20 Feb 2017 A magical event makes a difference

by Stephanie Byrnes

A new ministry fundraiser will open its doors to an exciting experience for everyone’s favorite little ladies on Saturday, April 1, in Downtown Conway.

Once Upon A Fairy Tale, a mother-daughter princess tea, is an event like few others. Anyone whose daughters have experienced the boutique and royal table treatment at their favorite amusement park knows that the memories created from watching a child’s eyes light up when she meets her favorite princesses is priceless. And now Central Arkansas girls can experience that very event without traveling far from home while helping international missions.

This magical event is designed for girls ages 3 to 8 and begins with an appointment at Downtown Conway’s Harrington & Company salon. Here young ladies receive the royal treatment of shimmering make-up and fancy up-dos before moving down the street to the local Brick Room event center for tea with every young girl’s adored princesses. Mississippi natives Jenny and Tyler Blount created The Princess Tea event after experiencing the joy and heartbreak of adoption. After adopting their own daughter, they felt called to support other orphans through their work with the Eagle’s Nest orphanage in Guatemala, establishing the Orphan Door ministry.

In 2008, Guatemala closed its doors to international adoptions, forcing many of the country’s orphanages and adoption agencies to become permanent homes for countless children. Eagle’s Nest, which was once designed as a temporary home for children before adoption placement, suddenly became a dead end for children looking for a home.

As the couple felt a calling to help the children who found themselves without proper education or stable caretakers, the Princess Tea sounded like an experience that would draw a community together to rally around young people half a world away.

“It is incredible to see a community come together to build up another community all the way in Guatemala,” said Jenny. “On top of that, we have an outpouring of support from local vendors…this event wouldn’t be possible without the community.”

Conway’s Amanda Price heard about The Princess Tea and its success in Mississippi from her connection with Blount. Price visited Guatemala on a mission trip years ago and knew this was something she had to bring to Conway.

Already in Conway, this event is gathering a community support that will bless tea-goers and Guatemalan orphans alike. From vendor support from local Conway companies like Share.the.Love. Kidsclub and Tacos 4 Life to volunteer hair stylists to pamper and treat girls, this event is one pulling together many to rally around one cause.

“Several families who have adopted or have a calling to care for orphans personally decided to sponsor the tea,” Price said. “And our Conway businesses have been willing to trust and support an organization they’ve never heard of before, because they trust the heart behind The Princess Tea.”

While the goal of Mississippi events is to fund education for the children of Eagle’s Nest, the Conway Tea will go specifically toward providing more stable and reliable caretakers for the orphanage so that the children might know the consistent love and guidance of adults.

How can others become involved in this incredible event? Any mother, grandmother, or friend of a young girl can purchase tickets to attend the tea and support the cause for $25 at fairytaleprincesstea.com. Attendees can also make a boutique appointment for $15 and read more about the ministry provided to children at Eagle’s Nest Orphanage in Guatemala. To sponsor the event, email [email protected].

“The simple and fun act of coming to a Princess Tea can actually help change the life of an orphan,” Price said.