Red Dress Dash

We are ready for Dash!

It was time to tread in red.  My friend who has been the Miss and Miss Teen Illinois International director, Jennifer, escorted me downtown for Chicago's first, “Red Dress Dash,” for the Go Red Campaign through the American Heart Association.

The catered event was held at Daley Plaza. Everywhere you looked there were women, and even men, in red dresses and tennis shoes. Quite the look! Everyone then raced around the plaza in a 50-yard race to the finish. The winner was given both a trophy and a gift card, which he'll use for a girlfriend's upcoming birthday.

With some of our Red Dress Dashers!

It was great to see some of the familiar faces from the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women. And we enjoyed getting a chance to meet the many staff and students from Mercy Hospital who helped organize this race. Mercy has a great cardiology program and during the year they have many different events to help educate everyone about heart health related issues.

Be the change!

Amy Gregorio 
Your Mrs. International

www.GoRedforWomen.org

Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts Gala is the American Heart Association’s longest running event! The late Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Crump developed the concept in 1964, which began as a community service project within the Tri-Cities area in Tennessee. Today the event has evolved into a prestigious honor and has raised over $2.25 million dollars!

The event commenced with a reception hour, prior to a very nice buffet dinner, a short program was hosted by the beautiful Amy Lynn from News Channel 11 (who happens to be another Minnesota girl!), Whitney Allen-Carr shared some remarks, I was asked to make some comments, along with the daughter of the Crumps. Finally, the “Queen of Hearts” was named and then the music & dancing began. It was a fun evening and the ladies looked fabulous with their handsome escorts!

Queen of Hearts 2013!

Most impressive, these lovely young ladies who competed for the “Queen of Hearts” collectively raised $62,500 for the AHA! Thank you to Whitney, Lauren, and Pam for allowing me to participate in this wonderful tradition.

Hope you enjoy the photos:

Danika and Lauren

The lovely Whitney 

With Pam

With Amy  

Successful fundraising!

Loved his bow tie!

Beautiful young ladies!

Congratulations to all the young ladies who participated and the organizers who continue to carry on the Queen of Hearts!

Sarah Bazey
Mrs. International 2012

Tri-Cities TN Go Red Luncheon!

The Tri-Cities of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport are nestled in a beautiful part of our country.  I want to thank Whitney Allen-Carr and Lauren Ladd for inviting me to speak at the Tri-Cities Go Red for Women Luncheon, which was a very nice event focused on an important message.

Whitney and the Red Dress! 

Addressing the supporters of Go Red

As many of you know, Whitney is the mother of Jurnee Carr – Miss Teen International 2011. She is also a professional working in marketing and public relations for a financial firm, as well as, a dedicated volunteer. This year she was the co-chair of the luncheon and it was sincerely wonderful to spend some quality time with this special lady!

Honored Guests

Lauren Ladd is the Regional Director with the American Heart Association, and she now holds another title in my book, which is “Angel!” My travel into the Tennessee went very wrong when my flight out of Atlanta was cancelled. I was flown in the middle of the night into a small town in North Carolina, and was picked up and delivered to my hotel by Lauren and her fabulous husband Tyler. Thank you again so very much!

Lauren & Tyler Ladd

It was my pleasure to sign autograph cards and pose for photos with the guests. Here are just some of the shots we captured with Tiffany Porter – Director, Tennessee International Pageants, her titleholders, and supporters of the Go Red campaign:

Tennessee International Pageant Family supporting Go Red!

With some very special guests!

A special thank you goes out to Sara Diamond for her lovely introduction. And again, my sincere appreciation to everyone who made me feel so welcome in the wonderful Tri-Cities, Tennessee!

With love and appreciation,

Sarah Bazey
Mrs. International 2012

Osseo Junior High Goes Red!!

I was asked by a dear friend, Laura Ringen to accompany her during our local Junior High “Red Out”. With Laura by my side and our fabulously funny American Heart Association Representative, Shannon, we painted the school red… metaphorically of course.

Laura is a big supporter of Go Red and as the school activities and administrative coordinator, she worked diligently to put together a week of Heart Health for the middle school kids.  “Rock the Beat” T-shirts were sold to almost every student, lollipops were being sold to raise funds, they had a rockin’ DJ playing the hottest tunes in the cafeteria during lunch to get the kids excited about their Heart Health!

I helped sell t-shirts and encouraged students to spin the “wheel of - heart health – fortune” where the students had to answer heart health questions or do exercise to win a prize. These kids really knew their stuff. I was very impressed they knew almost every answer on the wheel!

