The coronavirus pandemic hit small businesses especially hard. In the early weeks, consumers buoyed small businesses with gift card purchases and online fundraising campaigns. But as COVID-19 persisted and restrictions constrained operating hours, many independent businesses continued to struggle.
Through partnerships with the Miss Five Hills Scholarship Program, more than 100 local businesses are seeing increased foot traffic as contestants and winners are now using their gift cards to visit local stores while family members in attendance make purchases, boosting both income and an increasing customer base.
âI was excited to visit a couple new places I hadnât been to before and see all that they had to offer. No Limit Custom Print made our wonderful pageant t-shirts that we will wear to many events throughout the year, along with our garment bags, and contestant gift bags. I learned about the many things they offer and highly suggest you give them a visit,â Copperas
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Preteen Miss Five Hills Dorianna Gilbert knew if she won one of the crowns at the 8th Annual Miss Five Hills Scholarship Pageant on March 27, she would tie another titleholder for having been selected by a panel of judges to wear the crown the third time, the most in the pageantâs history.
âI entered this pageant for a fourth time because I felt like it was time to get back out there again,â Gilbert said. âIâm much older now and I wanted to show everyone that I can go higher and compete with the older girls that I looked up to. I made a promise to myself that I would compete in 2021 because in 2020, I was busy filming for a television show and couldnât dedicate my time to the pageant that year.â
Five-year-old Maddox Tobias gives two thumbs up as he shows his enthusiasm for different volunteer projects he is working on for the community. The reigning Miniature Mister Five Hills never meets a stranger â he is always smiling, waving and saying âhelloâ to everyone he encounters.
Maddox embraces opportunities to try new things, with the exception of vegetables. He began playing soccer at age 3 and began training in taekwondo and mixed martial arts before the age of 4. Maddox is enrolled in early literacy classes. He will begin kindergarten this fall at Clements/Parsons Elementary. Maddox loves to be outdoors, camping, jet skiing, swimming, fishing and hiking.
The pandemic didn’t bring everything to a halt in 2020. The Miss Five Hills Scholarship Program continued its work in the community although it has not been the year envisioned