickets at a remarkable markdown - $10 apiece - and collected $390 in donations. ``We thought it might not work,'' said Ratnasekera, 26, of Tampa. ``I've never solicited for anything, but it's not the time to be embarrassed. ... It was successful, actually.''

But that wasn't the end. On Saturday, Ratnasekera and Wijesundara held a garage sale in New Tampa that raised $1,000. People donated quilts, grills, glassware and ornaments for the sale. The money from both ventures will be sent to a Buddhist Vihara temple in Sri Lanka.

Miss Seminole Teen USA fared a bit better in collections. Wearing a pink dress, sash and tiara, Savannah Stephens, 17, collected an estimated $7,000 in the lobby of the Seminole Hard Rock Casino on New Year's Eve. The money was to go to the American Red Cross. ``Some people walking in didn't realize what the donations were for,'' Stephens said. ``When I told them it was for the tsunami, some people were taking out $20 dollar bills.''

Great job Savannah!

Kudos & Did You Knows

Kudos to our very own Miss Florida Teen USA 2005 Victoria Ratliff on her performance on the national anthem at the nationally televised Liberty Bowl in Memphis new year's eve. What great exposure as Victoria pursues a career as a vocalist.

Did you know former Miss Florida USA 1979 Penny Sheridan Flaherty is the acknowledged boat lady of Brevard County? While in Melbourne this past week we caught up with the owner of www.IslandBoatLines.com and Tel-Air’s first Miss Florida USA. Look for Mrs. Sheridan-Flaherty to be the first to be profiled in a new series called “Catching Up With….” And that launches Thursday February 3^rd only at YOUR Miss Florida USA Magazine.

Penny Sheridan Flaherty then...

... and now

This Weekend on The Pageant Calendar:

We are about to start 2005 with over twenty preliminary pageants left! Sunday kicks off the second half of the preliminary season as it the third annual Miss Polk County USA Pageant. Moved to Orlando due to hurricane damage it all takes place at The Embassy Suites International Drive. Look for pictures and results on Monday and notes from the pageant on Friday!

Alumni News Wanted!

If you know of any Miss Florida USA alumni in the news please drop us an email to feature them in future articles. Email all info to info@missfloridausa.com! Until next week here to good pageantry!