Please enjoy this questionnaire completed by one of our long-time Northeast Florida Admins, and now Branch Leader, Dana Roberts!
How did you first get involved with Costumers with a Cause, and what has been your favorite or most memorable event so far and what made it memorable?
I first came into contact with CWC as an event planner for Books-A-Million Orange Park Wells rd. They made our Free Comic book day amazing, they showed up with great spirits and smiles. The kids enjoyed them greatly and as a coordinator they were very communicative as well as flexible as our events happened to need flexibility being in a mall.
My most memorable event, however, was the St. Augustine Christmas parade. Though it was my first large event as a member, what made it memorable was the kinship and family vibe I received from the members and leads. Though I was new, they helped me locate where I needed to be as well made sure I was comfortable around the other members I had just met. Their professionalism as well as attitudes with the Girl and Boy Scouts that walked with us was nothing short of amazing.
Our members put on many faces in CWC. What is your favorite character you represent and what is it that you like about that character?
My favorite Character is one that isn’t very well known, but it’s Faith from Valiant Comics. This being because her personality is very close to my own. She is in awe of ‘Real heroes’; not seeing herself as much more than a helping hand where needed, she idolizes the well-known heroes and heroines as big-name players. She also believes in people, the good and light inside everyone. She’s energetic and just happy in life. I relate very close to her and LOVE being the energetic, fangirl to my more esteemed co-costumers.
Based on your experiences with us, how would you describe what we do to someone who knows absolutely nothing about us or who we are?
We bring magic and excitement to any and all events. If there’s a cause to be known we’re there to show it off. Charities, communities, and hospitals we bring dreams to life in hopes of making a difference in our areas.
What do you feel are your best assets, talents, gifts, etc., are, and how did you acquire them?
I am a free thinker; I see a situation and think of not-so-normal solutions that can make things run smoothly as well as quickly. I can adapt to many chaotic scenarios and just keep on going. This comes from years of event planning with my mother as PTA president, my father as a Youth Pastor, and 10+ years as an event planner in customer service from handling celebrities to local clubs and school fairs.
It seems that lately we are hearing about more and more children who are being bullied or have self-esteem issues, body issues, etc. If a child came to you with any one of the many issues you are aware of, what advice would you give them?
You can either let the world define you, or you can define the world. Coming from that place I know the struggle all too well, the best words I ever heard were “The world keeps turning, not everyone likes every flavor. You don’t either. So, why spend time among mint chocolate chip (<-my least fav flavor) when you could be rockin’ out with the Neapolitan crowd?” <-My fav ice cream flavor.
Imagine: You are on a deserted island. There is absolutely no way off this island. You are totally alone, with the exception of a magic genie who wants to grant you three wishes. Getting off the island isn’t one of them. What would your three wishes be and why?
- A ship with knowledgeable and loyal crew (what good is a boat if I can’t sail? Loyalty lessens the possibility of mutiny).
- Provisions enough for ALL aboard the ship to make it to the nearest safe port (grey areas can be tricky with genies. SAFE being the key word there for ports).
- Free the Genie (Disney is in my blood).
Many of our members tell us stories of special situations or circumstances in their own personal lives which causes them to have a special place in their heart for charity organizations. Is there any charity or organization that holds a special place in your heart?
The everyday charity from kind people. Working retail, you see it all the time, the guy who pays for the old lady’s coffee one day. The old gentleman who buys that toy for the little boy who is counting pennies. The cashier who shares their lunch with the homeless janitor every Wednesday. I see the smiles a simple character can bring to families who can’t afford large fancy trips to theme parks or that character birthday guest. The everyday generosity is my favorite charity and dressing as beloved characters and visiting schools, hospitals, and local events to see one or one thousand smiling faces old and young is what drives me to do what I do.
What is your favorite amusement park, and what is your favorite ride within that park?
Wild Adventures Valdosta, GA. My favorite ride there is the Ferris Wheel.
Secret time: What is one thing about you that you think would surprise someone who thinks they know you pretty well.
It surprises a lot of people that I’m a writer. I write articles, reviews, fanfics, anything that I can pour passion into. I don’t brag or advertise it at all. It’s a secret love of mine that only people who’ve known me for a lengthy time find out eventually.
Who is someone you really admire? They can be real or fictional, alive or passed on. What is it about them that you admire and why?
Louisa May Alcott, in a time when women were looked at as domestic dutiful creatures she blazed ahead and wrote stories of passion and thrill, she marched for women’s rights, she volunteered as a nurse in times of war and wrote about it to show the truth behind the politics. She never stopped being herself or let others tell her who to be.
