FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JANUARY 4, 2018 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
Howard Beach woman’s drive delivers over 300 toys to local kids
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Hundreds of local kids’ holiday seasons
were made merrier through the dedication
of one Howard Beach woman.
Brianna Ferranti, 24, created the “Acts
of Kindness” toy drive in November and
wrapped up her eff orts on Dec. 18. Th e
Queens native was overwhelmed by the
response: aft er getting the word out to
local businesses and on social media,
over 300 toys were sent her way for kids
of all ages.
Ferranti got to work, packing the gift s
into 16 large plastic bags to be brought to
two separate locations.
On Dec. 20, Ferranti and a friend
headed to the Cohen Children’s Medical
Center in New Hyde Park to drop off the
gift s, which hospital staff later distributed
to the kids.
In the days following, Ferranti received
a thank-you note from the center,
expressing how much the patients at the
hospital valued the presents. Th e toys
will also be used as part of the hospital’s
Child Life and Creative Arts Th erapy
Program, which helps decrease fear thorough
uplift ing play experiences, the letter
said.
“It meant so much to me. You realize
there are people going through this
struggle every day,” Ferranti said. “It
kind of makes you realize it’s not about
the materialistic things and you realize
what the holidays are all about: putting a
smile on these kids’ faces.”
On Dec. 22, Ferranti dropped off the
rest of the presents to St. Mary’s Hospital
for Children in Bayside, accompanied
by a friend and fellow Howard Beach
resident who had a younger sister who
unfortunately passed away from a childhood
disease.
At the hospital, the pair were able to
get a tour of the whole facility and later
spent time with 20 of the children there.
Th e group talked about the holiday season
and exchanged hugs, Ferranti said.
One of the children there even asked
her to get up and dance with her at the
cheerful celebration.
For Ferranti, the holiday drive is only
the beginning of her outreach eff orts.
Th e Howard Beach resident has begun
planning an event to take place during
the Easter season, which will serve to
benefi t more local families in need. She
is also in the process of getting in touch
with local homeless shelters to see how
she can organize future eff orts to help
out the displaced families there in any
way.
“I can’t stress the fact enough that the
experience has changed me,” she said.
“It’s only gonna get bigger and better
from here. I’m gonna change more
lives.”
Follow Ferranti’s eff orts on Facebook.
An offi cial “Acts of Kindness” Facebook
page and Instagram are forthcoming.
Whitestone woman begins journey to become next Miss United States
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
Queens will be well represented at an
upcoming pageant where a Whitestone
woman will proudly vie for the crown.
Katherine McQuade, who was recently
awarded the title of Miss Queens United
States, will go on to compete for the New
York state title in March. With that, she
begins the road to attaining the title of
Miss United States.
Th e Miss United States Pageant celebrates
intelligent women from all walks
of life and is the largest pageant system
for girls and women aged 8 and older in
all 50 states, the District of Columbia and
fi ve U.S. territories.
McQuade, a lifelong Whitestone resident,
has been involved in pageantry
since she was about 10 years old,
when she snagged a title at the National
American Miss on her fi rst attempt.
“Once that crown was put on my head,
I was hooked,” McQuade remembered.
At 16, McQuade won the title of Miss
New York Junior Teen during the 2012
National American Miss statewide competition.
In 2015, she bested 29 other
competitors at USA National Miss in
Walt Disney World.
Most recently, she was crowned the
2016-17 National American Miss aft er
representing New York state in the competition
in Hollywood, CA.
Th e accomplished 21-year-old is a
senior at Marymount Manhattan College,
where she is studying communications
arts and photography. She teaches at
Landrum School of Performing Arts in
Whitestone, where she was a student for
16 years, and models for bridal, prom and
pageant gown designer, ASHLEYlauren.
McQuade is also an ambassador
to the Lustgarten Foundation for
Pancreatic Cancer Research and founder
of “Promoting Hope: Potholders for
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness” in honor
of her late grandmother, Genevieve
Bonura. Th rough her organization, she
has raised $5,000 for cancer research.
Th e Whitestone resident will be competing
with dozens of other young women
in the upcoming Miss New York United
States Pageant.
“I’m so excited. I really do love this
organization,” McQuade said. “I love
what they stand for … Th e title gives
women a voice. And if I win, I can use
that crown and banner as a microphone.”
McQuade said all of her experiences
have taught her two important lessons:
how to win and lose graciously and face
life’s challenges with pride.
She encourages other local girls and
young women thinking about getting
involved in pageantry to take the chance.
“Whitestone and Queens has shaped
me into who I am today,” she said. “Never
give up, embrace every moment of it, and
always work hard, because hard work
pays off .”
Th e Miss New York United States
Pageant will take place on March 3-4, followed
by the national contest in Orlando,
FL, this summer.
Photo courtesy of Katherine McQuade
Photos courtesy of Brianna Ferranti
Ferranti (left) and a friend deliver toys to Cohen Children’s Medical Center
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