Miss Arizona USA sings to kids at FEM
Kaitlyn Humphrey and Ella Hansen, also known as Miss Arizona USA and Miss Arizona Teen USA, respectively, visited SVdP’s Dream Center to sing and read to the children in the program.
Both Kaitlyn and Ella read to the kids in the Dream Center’s library. Kaitlyn also brought her guitar to serenade the kids, while Ella brought some books highlighting the benefits of nutritious eating.
Kaitlyn wanted to bring her musical talents to the Dream Center because of her passion for music and believes it's a powerful way to connect with individuals and build community.
“It doesn't matter if I'm sad, angry, mad, or going through something, there's always a song for that… so, even just giving them 5-10 minutes of respite from whatever is going on in their lives, giving them something positive to focus on, and hopefully smile about, is what I hope to leave,” she said.
Her repertoire spans a variety of genres, including songs inspired by Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, and other crowd-pleasers.
Ella has an initiative called Nourish and Flourish, which seeks to educate children about nutrition, and is why she brought several books about healthy, balanced eating.
“I started struggling with nutrition myself when I was around third grade, and I wish I knew more about nutrition when I was that age, and that it was really important to fuel my body and take care of myself instead of criticize myself,” she said. “Hopefully tonight we spread a message of taking care of our body and loving yourself.”
Many of the kids in the Dream Center were excited to have Miss Arizona USA and Miss Arizona Teen USA visit them. Yereni, who read with Kaitlyn, especially enjoyed the experience.
“Miss Arizona was really nice,” Yereni said. “It was cool because I got to meet a new person.”
Yereni said meeting role models like Kaitlyn and Ella inspired her and made her want to help other children her age. That’s exactly what Ella hoped the kids would take away from the visit.
“I hope that they feel inspired, loved, and valued, and that they learn something,” Ella said.
