Fundraiser helps Midwest Youth Services support at-risk, runaway and homeless youth
By Kyla Hurt
Photos/Marcy Patterson
Midwest Youth Services held its beloved Doll-I-Day event on Sunday, February 16. This year’s event ran with the theme, “In My Doll-I-Day Era, Channel Your Inner Pop Star,” and many young attendees dressed in appropriate pop star attire while carrying a similarly adorned doll in tow.
Every ticket purchased to the event also acted as a chance for that child to win the 2025 American Girl Doll of the Year: Summer McKinny™. Eight-year-old Maizee Jackson won the Girl of the Year™ 2025.
Children enjoyed special treats at a candy bar, a doll hair and nail salon, face painting, crafts, games, prizes, a ‘doll hospital’ and more. Other winners of prizes from the recent Doll-I-Day include: Paige Acree (7), Morgan Dozier (3), Sadie Collins (6) and Amelia Dully (4), Olivia Six (7), Arya Sanders (7), Eliza Mullens (4), Kaisley Shewmake (8), Mina Casey (6) and Mara Casey (4), and Lindy Whalen (3).
Lindy Whalen actually won two prizes at the event, but her mother encouraged her to choose her favorite prize and donate the second back to to allow someone else the opportunity to win.
All proceeds from Doll-I-Day benefit Midwest Youth Services, a nonprofit United Way agency located in Jacksonville that is dedicated to serving at-risk, runaway and homeless youth.
