America Supports You: Contest Brings Kudos to Teen, Support Group

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

July 24, 2008 - The founder of a Texas-based troop-support group proved volunteer work can be glamorous when she was chosen as one of five winners of a contest to honor women involved in their communities. Tania Foster, founder of "Dallas is Love," was flipping through a magazine when she saw information about the contest.

"I have a subscription to Glamour magazine, and about a year ago I applied for a contest listed in the magazine for the Sally Hansen [beauty products company's] 'Best of You' contest," she said. "Sally Hansen sponsored the award and partnered with Glamour to fly all five winners to New York to participate in a photo shoot and meet representatives from both Glamour and Sally Hansen."

The trip to the "Big Apple" wasn't all business, however. Foster and her mother took time to see "Chicago" on Broadway and do a little shopping before heading home.

"I would have to say the best part was being able to share the experience with the other four winners, as well as meeting the amazing people from Glamour and Sally Hansen," she said.

That opinion might change once the September issue featuring the winners hits the newsstands.

"Through our trip to New York, Dallas is Love gained a ... sponsorship from Sally Hansen, and hopefully the article in Glamour reaches many people that don't know about Dallas is Love," Foster said. "[I hope] we will reach our goal of being nationwide."

The sponsorship resulted in a large donation of Sally Hansen products to Dallas is Love, which will get them into the hands of deployed servicewomen. That will be in addition to the organization's regular mission of providing Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift cards to deployed servicemembers.

The organization is preparing for the upcoming holiday season and is hoping for public support so it can send "tons of AAFES gift cards to troops worldwide," Foster said.

The organization is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.