Shandi Finnessey, 2004 Miss USA and 1st Runnerup to 2004 Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins of Australia charmed a sold out crowd, Saturday, February 3 at the Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, IL.
Shandi Finnessey, 2004 Miss USA, charms sold out crowd at 3rd Annual Allison’s Friends of Hope Event.
After the lunch it was on to the Edwardsville Public Library where she was the guest children’s story hour speaker. Shandi read to the group of children the book that she published in 2000 called “The Furrtails”. Shandi talked with the children about the message behind the book, which is inclusion, and she wanted to teach other children about Down syndrome and mental retardation. “When I would talk to people about inclusion of people that are different, it was easy until I got to the younger kids, “ she said. “So I wrote the book more as an educational tool. I never expected to really have it out ‘ion the market.’ Shandi also read “The Rainbow Fish,” by Marcus Pfister, which has a message about acceptance.
After appearing at the library, Shandi was off to the home of Allen and Linda Cassens for some rest and relaxation before the big event that evening.
The evening started with Shandi, Allen and Linda Cassens hosting a Patron’s Cocktail Reception for major donors and contributors to the event this year. Shandi posed for pictures will all the contributors and guests though out the evening. Later in the evening the Silent Auction for this year’s event started where over 70 items were contributed and placed up for auction.
The main event of the evening started with the music performed by Randy Mayfield while guests were being seated at their tables. A welcome to the attendees was given by 1st year keynote speaker Tiffany Cohen, and the invocation was given by Ben Dickmann. Spaced throughout the evening were 15 Oral Auction Items including a Vespa Motor Scooter and a 7 week old Labrador puppy. The emcee for this year’s event was the Honorable Gary Niebur, Mayor of Edwardsville. Guest speakers from Mary Crowley Medical Research Center included: Dr. Joseph Kuhn, David Shanahan and Dr. John Nemunaitis.
Keynote speaker for this year, Shandi Finnessey was introduced by Gary Niebur after working very hard to assist auctioneer Col. Keith Jackson with the Oral Auction items. Shandi even tried her hand a couple of times during the evening auctioning off a couple of items, even wearing Keith’s cowboy hat.
Shandi said that speaking at this year’s fund-raiser is consistent with the efforts of the Miss USA pageant, “I helped to raise more than $30 million for breast cancer research during my year as Miss USA,” she said. Shandi, who current appears on three network television shows, said the year she won Miss USA was a busy one. “I worked 18 hours a day, seven days a week, “she said. “I got Christmas off and the next day I was on a plane to go somewhere.” As the reigning Miss USA, Finnessey attended the presidential inauguration in 2004, and toured with the Wayne Newton and the USO (United Service Organizations). As a bridge between the American public and the military, USO boosts morale by providing entertainment and recreational services. Finnessey’s father is also and ex-marine and a Vietnam veteran. Shandi said that she didn’t know who Newton was when she found out she would tour with him, her mother Linda gave her a quick update, they toured in South Korea during a monsoon storm, and she also toured Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
Finnessey, a St. Louis native, said moving to Los Angeles has definitely “opened doors” for her. “But the traffic is horrible,” she said. “It will take you an hour to get anywhere you are going. But my heart is definitely in the Midwest.” Finnessey said that Donald Trump’s hair is “not that bad,” who owns the Miss USA Pageant, shot a Christmas card with Finnessey, Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe in 2004. “I was bored and looked down at his hair,” she said. “First of all, it looks like maybe he does it on Monday and then doesn’t wash it until the next Monday. Because it was so hair sprayed into place. And there was stuff in it – random things – like a chunk of black plastic, which I thought was part of a pen.”
Shandi has a busy schedule, and hopes to have some exciting career news that she will be able to announce very soon. She mentioned that she will be working every day until the second week of March. A native of Florissant, MO, she said it was nice to come back to her hometown, despite the temperature here…when she left Los Angeles the temperature was in the 70s.
Shandi can currently be seen on GSN, the Network for Games, co-hosting its highest rated game show, “Lingo,” with Chuck Woolery. She also hosts the late-night live game show “Playmania.” She can also be seen co-hosting “The Ultimate Blackjack Tour” on CBS.
Support for Allison’s Friends of Hope foundation serves to help with finding a cure for cancer. This foundation has been established to continue the work of organizations that were very close to Allison. We thank you for your help.
Larry Ingram of the Suburban Journals contributed to this article
    PHOTOS FOR 2007 EVENT
   

Photos for the 2007 event can be viewed and purchased as per following directions.
Go to http://www.dotphotopro.com, Search by photographer Doyle Whitten, Click on the link February 5, 2007
Follow instructions on screen to order
     
Jim Dennis, AFOH Chairperson, Shandi Finnessey-2004 Miss USA, Allen and Linda Cassens greet guests at the 2007 Allison's Friends of Hope event
A full day of activities was enjoyed by Shandi as she was in town for the 3rd annual event. Shandi started the day by meeting with the Board Members and Volunteers of the Allison’s Friends of Hope organization for lunch at the Sunset Hills Grille. Shandi met all the volunteers and posed for pictures with everyone at the luncheon.