Annika Kovar
Creating Generation Healthy
Hi guys, Annika here. I wanted to take a minute to share about a program started in 2015 called Little Sprouts Garden Gang.
Little Sprouts Garden Gang first began as a way to promote my platform, Creating Generation Healthy. I volunteer as an activities director at Great Beginnings Childcare and decided to plant a garden to help teach the children where healthy vegetables and fruits come from, and as an added bonus, the kids were able to eat all the great produce the garden provided. Before I knew it, Little Spouts Garden Gang began to, well...Sprout... other child care homes were reaching out to me, wondering if they could participate too. I am happy to announce that the first summer, Little Sprouts Garden Gang grew from one Garden Gang to five Garden Gangs in three different communities throughout the state. I provided FREE seeds in a variety of different vegetables to the child care homes that joined our Garden Gang, and helped plant the gardens if they needed a hand. The following year, I was able to do some additional fund raising so that I could offer FREE seeds to a larger number of Child Care Homes. I am happy to announce that I reached my goal of increasing the number of Little Sprouts Garden Gangs from 5 to 35, serving 21 communities. In addition to the garden seeds, and program information, whenever possible I hand deliver the seeds and read a book or two to the kids about eating healthy and exercising, and share some fun hand outs or coloring pages that relate to my platform, Creating Generation Healthy. This year I am working to secure donations and sponsors to be able to plant 100 gardens! If you are a Childcare Provider who is wanting to participate in Little Sprouts Garden Gang with your daycare kids, please message me, I will add your name to the list for future garden seed distributions. I am also seeking volunteers who are passionate about eating healthy and would be willing to partner with a child care that participates in this wonderful program. Thanks for helping me plant change, one seed at a time. Working together we can educate and encourage today's youth to eat healthier, and help lower Childhood Obesity. I am planting more than gardens... I am Planting Change, One Seed at a Time!
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So glad I was able to be there for to congratulate and welcome the final members of class of 2018. Miss Great Lakes: Sage Hovet, Miss Granite City: Auroura Eckberg and Miss Heartland: Rachel Eron, Miss Great Lakes OT: Lillie Imm, Miss Granite City OT: Samantha Nash, Miss Heartland OT: Emily Rice
I am so thankful for the many great volunteers and amazing pageant sponsors that are associated with the Coon Rapids Scholarship Program. I sent out personal thank you notes to let them know how much they are appreciated.
As you know, I’m working towards becoming Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. You probably didn’t know that one of the exciting opportunities this organization offers is the chance to raise funds for local children’s hospitals through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The money I raise will help save children’s lives, and a portion will also go to support the MAOTeen Scholarship Fund. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals makes sure that donated funds stay local which means that the donations helps kids and families right here in our community.
To help raise funds, I decided to create a "crush the calendar" promotion for the month of April. the concept is simple, I share the calendar on social media with friends and family and ask that they choose a date on the calendar to be their day to give, and on that date, they donate the dollar amount of that date. So if they Choose the 10th, they donate a minimum of $10 on the 10th. So far I have about half the calendar filled and have raised $260.00, since many individuals chose to pay right away prior to their date in April. I love that so many people are joining me in touching the lives of sick and injured children with a donation that will help millions of kids who are treated at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals each year. Together we will make miracles happen! I love when I am able to combine my passion for service with my passion for music. But to make it even better, I was able to share that experience with other teens and youth in the community. Songs for Seeds Concert was held on March 4th and featured area youth singers, including many of the children from Great Beginnings Childcare. Thank you to all of the singers who volunteered their time and talents to help benefit my platform, Creating Generation Healthy. Being able to get teens and children of every age involved in my platform work fills me with so much joy. And I'm super excited to say that with the donations raised through this event, I am well on my way to meeting the goal of proving free seeds to plant gardens with 100 child care homes in Minnesota. I am planting more than gardens, I am planting change one seed at a time.
What an honor to be part of this years Walk to Cure Juvenile Arthritis, one of the largest arthritis gatherings in the world. This year the Class of 2018 Miss and Teen titleholders came together to support Brenna Drevlow. Brenna is the younger sister of Miss Minnesota 2017, Brianna Drevlow. This year each titleholder was encouraged to create their own link to promote the walk, and raise funds and awareness about this painful disease. Our efforts along with the Drevlow Family as Brenna's Brigade was recognized for being one of the top teams, and by the start of the walk had raised $11,409. Thanks Brenna for your courage, you are an inspiration to so many!
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Annika Kovar
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