Miss America 2003 will attend annual Quad-Cities Prayer Breakfast

| Monday, September 22, 2003

Deirdre Cox Baker

Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, will headline this year's Quad-Cities Prayer Breakfast, set for Saturday at the RiverCenter in Davenport.


Harold, who just completed her year-long reign, will appear with the Rev. Wellington Boone of Atlanta, who will speak for the Promise Keepers' program.


Famed actor Mel Gibson has sent a special video message including a clip from his new movie, "The Passion."


All of the speakers will discuss ways religion has impacted their lives.


Harold is a native of Urbana,


Ill., and a graduate of the University of Illinois. She is headed to Harvard Law School and aims to become a lawyer and run for public office.


She worked to reduce youth violence during her time as Miss America. She appeared in the Quad-Cities earlier this year to speak about "bully-proofing" children.


"What I think she has done is increased everyone's awareness of the extent of the problem, both in the schools and in the community," said Ann O'Klock, a licensed clinical social worker with the Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health in Rock Island.


O'Klock was involved in Harold's previous visit to the area and said that Miss America has been an effective spokesperson in the effort to prevent youth violence.


"She's a figure that people listen to," O'Klock added.


This is the ninth year for the Quad-Cities Prayer Breakfast. Last September, famed TV evangelist the Rev. Pat Robertson spoke to a crowd of about 1,600 at the RiverCenter. For more information about the event, call (563) 326-3333.


Tables of eight are available for $100 by calling 326-3333. College-age and younger students can attend for half price.


The city desk can be contacted at


(563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.