Contact: Charlene Williams
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Re: Interview/Story Opportunities

This is a story that has it all . . . tragedy, family devotion, community spirit, empowered beautiful women, celebrity heroes, internet buzz, economic impact and a potentially happy ending.

Synopsis
A young boy tragically died in 2004. His devoted family started a local charity in his honor (HAVLife) to help "at risk" children pursue their dreams. A local lawyer and friend has taken up their cause to raise money to develop a national network of HAVLife chapters. Using the internet he creates an overnight sensation to stir up interest in a new beauty pageant that taps into the American Spirit and requires the contestants to raise money for charity (this year HAVLife) as a judged category, potentially raising a million dollars to help HAVLife fulfill its dream of going national. All of this is being done in a fairly remote area of the country in order to give an economic boost to the local community around the holidays. The buzz has hit other areas of the country and women are flocking to the pageant. Celebrities have offered to be judges and performers. Mario Lopez has agreed to host. And all of this has been done since August 5th, 2010, with the inaugural pageant scheduled for December 2-4.

Please call to schedule a telephonic or in person interview. It is a heartwarming story and all media attention helps generate momentum for a great charitable effort.

More information can be found online at: www.AmericanSpiritPageants.com, www.HAVLife.org, www.VLaw.com, www.VanDerGinstHolidayBash.com, and on Facebook under American Spirit Pageants, American Spirit Pageant with the VanDerGinst Holiday Bash, VanDerGinst Law and Dennis VanDerGinst

Details
Hunter Aaron Vondran, age 13, died on August 20, 2004, after a tragic accident at a water park. Hunter was a unique soul. He was a very positive young man who had an ability to attract friends from all groups. Hunter had a saying, "Life is short. Have fun." How prophetic. No one could have imagined that this young man, so full of life, would leave us at such a young age. Thirteen years is not enough. But, he filled those years with LIFE. Hunter had a lot of opportunities to experience life and the things that he enjoyed most about life, like music and athletics. Things that a lot of "at risk" children never have a chance to experience. It is therefore fitting that HAVLife was established in loving memory of this beloved son, brother and friend, who profoundly touched the lives of so many people during his short stay with us.

The HAVLife Foundation raises funds that are used to help prevent the "Lost Potential" of our youth. A lot of children never have the opportunity to explore what could become lifelong passions in areas such as music or athletics due to financial or living conditions. HAVLife strives to give as many children as possible a chance to HAV fun because as Hunter said, and unfortunately illustrated, "Life is short".

For the past few years HAVLife has successfully helped enrich the lives of countless children through a regional Youth Scholarship and Enrichment Fund. Seeing the good it had done locally HAVLife wished to expand its charitable mission across the country. But that would take a lot of time, money and energy... resources that were beyond the scope of a "start up" charity.

Dennis VanDerGinst was the attorney for the family when the tragedy struck, and became a close personal friend in the years since. His law firm, VanDerGinst Law, is very community and charity minded. In 2009 the firm hosted a holiday benefit party which raised tens of thousands of dollars for HAVLife. It was a wonderful start, but still not enough to begin a national network for HAVLife. Thus, immediately after last year's benefit VanDerGinst and a group of about seventy local business and community leaders began planning the next year's benefit, with hopes of raising between $60,000 and $100,000. A lot of good could be done with such an amount. But, it still would not dent the national landscape.

VanDerGinst's law firm was adept at social and viral networking online. In the process of maintaining their Facebook page, VanDerGinst realized that several hundred of their "friends" were pageant contestants. Understanding the determination and compassion of women in the pageant world, VanDerGinst had the firm begin inquiring as to the level of interest that might exist for a pageant where a JUDGED CATEGORY would include fundraising for HAVLife. The response was overwhelming.

