"Miss America Fundraisers a Huge Success"

(East Greenwich, Rhode Island)

A fundraiser to help Miss Rhode Island 2015 Alexandra Curtis travel to the Miss America Pageant was a huge success. The last of three send-off parties was held Wednesday night at Shimmer Salon and Day Spa, on Main Street in East Greenwich.

From the three events, thousands of dollars were raised to help defray the expenses involved in competing in a national pageant. Several young ladies joined in a fashion show, modeling jewelry from Frills and Kilim East, along with clothing from Therapy Boutique.

Alexandra performed her pageant talent as Ursula from “The Little Mermaid,” singing “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Also performing were Miss Rhode Island 2013 Jessica Marfeo and Abby White, a prominent local performer from several musicals at Cole Middle School in East Greenwich. Jessica sang, “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and Abby performed “Part of Your World,” from ”The Little Mermaid.”

“I am so grateful to everyone who came out for my events. I promise to represent Rhode Island proudly in Atlantic City,” said Allie Curtis. The finals for Miss America will be broadcast live from New Jersey Sunday September 13, on the ABC-TV network.

The Shimmer party also featured great food and drink with donations from Twisted Pizza and Thorpe’s Wine and Spirits, to name a few. Among the grand prize raffle drawings was a photo shoot from Soozie Sundlun’s EG Photo in East Greenwich; personal training at Fabulous Fitness in North Kingstown; and, a golf outing at Quidnessett Country Club. DJ services were provided by JAMS Productions LLC, which also donated a free two-hour DJ and photo booth party as the grand prize! Other in-kind prize donations came from Shimmer Salon and Day Spa, the French Bulldog in East Greenwich, and Salon de LaSalle in Providence. Shimmer is the official hair and make-up sponsor of the Miss Rhode Island Scholarship Pageant Organization. Miss RI is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit.

Aside from the event at Shimmer, previous fundraisers were held earlier in August at Boneheads Wing Bar in West Warwick, and Hanley’s Ale House in Downtown Providence.

If you missed the parties, but would still like to contribute there is a Go Fund Me page set up to do that. Just click: http://www.gofundme.com/AllieForAmerica

Alexandra was also joined by four former Miss Rhode Island winners. From left to right in the photo they are Marilyn Cocozza Trillo (1967); Jessica Marfeo (2013); Allie Curtis (2015); Kelsey Fournier (2012); and, Allison Rogers (2006).

Photos courtesy: Julie Huddon