Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin
One Enchanted Evening – On December 27, Tiaras of Hope (TOH) Founder Dianne Garvis along with several dozen new and proven Tiaras of Hope (TOH) Ambassadors, their families, sponsors and donors celebrated a gala Hollywood red carpet style event with plenty of star-studded extras at the Mission Inn Resort and Club,
The glamorous formal event included chauffeured arrivals to the red carpet with paparazzi, roving skylights, artificial snow, rolling smoke and applause from the welcoming committee for the arrival of all of their ambassadors. The Palm Beach Society Orchestra greeted everyone, while Garvis shared a full performance of holiday, romance and motivating songs. After a celebratory dinner, Garvis shared her Tiaras of Hope story, before a grand coronation ceremony for all of the honored ambassadors.
Launched in Clermont, Tiaras of Hope (TOH) has grown from a local to a national and international ministry. Garvis’ personal endeavor is growing across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Scotland and Brazil.
TOH provides Cinderella moments to children and adults who face great challenges. The outreach program touches upon those with disabilities, hospitalized patients, cancer patients, lonely elderly, PTSD veterans, abused children, battered women, and the grief-stricken, as well as anyone suffering from life-threatening challenges. The crowning of their tiaras has become a symbol of hope for thousands of recipients.
With the TOH partners, they work together to rebuild lives for those challenged by encouraging new hope and spirit while empowering them to believe in themselves and to achieve their dreams. The crowning moments often bring heartfelt smiles and inspired tears of joy!
Founder and Executive Director Dr. Paula Whetro of Building Blocks Ministries, a non-profit organization that builds lives by encouraging others to dream, shared her inspirational message.
With this crowning event, Garvis has now personally presented almost 4000 Tiaras of Hope. She remembers the thrill of inspiration when she was crowned with her first tiaras while representing Florida at national pageants as Miss Montverde, Mrs. Central Florida and the American Dream Pageant, where she was crowned again as Mrs. Elite American Dream.
Ravi Ramchand of Golden Touch Jewelers in Clermont presented Garvis with a surprise first exclusively custom-designed Crowned Jewelry Collection for TOH. Golden Touch will present new silver, gold and diamond pieces for this collection every quarter with matching pendants, earrings, bracelets, broaches and necklaces. This Tiaras of Hope Crown Jewel Collection is available for anyone who wants to own a beautiful piece of jewelry knowing that they are helping support Building Blocks Ministries with a percentage of profits from all TOH jewelry going back to help this local cause. The evening was started and finished with music and ballroom dancing.
Dianne Garvis founded Tiaras of Hope while facing the challenges of grief after losing her father and mother to cancer. Garvis began her mission to help bring positive hope and inspiration to others by presenting 25 Tiaras to children at a coronation event to Make a Wish Foundation at Disney’s Give Kids the World Village. She continues to help the children at Give Kids the World. They have begun to magically share their TOH volunteer work and donations by linking arms with Building Blocks Ministries, Southeastern Food Bank, Cornerstone Hospice, Florida Hospital, St. Jude’s Hospital and Macy’s Department Stores one tiara at a time.
Garvis notes, “We simply are called on to share Tiaras of Hope with the message found in Isaiah 61:3 with God’s promise to trade our Ashes for a crown of beauty. Our ambassadors give from their own hearts. These ambassadors invest their own time and money to present tiaras at hospitals, children’s rehabilitation centers, senior care homes and hospice facilities. We walk through doors that most people avoid. We hold hands with those sadly battling for their lives. They bring a smile to each golden princess who is alone in a nursing home. We bring coronation moments to a teen missing her prom due to cancer.” Garvis’ husband, son, siblings and friends helped pull together this spectacular event. Dianne Garvis was on the Board of Southeast Food Bank and she still acts as an ambassador for them. Southeast sponsored her to compete In the Mrs. Florida Pageant that started her passion to share tiaras as a symbol of hope to those battling life-altering and life-threatening illnesses.
Tiara of Hope Ambassadors: A Mrs. Texas pageant mom with her two teen daughters as Junior Miss and Miss Texas Ambassadors flew in for this event from Texas to join the movement, get crowned and educated. A mom and daughter flew in from Iowa with their family to become TOH Ambassadors after the daughter was first crowned with a tiara when she was a hospitalized survivor from an armed robbery. Lora Wethro was crowned as an Ambassador of Hope. Lora will be on the front line with her parents and Building Blocks Ministries while sharing Tiaras of Hope for clients, family members and the South Lake Community. Garvis has also crowned and trained 8 Cornerstone Hospice volunteers as Ambassadors for Tiaras of Hope. Each TOH Ambassador selects their own service lanes to support those who need hope within their own communities. TOH includes valuable key areas of training with Community Involvement, Exploring Work, Life Skills, Health and Wellness. With the long-term hope to present tiaras across the globe, they would love to have more ambassadors.
Plenty of Extra Hope & Help! Duct-Man Lake County Limousines brought the VIPs to their red carpet with Tesla X Falcon Gold Wing automobiles. Land Rover Orlando, Becker Funeral Home, Clermont, and several anonymous donors sent checks directly to Mission Inn to pay for Ambassadors’ tickets. A sound system, with lighting and special effects, was donated. Southeast Food Bank donated the truck to transport equipment with drinks and snacks for the crew. Sunbelt donated a scissor lift. The Garvis Family donated the necessary funding for this event.
For more information about Tiaras of Hope, call: Dianne Garvis at 407-883-0997, visit: http://tiarasofhopeprogram.com/ and follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/tiarasofhope.
For information on Building Blocks Ministries, call 352-536-9264 and visit: www.buildingblocksministries.com.
Contact Golden Touch Jewelers at 352-243-7222 or visit: www.goldentouchent.com. Tiaras of Hope is not a charity nor a pageant. TOH is fully Board supervised.
