American Girl Doll winner announced!

Twelve-year-old Aurora Fares of Canfield is the winner of The Vindicator’s 2016 American Girl Doll Essay Contest, which we conducted in conjunction with the upcoming American Girl Fashion Show presented by Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley.

The 8- to 12-year-old participants were given the task of writing an essay in 200 words or fewer about an imaginary adventure in her life. That theme was in keeping with the story that accompanies American Girl Doll’s 2016 Girl of the Year doll, Lea Clark. She was this year’s contest prize.

Each doll in American Girl’s line comes with a book telling a story of how she successfully dealt with a challenge in her life. Lea is described as an aspiring photographer and an animal lover. When a family trip to Brazil turns dangerous, she proves that she has what it takes to face adventure head-on.

ONLINE

To read some of the other essays the judges liked, go to www.vindy.com/american-girl.

ABOUT OUR WINNER

Aurora Fares, 12, is shown in an outfit identical to the one worn by Lea, the doll Aurora will carry in the fashion show. This will be Aurora’s fourth year as a model in the show.

She is the daughter of Buddy and Maria Elena Fares of Canfield and a seventh-grader at the Lewis School in Youngstown.

Her school activities include competing in LEGO Robotics, Pentathlon and the science fair, which she has won at both the regional and state levels, and performing in school plays.

Her other interests are Girl Scouts, performing with Dublin Grange Theater Co., gymnastics, roller skating and knitting.

Now, on with the show ... SEE D2 FOR DETAILS

BOARDMAN

Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley is inviting children, their friends and families to the American Girl Fashion Show planned for Saturday and next Sunday at Antone’s Banquet Center, 8578 Market St.

The show will include lunch, party favors, door prizes and raffles featuring American Girl merchandise.

Performances are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. both days, and the program will showcase historical and contemporary fashions for girls and their dolls.

More than 160 local children will be models. There will be scholarship opportunities and program ads, and VIP family tables are available. Tickets are $30 each and can be ordered by calling 330-746-8712 or visiting www.akronchildrens.org/americangirlfashionshow.

A limited number of guest-modeling opportunities also are available to the public. Models must pay a $10 guest-modeling fee and purchase the official American Girl Fashion Show T-shirt for $25 to model during intermission at the show. Proceeds will benefit local programs and services of the hospital.

The Kids’ Crew of Akron Children’s will conduct a grand raffle. Tickets are $5, and the prize packages include an American Doll, book and other items. The drawing will take place at the conclusion of next Sunday’s show. Winners need not be present.

Event sponsors include Denise and John York and the DeBartolo Corp., Gasser Chair Co., Huntington Bank and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Petrarca.

Amy Gasser and Atty. Shirley Smith are co-chairwomen, and Kids’ Crew volunteers are Susan Berny, Cathy Campana, Betty Cmil, Julie Costas, DJ Depp, Mary Dulay, Jessica Fister, Paula Jakubek, Gayle Kelly, Diana McDonald, Stephanie Mikouis, Lori Mowad, Margaret Nigro, Michelle Restivo, Debbie Shattuck, Linda-Lee Siegle, Lois Smith and Pattie Welsh. Also assisting are Akron Children’s staff members JoAnn Stock, senior director of development; Allison Engstrom, development coordinator; Sherri Mattace-Horvat, development assistant; Kelsey Moreton, development coordinator; Amber Gallo, show coordinator; and Rikki Batson and Brian Lyons, development interns.