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Role Model DEBUT ISSUE | FEB 2019
MAGAZINE
3~Queens for a Cause 5~Flood Relief 10~ Positive Role Model 12~Civic Involvement & Academic Achievement 14~Birthday Project 16~Helping Hands 18~All4Paws 20~New Orleans Children’s Hospital Project 22~Serving with Style (NYFW) 26~Shepherd’s Table 28~Christmas for Kids 30~Community Service Log 31~Honors & Awards 32~Positive Pageantry Award 34~Pageant Appeaances
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FROM THE EDITOR Hello, my name is Giavanna Lyerly. I’m 11 years old and I have a heart for serving others. I believe that we are all the author or our own story. I love helping people and that is why created my platform, Queens for a Cause four years ago when floods hit my hometown.
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Being queen is a wonderful feeling but nothing feels as good as serving others. Sometimes being queen requires you to take off the crown, wear your tennis shoes and get sweaty. To me this is the very best part and what I enjoy the most. Every now and then people look at my life and see all of the highlights. But really I’m just a little girl who wants to make the world a better place. From now until I become an FBI agent and the President of the United States.
Giavanna
Publishier: Queens for a Cause Editor: Giavanna Lyerly Assistant Editors: Kelly Raby Lyerly, Suli Reyes, Alycesaundra Lyerly Design and Layout: Brenda Jameson | Artistic Pageant Servcies | PAGEANTADS ABSOLUTELYKELLYR@YAHOO.COM Page 3
Giavanna Lyerly QUEENS FOR A CAUSE
In 2015, Hurricane Matthew hit Giavanna’s hometown. As a result she founded her non-profit organization, Queens for a Cause, and has since participated in thousands of hours of community service. The activities detailed on the following pages all stem from her desire to serve others and is doing so through Queens for a Cause.
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Where the Platform began, helping out when flooding hit Giavanna’s hometown.
Giavanna and her twin sister Alycesaundra visiting the caring and sharing pantry.
Giavanna and fellow sister Queens visiting the Hope Arbor Nursing Home.
Visiting Ronald McDonald House, to help serve Christmas Eve dinner.
Visiting the Hope Arbor Nursing Home and singing for the elderly.
Chatting with the staff and residents of Hope Arbor Nursing Home.
Visiting the Shepard’s Table, a local community kitchen to donate food items.
Collecting flip flops, for kids in Africa, as part of their 11th birthday special project.
GIfts collected and wrapped, as part of Christmas For Kids project. Page 5
Giavanna Lyerly FLOOD RELIEF In 2015, the 1,000 Year Storm hit South Carolina. Floods devasted Giavanna’s home town and she wanted to help. She spent 115 hours collecting flood relief items to make flood buckets, then delivered them to everyone in her community. In response to this disaster, she formed her non-profit organization Queens for a Cause and has since logged over 800 hours serving victims of flooding in the United States (Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey.) In 2016, when Hurricane Matthew hit Texas/South Carolina, Giavanna and Queens for a Cause, spent 373 hours, collecting supplies from friends, family, businesses and churches over an eight week period, then picked up large donations in other states to fill the 18 wheeler load that they delivered to The Salvation Army in Houston. They delivered nearly $90,000 in food, toiletries and hygiene items, household essentials, flood relief items, gift cards, baby needs, Benadryl, ibuprofen, bandaids, towels, cots and air mattresses, blankets, sheets, clothing, gloves and work boots. During this flood, Gia and Queens for a Cause also worked within their neighboring South Carolina towns to distribute supplies that were needed there. This project stretched over a 3-month period. In mid August of 2017 Hurricane Harvey hit Louisiana. Giavanna and Queens for a Cause spent 248 hours working to schedule, collect, sort, deliver and distribute these items to Page 6
victims. They worked with The United Way, The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, numerous churches and spent six days and two separate trips delivering 18 wheeler loads of supplies 14 hours one way. Gia and her family walked door-to-door delivering supplies to anyone who needed assistance.
During this same time in 2017, Gia’s hometown was again in the path of a major hurricane. When Hurricane Irma hit, parts of her town were flooded for weeks and they had to wait for the water to recede to actually begin collection efforts. During the week or so they spent trapped at home they organized relief efforts. Once they could travel, collection, clean up and distribution began. Gia logged 198 service hours, working with The Red Cross, and the Salvation Army as well as several churches and businesses organizing, collecting and distributing supplies.
