Miss Teen Tess

2009-12-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

Update: We are having a Tess's Teddys Tea Party at the Wolfson's Rehabilitation Center in mid December, and I will be distributing bears. Will keep you posted on the date and time!
Thanks again to everyone for making this dream a reality for these very special children. XO Tess

Tess's Teddys project in full swing, a growing success, thanks to you!

2009-10-11T17:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who has donated thus far to Tess's Teddys project. We have raised close to $2000 dollars towards the project to date, and will continue the fund raising towards our goal of $5000. I have negotiated a great deal with Build-A-Bear, with the cost of a beautiful, new, girl or boy bear in the box for just $6.50 a bear! Please send the link to everyone you know and let's keep the giving going. The gift is tax deductible through the non-profit center- wegive.org. Please click the link/purple button in the upper left hand corner to learn more about the project and its progress!

XO Tess

Kirstin Crews' story and the Wolfson 55 fundraiser

2009-10-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

Beautiful princess Kirstin's personal health story is to be featured in the upcoming Red Wagon magazine for Wolfson Children's Hospital, and she is one of the 55 featured children featured in the upcoming "55" Wolfson anniversary walkathon. Both Kirstin and her family have had to face and overcome so many heart surgeries, with more to come, but she remains such a positive, happy and brave spirit. Her sweet soul is an inspiration to me. Here is the link to the "55" Wolfson anniversary walkathon event coming up in January where you can read more about Kirstin and the other 54 children being featured: http://www.wolfson55.org/

Ruth Sidbury's 80th birthday party!

2009-09-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

The executive director of the Miss Jacksonville pageant- Miss Ruth Sidbury- celebrated her 80 years young birthday party in-style at her home in September. That woman has more energy than people 1/3 her age! Go Ruth and happy birthday!

Miss Florida Outstanding Teen was such an awesome experience!

2009-07-15T09:17:00.000-07:00

In early July, I competed in the Miss Florida Outstanding Teen competition. The competitors were fabulous and I made friends for life ( I love you Stephanie)! I was honored to be chosen as a top 5 finalist. Thank you to all the judges for their faith in me, and to the Miss Florida Pageant committee for putting on such a great weekend!

Interviewing with Good Morning Jacksonville tomorrow on Channel 12/NBC

2009-06-19T15:26:00.001-07:00

If you catch Good Morning Jacksonville tomorrow morning on Channel 12/NBC, I am being interviewed and will be promoting the Miss Jacksonville Outstanding Teen program & sharing my experience with the Catch a Rising Star competition last year. Thank you to the Jacksonville Harmony Chorus for all their support.

Have a great weekend! :)

Princess Kristin named as one of 55 featured children for Wolfson's Children's Hospital 55th Anniversary Fund-Raiser/Celebration

2009-06-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Princess Kristin, a former Wolfson's Children's Hospital patient and heart surgery graduate, has just been named one of 55 children being featured as a part of the 55th anniversary fund-raiser for Wolfson's Children's Hospital in January 2010. Please congratulate Kirstin! She is as sweet as she is beautiful !! :)

Landing Fundraiser for Tess's Teddys postponed.

2009-06-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

The Most Beautiful Baby contest scheduled for June 20th had to be postponed. Will let you know once the date is re-set. In the meantime, thanks to all who have given towards Tess's Teddys. Just click the "WeGive.org" in the left hand column to give. Spread the word!! XO Tess

Baby Pageant Fundraiser for TESS'S TEDDYS is coming June 20th at the Landing!

2009-06-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

Get ready for some FUN! Our "Jacksonville's Most Beautiful Baby" competition is fast approaching at the Landing June 20th. The winners in the 3 age categories each get a great cash prize, and ride in the Gator Bowl Parade 2009! All proceeds go to charity- Tess's Teddys and Tess's Chosen Angels (supporting the Loving Adoption Alternative to an Unwanted Pregnancy). There will be entertainment from Douglas Anderson School students.

Who’s Jacksonville’s Most Beautiful Baby?
All Proceeds Go To Charity!

Girls
0 – 11 months
12 – 23 months
2 – 3 years

Boys
0 – 11 months
12 – 23 months
2 – 3 years

JUNE 20, 2009 !!!
$100 Cash to Overall Winner
$50 Cash to Division Winners
5ft. Trophy to Overall Winner

DEADLINE: JUNE 13, 2009 Limited Entries

SPONSORED BY: TESS’S CHOSEN ANGELS
PRESENTED BY: TESS GRANFIELD & HER PRINCESSES

Confirmation sent after receipt of entry.

Be an "angel" donate a new teddy bear to Wolfson's Children’s Hospital!! http://www.wegive.org/look/project.asp?wgpID=1214

Jacksonville Jazz Festival Program 2009!

2009-05-30T12:02:00.000-07:00

It rained buckets, but the Jazz Festival was incredible!

2009-05-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

It rained cats and dogs! The start was delayed 1.5 hours, but we had a blast despite the incredible downpour. Thank you so much to all my friends, family, jazz lover attendees, and Megan O'Kelley, Miss River City (pictured during the thick of the rain), for coming and rooting me on. My long dress was soaked and sloshed on my legs, but I didn't care one bit... this was the chance of a lifetime, and I loved every minute- downpour and all!! Singing my heart out on that stage was such a privilege. To all those who attended, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival/ City of Jacksonville, and Mayor Peyton (who believed in me), thank you all so much for the incredible opportunity and experience. It was truly an honor to perform and represent our great city! Go Jacksonville!! You are the best, Mayor Peyton!

All that Jazzzzzz....

2009-05-11T14:57:00.000-07:00

The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is fast approaching! Josh Bowlus, my accompanist, is so awesome! That man can play the ivories. We work well together and our gig at the Breeze Stage on May 24th will be cool. Looking forward to seeing you all there! We will pass-the-hat for Tess's Teddys.

Special thanks to the City of Jacksonville & Mayor Peyton for this opportunity, and the Douglas Anderson Vocal Department for their support.

Speaking Out about Adoption

2009-04-22T19:04:00.000-07:00

I met with a group of 20 prospective adoptive parents at Plan To Adopt. Donna Wheeler, their adoption director is awesome! Loved sharing my personal story... Two adoption attorneys in the audience have asked me to speak to their clients- pregnant moms considering adoption, as well as potential adoptive parents! Donna Wheeler is putting me in touch with P.A.C.E. to speak with at-risk teens...

The network is growing, which is fantastic!

In my case of open adoption, when parents' personal fears & concerns were put aside for the betterment of the child, everyone won (birthparents, adoptive parents and the child- me). I am very lucky.

First Visit to Wolfson's Children's Hospital, April 2009

2009-04-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

What a privilege to visit with the sick children at Wolfson's. They loved all of the hand-made cards... Next visit- Teddys for all of those amazing children! Those kids are truly inspirational.

Proclamation and Visit with Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, March 2009

2009-03-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Meeting with Mayor Peyton was such an honor. It was a great opportunity to discuss my adoption platform, and Tess's Teddys program. I want to encourage students throughout Jacksonville to donate a bear for adoption to the children of Wolfson's Hospital. I am hopeful this will be a project for perpetuity!

A bear to bring love and comfort to children in need...

Talent: All That Jazz... "All of Me"

2009-02-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

I love JAZZ!

Winning the Title, Miss Jacksonville Outstanding Teen 2009

2009-02-09T16:51:00.000-08:00

February 7, 2009

The night I won the title! Anything is possible...

Now, on to promoting my platform - The Loving Adoption Option...!!