Rebecca’s Rooms will present the third annual Free to Be Me pageant Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m. at the New Hope Middle School Auditorium in Columbus.
The fundraiser will support the nonprofit organization’s ongoing mission to customize living space for children with special needs. Reid Carter of Caledonia began Rebecca’s Rooms to honor the memory of his daughter, Rebecca, who had a chromosome abnormality called Trisomy 13. Because of Rebecca’s multiple disabilities and medical problems, her parents knew well how important it is for a child with special needs to have a room unique to needs and personality. Volunteers carry out remodel projects and work with families to address other needs that child or family may have.
Rebecca’s Rooms board member and fundraising chair Denene Thomason said, “We are so excited about our third annual Free to Be Me pageant fundraiser. We have to thank New Hope Middle School for allowing us to use their auditorium for this event. We’re also excited to have Tanner Fant as our guest.”
Tanner Fant, Mississippi’s 2015 Distinguished Young Woman, is the daughter of Robin and Dana Fant of Starkville. The Starkville Academy senior has won numerous dance awards including Outstanding Senior Dancer 2013, Miss Dance 2014 and Dancer of the Year 2014. At the Academy of Competitive and Performing Arts, where she has danced since age 3, she created a class called “Let’s All Dance,” a program that gives special needs children the opportunity to dance.
At Free to Be Me
Thomason noted that each Free to Be Me participant will receive a crown. An overall “grand supreme crown” and other category awards will be given as well.
“We love how everyones comes together to make it possible to reach as many special needs children and adults as we can,” Thomason said. Registration is $40, or $45 on the morning of the event. Participation is open to children ages birth to 18 years. Registration is requested by March 16 to ensure participants’ names are included in the program. Registration fees are tax-deductible. Entry forms may be printed out at rebeccasrooms.com, or call Thomason, 662-549-4286. Event admission for the public March 21 is $5; children under 2 attend free.
The organization is also seeking partners called Rebecca’s RoomMates. These donors contribute $1,500 toward the cost of a specific room renovation. For more information about becoming a RoomMate, contact Thomason at 662-549-4286 or Carter at 662-251-0627.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.