Encouraged by the response VanDerGinst quickly formed and organized "American Spirit Pageants". The idea was to build a pageant system that helped young women learn more about themselves and others, make new friends, build self confidence, gain greater social awareness, empower themselves and give back to the community. The essence of the American Spirit Pageant is the AMERICAN SPIRIT. VanDerGinst and the numerous volunteers that make up American Spirit Pageants believe that innate in the American Spirit is the desire to help one another. As a society we succeed economically, militarily and politically because of our competitive nature. But, we LEAD because of our willingness to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. The TRUE American Spirit embodies character, conviction, courage, compassion and charity.

The goal of the pageant is to teach the contestants that they are not in it to compete with each other, but to compete with themselves, in order to become the best version of themselves that they can.

For all of those reasons physical beauty is not the only thing judged in American Spirit Pageants. Equally important is a contestant's character. Character is evaluated in the pre-screening process and in the interview portion of the pageant. Consideration is given to what a contestant does away from the Pageant as much as how they comport themselves at the Pageant.

To illustrate character and compassion the contestants are judged on their ability to raise funds for charity, specifically for HAVLife this year. It accounts for 10% of the contestants' total scores. To obtain the minimum amount of points in this category a Contestant must raise $250. Contestants will gain full credit under this category if she raises a total of $3500 in a manner compliant with the rules. Of course, American Spirit Pageants and HAVLife would be more than happy to accept more. But, there will be no extra credit awarded towards a Contestant's total score beyond that $3500.

Some Contestant's have the connections to raise a lot of money with very little effort. They should be applauded for any effort to raise money for worthy causes. However, American Spirit Pageant Contestants should not be judged on their "connections" but on their desire to help and their ability to do what it takes to accomplish that goal. Therefore, a Contestant or their family members may contribute no more than $1000 towards the $3500 total, and the total amount raised must come from at least five different sources, thus ensuring that the Contestants actually participate in an overt effort to help a worthy cause.

The inaugural pageant is scheduled for December 2-4th, 2010 in Bettendorf and Davenport, IA. The finals of the event will be held in conjunction with the VanDerGinst Holiday Bash to Benefit HAVLife. It will be a national pageant, with representatives from all 50 states and Washington D.C. for four different divisions: Teen Miss (ages 13-17) Miss (ages 18-25) Ms. (unmarried with children 18-25, or with or without children over 25 and unmarried) and Mrs. (married for at least one year). Thus, if all slots are filled there will be 204 total contestants. If each contestant were to raise the entire $3500 which represents full credit in the fundraising category that would mean over $700,000 to HAVLife. If the pageant can successfully secure large sponsors it may mean a million dollars for HAVLife. The amount, and the manner in which it may be raised, would allow HAVLife to fulfill the dream of expanding its' mission nationally. All funds raised by contestants will be earmarked to establish a HAVLife chapters in the communities from which the money is raised.

Even though the Quad Cities (including Bettendorf and Davenport, IA) is not the most glamorous destination nor the easiest place to get to from all parts of the country, VanDerGinst decided to hold the inaugural event there in order to take advantage of the momentum that his Holiday Bash had already generated, and in order to help give the depressed economy in the area a boost around the holidays.

All the more impressive is that American Spirit Pageants was not in existence until August 5th, 2010. In that time the pageant has secured Mario Lopez as the host for the Finals and the VanDerGinst Holiday Bash. It has received over one hundred applicants. It has secured the guidance and help of Mrs. Iowa USA, Christine Streets and former Mrs. Iowa, Amy Keppler, as well as a huge number of other current and former pageant queens and local volunteers. Miss Universe from 1995, Chelsi Smith has also come on board, as well as a number of celebrity judges.

Even though a lot has been accomplished in a short period of time there is still much to do. There are still a number of slots that need to be filled in order to have a full slate of contestants. That means more effort needs to be expended at getting the word out nationally. Additionally, national sponsors need to be secured to help offset costs and to increase the profits so HAVLife can accomplish its' mission. Therefore, any media attention would be appreciated and all of the persons affiliated with this project are willing to make themselves available for interviews.

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