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Saturday, August 4, 2001

Local girl raises more than $1,000 for ill children

By JEAN MORGAN | News-Journal Staff Writer

EDGEWATER — Beauty and determination were melded this summer in the person of 8-year-old Tia McDonald.

She was lovely enough to win honors in a national beauty contest and, at the same time, raised more than $1,000 to aid children who are chronically ill.

With the help of her older brother, Tia spent a month selling tickets to neighbors and businesses for "America's Darling."

It's a non-profit organization that combines a national beauty pageant with contestants who aid children who are seriously or terminally ill.

Dawn McDonald, Tia's mother, is a pediatric nurse who cares for children with grave illnesses and are ventilator-dependent. Tia learned firsthand the plight of the youngsters.

"Sometimes, I go to work with my mom," said the young beauty queen and philanthropist. "I've known most of them since they were babies."

Tia collected $1,029.31 but was beaten out by an 18-year-old girl who topped her by $81. Still, the local girl sold enough tickets to enter the beauty pageant free.

"The winner is an international model from Miami," said Dawn McDonald. "Tia already has a goal of $2,000 for next year."

Her mom was a little hesitant about her daughter participating in the contest, but said, "She sold all the tickets so I had to let her be in it."

The national contest took place at the World Sheraton Resort in Orlando.

"Tia took third place in the talent competition," said her mom. "She sang 'Honey, I'm Home' and also danced. Most of the girls in the pageant are already in movies. When they called Tia's name, we lost it. We couldn't be lieve she had done it with all that competition."

Tia also took second in swimwear. "Winning at nationals is an honor," Dawn McDonald said. "She's ready to do it again next year. I'm not, but she is."

The mom put in a lot of hours preparing Tia for the competition.

"We bought the costumes and then I added feathers and beads for the pageant," Dawn McDonald said. "I still have calluses on my fingers from gluing on beads."

She not only did it once, but had to re-glue all the beads after the dress was washed.

"All the beads came off. We put them back on with washable glue the second time."

Although the glitz and excitement of the pageant was fun, Tia said the best part of the summer was helping the youngsters who are ill.

"I like buying gifts for little kids who are sick," said the young girl who enters third grade at Indian River Elementary Aug. 13.

Through Tia's hard work collecting more than $1,000, one recipient, Cody, 7, of Christmas received a television set, a VCR and four tick ets to Sea World. In addition, he now has 14 country western videos, his favorite music, according to the McDonalds.

"Cody loved the presents," Tia said. "He probably liked his TV best."

Her mom is quite taken with Cody.

"He looks like a miniature John Travolta," Dawn McDonald said of the youngster. "God forgot the lungs but gave him 10 times the brains. He is so perky and talented."

She said Tia raised so much money they used part of it to buy a new crib that will convert to a youth size bed for a little baby in Ormond Beach.

The mother also has a rocking chair to help comfort the 3-year-old who has neurological damage and is the size of a 1-year-old, Dawn McDonald said.

The other recipient, a 7-year-old Deltona girl, now has a TV, VCR and eight Park Hopper passes to Disney.

All of the gifts were possible because people were so generous, Dawn McDonald said.

"Tia got some turndowns but others gave her $16," said her mom. "Some people said no, some gave her pennies and then the next one would give her a $5 or $20 bill."

There's more fun in store in September when 300 youngsters with illnesses will receive real rhinestone crowns at "Give Kids the World" in Orlando. It is sponsored by "America's Darling," too, McDonald said.

As school approaches, Tia will be occupied with her classes, while her mom's fingertips heal from the glue.

HICI Special Report — Women Around the World: Rights and Wrongs

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