Laura Ringen’s Osseo cheer squad accompanied us during lunch to help raise awareness and excitement about the “Rock the Beat” program. They were most excited about the American Heart Association Basketball Tournament that was taking place after school. 

I am so thankful Laura invited me to represent Go Red at a school where I grew up.  It makes me proud to know my fellow Osseo students are being well educated about the risks and prevention of heart disease.  And as always, it was an honor to represent the American Heart Association and share my heart story with the Osseo students. 

GO Osseo!

GO Red!!

Krista Wanous

Miss International 2012

Heart on the Hill

Advocacy can be a very important part of supporting a cause, and for the American Heart Association it was my pleasure to join many such supporters at the Minnesota State Capitol for Heart on the Hill! Training occurred in the morning, and the afternoon brought opportunities for constituents to meet with their respective legislators to share the key points of interest benefiting the need for a healthy community.

My first stop was in the Capitol Rotunda where I met with one of favorite heart health advocates, who happened to be one of my Mrs. Minnesota International judges, and he is a State Representative Mr. Nick Zerwas. Before departing the rotunda, I also had a chance to visit with State Representative Dean Urdahl and several citizens touring the building.

A group photo was taken, and then we were off to our individual appointments. State Representative Raymond Dehn was kind enough to give several of us his time and attention. His willingness to support our efforts was appreciated. Interestingly enough, as we piled into the elevator to head toward our next meeting with State Senator Bobby Champion, he walked into the elevator and I promptly introduced myself as a constituent who has voted for him through three elections. Needless to say, we shared an extended meeting and had a very nice exchange of information.

Thank you to everyone involved in making Heart on the Hill a successful day, and a special thanks to those who were willing sit down and listen.

Representative Nick Zerwas

Representative Dean Urdahl

Heart on the Hill Group

Representative Raymond Dehn

Senator Bobby Champion

With sincere appreciation, 

Sarah Bazey
Mrs. International 2012

GO RED Fashion Show, Minnesota Fashion Week

Produced by MNfashion and held in partnership with Carly Aplin of The CW Twin Cities, The Red Dress Collection paired local designers with local celebrity models for a one-of-a-kind runway show at the Graves 601 Hotel.

Guests could also participate in a silent auction featuring packages from MAC makeup, 501FIT, spa packages and more. Each package included an original sketch of one of the red dresses featured in the runway show. 

All proceeds from ticket sales, the silent auction and additional donations will benefit the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women program. 

I have been so anxious for this event to finally arrive! I was ready to hit the runway in my fabulous Samantha Rei Crossland design.  She made me a custom one of a kind dress that was fun, flirty and edgy paired with an adorable fat and beautiful statement jewelry donated Realia Deisgns. Carly Aplin did an outstanding job putting this evening together to benefit Go Red. 

Some very inspiring women were also modeling the fashion show. This young lady’s name is Erin. She is only 7 years old, has already had 4 open heart surgeries as well as many on going procedures through her very young life. It broke my heart to hear her story of survival but also reminded me jus how important the Go Red movement is. I could relate very closely to her story because like I always say, “You are never too young to start caring for your heart.”

Some of my International sisters came to cheer me on! Sarah Bazey, Mrs. International, Carolina Reyes and Becky Ringen, both former Miss Minnesota Internationals. Thanks ladies! Seeing your faces in the audience made all the jitters melt away!

GO RED!!

Xo,

Krista Wanous

Miss International 2012

RedDress Collection Fashion Show!

Who doesn’t love a fashion show! Especially, when the event is highlighting the “Go Red for Women” campaign, shines the spot light on local designers during MN Fashion Week, and the vibe is simply fantastic! The Graves 601 Hotel located in downtown Minneapolis was the host venue and the turnout was not only wonderful in volume, but full of energy.

As Mrs. International, I was asked to model a St. John’s Collection necklace made up of shimmering gold metallic beads and milky white agate in several strands. The piece was classic St. John’s with a timeless style and felt amazing with just the right amount of weight. It was my pleasure to mingle throughout the crowd and promote the raffle of such a lovely necklace for a good cause!

The event was packed with local celebrities and talent including Miss International, Krista Wanous, who was one of the lucky red dress models, and I am certain you will hear more about the experience from her! Congratulations to the American Heart Association, Hostess and Organizer Carly Aplin, and gracious sponsors, as the evening was a huge success!

Amanda, Laura and Becky

Mingling with the guests as the necklace is displayed!

Amelia Santoniello on the runway!

Carly emceeing with the models and designers being cheered!

Photo opportunities after the show

Warm Wishes,

Sarah Bazey
Mrs. International 2012