Miss Georgia visits Phoebe for Children’s Miracle Network platform

ALBANY — The reigning Miss Georgia, Patricia Ford, was at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital on Wednesday to visit the Albany area’s Children’s Miracle Network hospital.

Children’s Miracle Network is the official charity of the Miss America Organization and Ford’s personal platform. While at Phoebe, Ford toured the hospital’s pediatric units with representatives from the Phoebe Foundation and CMN.

“One of my goals as Miss Georgia is to visit all six (CMN) hospitals in the state,” she said. “It is my personal platform, and I’m working very hard to increase awareness and raise funds (for Children’s Miracle Network).”

CMN is teaming with Ford to help fill the gap in regards to the need for pediatric care statewide. Ford has been involved with the cause since her freshman year in college and played a role in raising funds for CMN through a dance marathon at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

“It really opened my eyes when I found out the money raised is staying in the community,” she said.

Touring Georgia’s CMN facilities, Ford said, helps her to understand the resources currently available and equips her to help with the promotion of CMN. In Albany specifically, she said she was able to gain insight into the demand for pediatric specialists — specifically surgeons — that many local families are having to travel to either Augusta or Atlanta to seek treatment for their small children.

“Ultimately, it’s (about) saving children’s lives. That’s the bottom line,” the current Miss Georgia said.

Since CMN is a philanthropic effort of the Miss America Organization, contestants from throughout the country raise money for the organization. Georgia led the country in the most recent fundraising cycle, Ford said.

Ford said her goal is to raise $10,000 before the Miss America pageant in September. Those who contribute will have their funds go to CMN hospitals in their respective communities, she said.

As of Wednesday, Ford had raised $3,850 for CMN.

The 22-year-old Miss Georgia is from Johns Creek and is a 2015 graduate of Georgia Tech. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration on marketing and plans to obtain a master’s degree from Georgia Tech and pursue a career in social entrepreneurship.

Ford’s fundraising page is missamericaforkids.org/donate/patriciaford.