Sisco Empowers Local Girls Through S.E.C.U.R.E. the Girl Initiative
Madison Sisco has always had a heart for helping young girls. Even before she won the title of Miss Middle Tennessee Volunteer 2024, on March 23, 2024, Madison was led to start the S.E.C.U.R.E. the Girl initiative. Due to personal experiences, the initiative became her competition platform and continues to be the inspiration behind her motivation for the cause she champions as she competes for Miss Tennessee Volunteer.
“S.E.C.U.R.E. the Girl stands for supporting empowerment, and confidence, ultimately reaching everyone, everywhere. I was inspired by my own series of difficult experiences, from bullying to being burglarized. Those events greatly impacted me and the way I feel about myself,” said Ms. Sisco. “I know that I can’t stop these things from happening to other people, but if I can help set them up for success to deal with difficult, confidence-shaking events, then I know I’ve done some good.”
Madison took a break from competing in pageants during COVID-19. Since 2021, she has only competed in four pageants, but has remained committed to supporting young women.
“I looked for nonprofits to champion that helped young women feel secure in themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. I found a lot of places that touched on some aspects of that, but not enough for me to wholeheartedly get behind them,” said Ms. Sisco, who felt something was missing in the world, and knew it was time to change her pageant platform to a cause she could fully support with passion. “That is how S.E.C.U.R.E. the Girl was born.
Through S.E.C.U.R.E. the Girl, Ms. Sisco is working on a period product drive raising money to purchase personal hygiene products for young high school girls in counties across Tennessee. She has chosen to focus on providing products to girls who attend schools in the eight distressed counties in the State that include Bledsoe, Clay, Cocke, Hancock, Hardeman, Lake, Perry, and Scott Counties.
“In many states, including Tennessee, period products are taxed as a luxury item. I have heard of many low income and homeless women using socks, toilet paper, paper towels, and old rags in lieu of proper period products,” said Ms. Sisco. “Women are shown to make seventy cents to every dollar a man makes for the same job and similar experience. So, we make less money, our hygiene products are taxed at a higher rate, and without access to these products, we lose out on learning and leadership opportunities. And for what? Because our body is healthy and functioning as it was made to? We are already at a disadvantage from the way I see it, but I think this is a good way to level the playing field.”
Through her period product fundraiser, Ms. Sisco hopes to raise money this summer to provide enough products to last at least one school year, which has her working towards reaching a goal of around 115,000 products. The plan is to visit the schools and distribute products right after the start of school in August. Ms. Sisco has already started thinking about her next projects that include hosting a free self-defense class throughout the state. Although she is already looking forward to working on more projects, Madison wants to stay focused on one project at a time, so she can give it her full attention.
Ms. Sisco is looking forward to spearheading her initiative as well as preparing for the upcoming Miss Tennessee Volunteer pageant that will be held at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tennessee, from Wednesday through Saturday, July 24-27, 2024.
“I am so proud to have the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss Tennessee Volunteer, and even more proud to be able to make a difference statewide already,” said Ms. Sisco. “I am from West Tennessee. have a title in Miss Tennessee, and am currently living in East Tennessee. It’s just really wonderful how it all worked out. Miss Tennessee or not, I know that I am doing what I can to make the most impact throughout our beautiful state.”
Madison is accepting monetary donations for S.E.C.U.R.E. the Girl. You can donate to her initiative monetarily and by purchasing items from her S.E.C.U.R.E the Girl – Amazon Gift List. There are also two donation boxes set up in Bolivar, one at Southern Express Pharmacy (1355 West Market Street, Bolivar, Tennessee 38008) and another at the Department of Human Services Child Support Office (112 North Union Street, Bolivar, Tennessee 38008).
Madison Sisco graduated from Bolivar Central High School in 2018 and from the University of Tennessee at Martin in December 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
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