Miss New York 2013
On September 15, 2013, Amanda assumed the prestigious title of Miss New York 2013 following the crowning of Miss America. As a professional motivational speaker, she traveled across the state of New York from Manhattan to the Bronx to upstate New York, continuing her efforts to Reach Youth Before Alcohol & Drugs Do through her youth prevention program the Middle School Movement.
In May 2014, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo signed off on a statewide prevention campaign in partnership with Amanda and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS).
Amanda has served as a National Ambassador for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National Youth Spokesperson for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), and the Safe American Foundation.
As Miss New York, Amanda appeared on PBS Graduate Day (NYC), The Today Show (NBC NYC), Brooklyn News 12, NewsChannel 9 (Syracuse), NY1, and News 13 (Albany).
During her year as Miss New York she met several celebrities and designers at events: Tony Bennett, Carly Rae Jepsen, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Oscar de la Renta, Barbara Walters, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Kay Unger, Robin Roberts, Hoda Kotb, Alan Cumming, and Nathan Lane to name a few.
Additional organizations she worked with during her year:
Wounded Warriors
Tigerlily Foundation (Breast Cancer Awareness)
Serious Fun Children’s Network
Muscular Dystrophy Association
NYPD Explorers
Gigi’s Playhouse (Down Syndrome Achievement Center)
American Heart Association
Children’s Miracle Network
Interview with Jim Clark (CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America) and Kiana Knolland (National B&GC Youth of the Year). Thank you to PBS 'American Graduate Day' for speaking out about our need for better Education in America.
I was so excited to be on the TODAY show this morning with Gigi's Playhouse. Gigi's Playhouse is an amazing organization that helps children with down syndrome achieve their full potential.
Community
“.....It’s a story Amanda Mason told last year at a conference in Lake George that impresses me most about her. During her freshman year of high school, she said, she was at a party where her classmates started drinking alcohol, smoking pot and taking prescription drugs. She left, telling classmates on her way out they should leave, too. Few teens have enough confidence to tell a roomful of their peers they’re wrong. Few adults do, either. This is an aspiration we should present to our teenage children: Be the sort of person who can tell off your whole community and hold your head up. Dream of being strong-willed and troubling the status quo, and never let go of your dream.”
