Miss Heather Renee French

Miss America , Heather French , visited the Drop Inn Center this Fall during Stand Down which offers desperatelty needed services to homeless veterans , such as medical care , legal services , housing referrals , and seasonal clothing.Since her father is a disabled Vietnam Veteran , Miss America is especially concerned about homeless veterans ( about one-third of the total number of homeless ).Miss French volunteered at the Drop Inn center when she was a student at the University of Cincinnati.She has discussed homelessness with Tipper Gore , prominent politicians , and the many people Miss French has reached in her public appearances. ( She travels 20 , 000 miles each month in her speaking engagements! ) Heather has a research team that keeps her informed about homelessness.Miss French has stood apart from other winners of the Miss America pageant because she has chosen a politically volatile issue.Most people seem to want the homeless to be out of sight , out of mind.When people are continually told they are outcasts , they begin to believe it themselves and give up.Since Jesus had a different view of the value of each human person , Advent can be a season in which Jesus and His values can come more fully into our lives.The truth is that none of us can make it alone.We all have a circle of friends , family , church , and fellow workers.Not many of us farm our own food , make our own clothes , build our own homes.We only need to reflect for about five minutes to realize we are all interconnected and interdependent.

As we enter a new year , Pope John Paul II has called a Great Jubilee by having good relationships with God , our neighbor , and the earth.

The winner of this year's Miss America Pageant, Heather Renee French, visited the Drop Inn Center October 28th to draw attention to the plight of homeless veterans.Miss America's visit was perfectly timed, for she came during the Homeless Stand Down, an annual event conducted by the Veteran's administration in cooperation with the Homeless Coalition and the Drop Inn Center.The Stand Down is intended to offer desperately needed services to homeless veterans, such as medical care, haircuts, legal services, housing referrals, and seasonal clothing.

In the days before Miss French came to the Drop Inn, the word traveled by way of mouth that she'd be coming here.We all tried to be enthusiastic, but not too enthusiastic.A few people remembered her, for she had volunteered at the Drop Inn a few years ago as a student at the University of Cincinnati.

Miss French became concerned about the issue of homeless veterans as a child because her father is a disabled Vietnam Veteran.She recounted her memories of waiting with her father at the Veteran's Hospital, surrounded by other veterans, some in poor condition.These experiences, which shaped her family life, left an impression that led her to choose to focus on homelessness when she began competing in beauty pageants.

As Miss Kentucky, Miss French had already advocated for homeless veterans in the Kentucky state legislature.Since September, when she became Miss America, she has used her increased stature to have a greater impact on the public debate about homeless veterans.In addition to discussing the issue with Tipper Gore and other prominent politicians, she has packed vast numbers of public speaking engagements in her single year as Miss America, for she hopes to raise awareness as much as possible in that time.In fact she travels 20,000 miles each month!Miss French, who has a research team that keeps her informed about the issue, offered some of her thoughts about homeless veterans.For, example, she said that she thinks the current government funding is insufficient to address the problems of homeless veterans.She thinks that job training is one solution to the problem, and hopes that attention to homeless vets will help the homeless as a whole.

Many here at the Drop Inn Center hope her visit will help the Drop Inn in its struggle to stay in its home at 12th and Elm.In fact, Miss America said she would sign on her support, and that we should call her if we need her to take action (civil disobedience has not been ruled out).Others offer positive feedback also, saying that they were amazed she would walk the streets of Over the Rhine.Nancy Lester, Co- Chair of the Stand Down, said "she's very impressive, very committed and sincere", noting that she stayed an hour longer than she was scheduled to serve the homeless in Washington Park.

Heather Renee French, Miss Kentucky, became Miss America for the year 2000 on Saturday night.French, a 24-year-old masters student at the University of Cincinnati, also won the swimsuit competition with a white bikini.

Not Heather French
...
The daughter of a disabled Vietnam veteran , French , 25 , of Maysville , Ky. , used the Miss America spotlight to bring attention to people who were suffering in silence.Appearing at homeless shelters , speaking to veterans groups and lobbying for better programs for veterans during her 20 , 000-mile-a-month national speaking tour , French earned rave reviews from people who work in the field year-round.
...
A fashion design student at the University of Cincinnati , French won the crown last year as Miss Kentucky.With it came a $ 40 , 000 scholarship , the rhinestone tiara and a podium from which to promote her favorite subject.It wasn't just a platform for me , French said Sunday , in an interview looking back at her reign.And it wasn't a glamorous platform.

Heather Renee French, new Miss America is a 24-year-old fashion design student and the state's first winner in the pageant's history.

Anyway, the number one grinner on the cover of the Argosy brochure happens to be Heather Renee French, better known as . . . Miss America 2000!Unfortunately, Heather is not too happy about that.Back in 1998, when she posed for the pictures, she was a student at the University of Cincinnati and a freelance model, but since then she's become Miss Kentucky, then Miss America, then the bride of Kentucky's millionaire orthopedic surgeon Lieutenant Governor, then the mother of a little girl christened with the Miss America prep name of Harper Renee.Meanwhile, the Argosy marketing department has splashed her photo all over billboards, print ads, newsletters and websites.
...
Collector's item!) And now they're turning the whole thing to their advantage by sponsoring a "Replace Miss America" Talent Search, asking girls who want to be their next spokesmodel to send a photo, resume and 100-word essay about why they want to replace Heather Renee French.

The truth is, the Argosy doesn't really need Heather Renee French.

Anyway , the No. 1 grinner on the cover of the Argosy brochure happens to be Heather Renee French , better known as ... Miss America 2000.

Unfortunately , Heather is not too happy about that.Back in 1998 , when she posed for the pictures , she was a student at the University of Cincinnati and a freelance model , but since then she's become Miss Kentucky , then Miss America , then the bride of Kentucky's millionaire orthopedic surgeon lieutenant governor , then the mother of a little girl christened with the Miss America prep name of Harper Renee.

Meanwhile , the Argosy marketing department has splashed her photo all over billboards , print ads , newsletters and Web sites.So a few months back the Argosy got a concerned letter from Heather's new husband , Kentucky Lt.Gov.
...
Collector's item! ) And now they're turning the whole thing to their advantage by sponsoring a Replace Miss America Talent Search , asking girls who want to be their next spokesmodel to send a photo , resume and 100-word essay about why they want to replace Heather Renee French.

The truth is the Argosy doesn't really NEED Heather Renee French.Despite being the only casino in Indiana that has no real showroom entertainment , it's the most profitable riverboat in America and on weekends can actually max out at 3 , 600 gamblers , forcing latecomers to wait on shore or drive 13 miles down the Ohio to the Grand Victoria , which is a sleepy Hyatt resort in the little town of Rising Sun , Indiana.

The Argosy is the only Indiana casino that charges admission -- anywhere from $5 to $9 just to get on the boat -- and they STILL max out.

Twenty minutes from downtown Cincinnati , but also the closest casino to Indianapolis and Lexington , the Argosy is all about location.