- What is a contest platform?
- How do I choose a good contest platform?
- Can you give me some ideas, examples or topics about the contest platform?
A contest platform is a cause for which a contestant chooses to volunteer their time to raise awareness, raise funds, or implement a program they have created that will help address the issue.
There are so many needs in the world today that finding a cause that you are passionate about in your community is just a matter of looking around you or talking to a few business leaders. In our society, the media and the public are attracted to people who have titles or who have the status of celebrities. As a title holder, you can use this to your advantage to spread your message more widely if you are prepared.
“Never question the value of volunteers. Noah’s Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals.” -Unknown.
Every now and then I come across a person who has the attitude of ‘I’m just a person’. I can’t make a difference. Also, I don’t have the time, money, or education to make things happen. ” Okay, maybe not; however, you know people who do. And those people know different people who know other people. They are just waiting for you to ask for their help. You don’t need to micromanage or run the entire project on your own. Just make the mission and needs known to people.
There is strength in numbers and the more people you can include in your plans, the better.
Think of a candlelight service you’ve been to. Start with a candle in a dark space. Then, one by one, the flame is passed until the entire area is a blazing light. Most of the time, people are not even aware of a particular need in their community. All it takes is one person speaking at a function, or a single newspaper article, to light the fire necessary to start change.
When choosing a good platform for your contest, follow Stephen Covey’s advice “Start with the end in mind.”
What is the specific result you want to achieve? Is it to raise $ 50,000 for a new safety kit for your local fire station? Or is it starting your own foundation? The key to choosing a platform that inspires you is the depth of personal experience you have with it. There must be a deep-seated reason why you want to spend countless hours serving a particular project. Perhaps you have lost a loved one or a family pet. That event prompted him to want to reach out to other people who are experiencing the same pain. You may want to prevent a problem from happening. Perhaps you have experienced something so wonderful or painful that you want others to know so that they can join you in your joy or avoid the pain.
Either way, start by looking inward and listening to your heart, not your head.
We act when we are emotionally charged, not because something is logical and makes sense.
Here’s just an initial list of ideas, examples, and themes from the past two years from Miss America contestants that might spark your interest in searching for your pageant platform.
- March of Dimes
- International travel to become citizens of the world
- Drowning Prevention / Water Safety
- Boys and Girls Club of America
- Girl Scouts of America
- 4-H
- Helping Hand for America’s Seniors (visiting nursing home residents)
- Eating Disorder Education and Awareness
- Global awareness
- National Alopecia Areata Foundation
- Preventive health care
- Intimidation
- Scoliosis awareness
- Volunteering
- Susan G. Komen Foundation
- Prevention of domestic violence
- Tutorships
- Girls Inc.
- AIDS awareness
- Homelessness Prevention and Awareness
- Support for the arts
- Connecting the generations
- Positive body image
- Fight child hunger
- Raising awareness about human trafficking
- Recognizing the good in your neighbors and neighborhood
- Organ Donation
- Asthma awareness
- Prevention of alcohol consumption by minors
- Cancer prevention through general wellness
- Literacy / Reading in America
- Equality
- Cancer Research
- Youth leadership development
- Character development
- Child exploitation
- Consequences of peer pressure
- Children’s Miracle Network
- Dangers of Distracted Driving / Texting While Driving
- Dress for success
- School dropout prevention
- Autism speaks
- Citizenship
- Run for public office
- Dance: moving towards better health
- Building a positive self-image
- Heart health and cardiovascular disease prevention
- Animal care
- Internet / social media safety
- Recycling / Environmental ecological projects
- Second Harvest Food Bank
- Obesity