This photo is from Fandango. To the right of me is Hattie Poole (co-founder of Guadalupe Home), Steve Saldaña (President of Catholic Charities) and Carmen Drury (Drury Hotels). Guadalupe Home would not be what it is today if it were not for these amazing people.

This photo is from the Cystic Fibrosis gala. The second from the left is my friend Harriet. Harriet and I helped volunteer at this event through PRSSA. Ironically, I have supported Cystic Fibrosis in the past with my Miss Latina World title at the Tower Run they have annually. It’s nice to see familiar faces and also help another wonderful cause.

Regardless of whether or not I have a crown on my head, or I’m wearing a sash, I will always be eager to help others. If there is one thing I learned from being a former title holder that I will always treasure, it is learning how much I love non-profit work. Helping those in need, making a difference in the community and starting a legacy of my own are extremely important to me.

This past Saturday was our 10th Annual Fandango Under The Stars fundraiser at Pedrotti’s North Wind Ranch. I am pleased to announce that we had an additional 125 in attendance, making our attendance for the evening at approximately 625!

Both the silent and live auctions were a complete success, the Miss Helotes court graced us with their beautiful faces and assistance yet again, and for the first time in the history of Guadalupe Home we had a video (thanks entirely to the Jim Adler Law Firm) of our new location and mission to share with the entire crowd.

If you missed out on all the fun you can click here to view the video News 4 WOAI took while at Fandango.

http://foxsanantonio.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/vid_8116.shtml

Hope to see all of you tomorrow evening to have a good time, all the while supporting a GREAT cause!

I am pleased to announce that I will be a part of The Salvation Army Women’s Auxillary Fall Fundraiser on November 5th. Doors open at 9:30 am and will be held at the Oak Hills Country Club. Myself along with many other women from the media such as Cassandra Lazenby, Delaine Mathieu, Leslie Foley and Ashley Ancira, just to name a few, will be modeling the fall line from Coldwater Creek.

For more information please contact Dee Mc Glocklin at (210) 828-7711. Hope to see you there and thank you for supporting an amazing charity!

This year my friend Simran Jeet Singh was chosen as 1 of 6 featured runners in the New York City Marathon. As many of you know this marathon is the largest in the world and I couldn’t be more proud that my friend is running in it. One of the six featured runners will receive a VIP pass and all you have to do is vote. Just click the link below, view Simran’s profile, click the thumbs up and you just voted! This would be great for Simran and also for the nation to be introduced to someone like Simran who is Sikh, so please vote!

Click here to vote for Simran.

As of yesterday we have 125 items for our silent auction. We normally have 250 items every year, so we are in need of more items for our fundraiser next month. Gift certificates are always good, as well as religious items and anything that can be used as a Christmas gift. If you or someone you know would be able to help donate a silent auction item please let me know. As always your donation to the silent auction can be used as a tax deduction, so if you need a tax identification number I can provide that if necessary. Below is the official silent auction item request letter if you would like to print one out for your records.

GH Auction Items Request 2011

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance in helping our 10th annual Fandango Under The Stars fundraiser!

It’s that time of year again! This year will be our 10th Annual Fandango Under The Stars fundraiser at Pedrotti’s North Wind Ranch. For those of you who have been in the past you know we always have a crowd of 400-600 in attendance, so please order your tickets now and/or put your name on our list to reserve a seat! Individual tickets are $45 and couples are $80. Corporate tables are also available.

Fandango is a fundraiser for Guadalupe Home, a non-profit program of Catholic Charities, and I am pleased to announce this Fall we will be moving in to our new location and almost doubling in size! With that comes a need for more donations, so please join us for a great time for a wonderful cause!

There is a phrase in Hollywood “bad press is still good press.” I never agreed with it. I still don’t. I’ve always believed that as a woman I should never give someone a reason to talk badly about me. Does that mean it won’t happen? Of course not. I’m not ignonrant. The more accomplished I become the more people will talk about me, both good and bad. It’s just how life works. Not even Mother Theresa can go through life without some haters.

I don’t update my website regularly like I should, but it’s not a priority like it used to be when I had my title. Now my posts are more about the rare appearances or speaking engagements I will make, Guadalupe Home, my personal life, and it has become more of a blog and less of a means to update people about the different things I am doing.

Today I received a threatening/hate filled message through my website. This has never happened before. Some would joke that now I’m relevant. I’m not laughing about it.

During my reign, I joined a campaign called NOH8. It was my decision to do a shoot to show my support for this cause. Was my support controversial? Sure it was, especially since it was my personal decision to do it during my reign. Is it equally controversial considering I am now Chair of a charity that is a program of Catholic Charities. Some would say so, but I don’t believe it is. And I also don’t think any of this is a reason to threaten me.

We all have our own opinions. Mine should not matter any more than the person next to me. I have an opinion and that is all it is. My opinion. You have yours. I’m not here to debate equal rights and I’m not here to debate anyone’s take on The Bible. It’s not worth the time or energy. But I will say this:

I do not regret supporting NOH8. I do not think I’m going to hell for doing so. And anyone who thinks it is perfectly okay to threaten me, say their name is “God” and judge me should really reconsider what they are doing. If I died right now I’d be happy with everything I’ve done in life and the people I have loved and helped. I am a good person. And everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Mine just happens to be I CHOOSE TO LOVE EVERYONE EQUALLY without judgment or prejudice of any kind.

(Picture courtesy of VOS.)

This past weekend I was honored to host an amazing non-profit event. Two wonderful organizations (the Monte Cristo Center and VOS) came together to help children who can use assistance and benefit from the services and items made available to them.

It reminded me just how much I miss emceeing events, such as this one. I met so many great people who are happy to help others, I was able to make new friends, learn and educate myself on different issues in San Antonio, and there is something about being in front of a live audience and on a stage with a mic that I sincerely miss.

I cannot wait to graduate from school now. Once I do that, I know I’ll be able to emcee more events. And I can’t wait to find a job at a television station and get back in front of a camera. I miss the adrenaline rush. And I miss being as active in the community.

Date: July 9, 2011

Time: 10 am to 3 pm

Location: Camargo Park – 5700 Highway 90, San Antonio, TX 78227

At 1:00 the entire city counsel will be in attendance at the event.

VOS in collaboration with the Monte Cristo center will be giving away 1,000 flip flops to at-risk children.

There will be live music, snacks, refreshments, and other activities.

For more information about VOS click here to view their website.