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Giavanna Lyerly FLOOD RELIEF
My favorite community service project, is when we went to Louisiana to help with the flooding. I met a man named Fred, who’s house had been flooded to the tippy top. We gave him all sorts of flood supplies to help, but when I gave him a gift card he started to cry. It was then that I realized I was truly making a difference in people’s lives ~ Giavanna Page 8
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To whom it may concern, I am writing to you on behalf of Giavanna Lyerly. I have had the pleasure of being affiliated with Giavanna over the past three years in the areas of pageantry, fashion, and community service. There are so many wonderful things I could tell you about Giavanna, but I will start by saying that she’s simply a joy. Giavanna is a rare individual who is happy and smiling everyday of her life. Our community is a better place because of her contagious smile, positive attitude, and humble nature. Giavanna is role model for children in her own classroom, as well as younger children in her school. She excels academically and maintains her studies throughout the entire school year while participating in many fashion, service related, and modeling events across the country. She works hard in the classroom to give her best every day. Giavanna thrives on learning new things and pushes herself to grow. She celebrates the successes of others and is happy to step up to any task given to her. Another commendable aspect of Giavanna’s life is her community service. She is constantly giving or doing for other people or groups in her area and throughout the nation. I truly believe that doing for others makes Giavanna happy. I love for her to tell me about things she’s doing because I can see a sparkle in her eyes that confirms that she’s in her element. Giavanna has a heart for other people, and it shines through in her everyday life and efforts. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Giavanna is kind and is a good friend to other children. She watches for others who may appear to be left out of a group and invites them to join her group. She talks to those who may not have anyone else to talk to. She provides a listening ear to friends who may be struggling and gets help for friends when their problem may be too big for them to handle alone. That’s a big task for a young person, but Giavanna loves her peers and wants them to feel included, wanted, and safe. I feel blessed that I was able to know Giavanna. She’s such a role model and positive force in our community. I am looking forward to watching her grow and blossom even more in the coming years. Respectfully, Penny Cook Isenhour 704-791-3597 7300 Empire Drive Mount Pleasant, NC 28124 June 12, 2018 Page 10
Giavanna Lyerly
POSITIVE SCHOOL ROLE MODEL JOHNSONVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
Giavanna proudly displays the Humanitirian Award given to her by Child Model Magazine. Page 11
Giavanna Lyerly VISITS LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVANTS
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Giavanna Lyerly CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SHEPARDS TABLE 2018~ Food Drive to Stock Pantry (15 hours) RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE ATLANTA 2018~ Christmas Eve Dinner for 50 (13 hours) CARING AND SHARING 2019~ Walker and Wheelchair collection (10 hours ) HOPE ARBOR OF LORIS 2019~ singing and supply drive (7 hours) JOHNSONVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT~ Firefighter appreciation cupcake and snack delivery 2016-2017-2018 (3 hours) JOHNSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT~Officer Appreciation delivered snacks and sodas2016-2017-2018 (3 hours) LAKE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT~ 2016-2017-2018 ~Firefighter Appreciation Day Cupcakes (3 hours) HEMINGWAY POLICE DEPARTMENT~ 2016-2017-2018~Officer Appreciation Delivered Cupcakes and cookies (3 hours) JOHNSONVILLE FIRE & RESCUE~ SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN APPRECIATION~Delivered cookies and milk ( 3 hours) ALL 4 PAWS ANIMAL RESCUE~Pet Food Drive (35 hours) I worked on this project for about 2 months and collected and delivered 7500 pounds of Dog food and Cat food as well as pet supplies. HELPING HANDS JUNE 15,2018~Myrtle Beach Sc (15 Hours) Collected and delivered 364 pounds of food items to stock the pantry. ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT Honor Roll Student Kindergarten to Present Beta Club 4th and 5th Grade
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Giavanna Lyerly A BIRTHDAY GIRL WHOSE GIFT IS GIVING
Rather than asking for presents for their birthday, Giavanna and her Twin sister dedicate their birthday's to giving back and helping those in need. This year they assisted thier good friend Madeline, in collecting shoe's that she would be delivering to a school in Africa as part of her platform. Giavanna was beyond excited to be able to help the children get the new shoes they needed.
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Giavanna Lyerly LENDING A “HELPING HAND” WITH HELPING HANDS
HELPING HAND of MYRTLE BEACH, INC. P. O. Box 2886 Mr. Joe White Ave. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29578 Phone: 843-448-8451 Fax: 843-448-8452 www.HelpingHandofMyrtleBeach.com
June 15, 2018 Kelly Lyerly Dear Queens for a Cause, Please accept our sincere thanks for your donation of 364 pounds of assorted items donated in the month of June 2018. Your donations really make a difference for those in our community seeking assistance with food during it times of crisis. During 2017, Helping Hand served over 26,622 clients and their families. This year we have served over 10,260 households, so we know the need in our community continues to be ongoing. As you may know, Helping Hand is a crisis intervention agency whose purpose is to help those in need with food, transportation, referral, medication, rent utilities, and other individualized services. Although the services and the number of clients have expanded in the last 45 years since Helping Hand’s inception, the focus has remained the same – assisting people in crisis in the Myrtle Beach area. We are a non-profit organization that receives funding from ten area churches, United Way of Horry County, foundations, groups, businesses, and individuals. It is through donations that Helping Hand is able to continue to provide services to the less fortunate in our community. Again, thank you so much for your support and interest in Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach; we couldn’t do what we do if we didn’t have the wonderful support of our community! For current information on our agency please visit our Facebook page. Sincerely,
Louise White Pantry Coordinator
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Delivering food along with FELLOW SISTER QUEENS, to community kitchen in Myrtle Beach.
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Giavanna Lyerly GIA IS “ALL 4 PAWS”
An Avid animal lover, Giavanna's service work doesn't just stop at people. She is constantly visiting ALL4PAWS, A no-kill Animal Shelter, to assist with the animals and has delivered thousands of pounds of food, and supplies. all4pawssc.org Page 18
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Giavanna Lyerly DRESSING NEW ORLEANS
Step 1 - Collect and Box
Step 2 - Package Dress Collection for New Orleans Pediatric Children's hospital fashion show. The girls collected 112 dress donations and sent them out to the children to wear during the fashion show.
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Step 3 - Ship
www.chnola.org
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Giavanna Lyerly SERVING WITH STYLE
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For Giavanna Lyerly, New York Fashion Week is about so much more than walking the runway; It’s a chance to reach out and serve those who have fallen on hard times. While in New York she spent a day with fellow models, delivering blessing bags and supplies to the homeless.
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Giavanna Lyerly SERVING WITH STYLE
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Giavanna Lyerly SHEPHERD’S TABLE
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Giavanna Lyerly CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS
Giavanna and Queens for a Cause colleted and distributed Christmas gifts to children in her hometown who were affected by two years of flooding. She hosted a photo contest to raise money and was able to shop and purchase Christmas gifts for 30 children. Page 28
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Giavanna Lyerly COMMUNITY SERVICE LOG Flood Relief Collection and Distribution for Hurricane Harvey~Louisiana (248 hours) This project took weeks to schedule, sort, deliver and distribute these items. We worked with The United Way,The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, numerous churches and spent 6 days and two separate trips delivering 18 wheeler loads of supplies 14 hours one way. I walked door to door with my family delivering supplies to anyone who needed assistance. Flood Relief Collection and Distribution for Hurricane Irma 2017~South Carolina (198 Hours) This project was made more difficult because parts of our town flooded for weeks and we had to wait for the water to recede enough to begin collection. For the week or so that we were trapped at home we organized relief efforts. Once we could travel, collection, clean up and distribution began. We worked with The Red Cross, and the Salvation Army as well as several churches and businesses collecting supplies. Flood Relief Collection for Hurricane Matthew ~Texas/South Carolina (373 Hours) We collected supplies from friends, family, businesses and churches for about 8 weeks and picked up large donations in other states to fill the 18-wheeler load that we delivered to The Salvation Army in Houston. We delivered nearly $90,000 in Food, toiletries and hygiene items, house hold essentials, flood relief items, gift cards, baby needs, Benadryl, ibuprofen, bandaids, towels, cots and air mattresses, blankets, sheets, clothing, gloves and work boots. We also worked within our neighboring towns to distribute supplies that were needed here. All together we spent about 3 months on this one project. Flood Relief Collection and Distribution for 1000 Year Storm, October 2015~South Carolina (115 Hours) This was when I created my platform. Floods devastated my hometown and I wanted to help others. I started by collecting flood relief items to make flood buckets. Then we delivered them to everyone in our community. That was the beginning of, Queens for a Cause. Online Photo Contest to Raise money for Children’s Miracle Network (14 hours) Lasted two weeks and we raised $2500 Hosted a St Jude Benefit Beauty Pageant (78 Hours) - raised $8000 for St Jude Hosted a School Supply Drive for my school (16 Hours) - raised over 20,000 school supplies Online Photo Contest for Tornado Relief raised $1000 (2 Hours) Christmas for Kids~ collecting and distributing Christmas gifts to the children in our area affected by two years of flooding. I hosted a photo contest to raise money and was able to shop and purchase Christmas gifts for 30 children in my hometown. 2015-2017 (40 Hours) Christmas Stockings for Lake City Manor Nursing Home~ my friends and I purchased Christmas stockings and filled them with goodies for the residents at a local nursing home (10 hours)_ Flip Flop and Tennis Shoe Drive~Africa (12 hours) Project for Giavanna’s 11th Birthday. She and her twin sister ask for new and gently used shoes that were delivered by another Queens for a Cause Ambassador to a village in Africa. Dress Donations for Camp Chemo~ Lake City, Sc (25 hours) collected and personally donated over 200 dresses top Camp Chemo for a Prom children and siblings of children who are fighting Cancer. Dress and Crown Donations for New Orleans Children’s Hospital for a Fashion show with the children in the hospital~Louisiana (12 Hours) New York City Rescue Mission 2015-2016-2017~cold weather collection (98 Hours) we collected cold Weather items such as Socks, Blankets, Coats, Hot Hands, Long Johns, Undergarments, Long sleeved shirts, and delivered to the Mission. 100 Blessing Bags for New York City Streets/Ali Forney Center 2016-2017~collected and packaged 100 Blessing bags to deliver during my time at NYFW (14 Hours) Page 30
Giavanna Lyerly HONORS & AWARDS
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Giavanna Lyerly POSITIVE PAGEANTRY AWARD for MOST IMPACTFUL PERSONAL PLATFORM
Hundreds of nominees - and I was honored to receive this award. It was particularly special because, through my service work, I have been able to help people who have become my friends.
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Giavanna Lyerly PAGEANT APPEARANCES
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