9930 Rotarian, brains, beauty, and perhaps Miss Universe?
Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club has a member doing good for the world.
Her name is Larissa Allen and she may just well be one of the youngest Rotarians in District 9930. Larissa joined when she was 23 and is now 25.
She currently works as a Marketing and Event Manager for Metro Marketing and volunteers in her spare time as a mentor for youth through the Graeme Dingle Foundation programme - Project K. She currently sit on the board of her local theatre
Larissa is a Tauranga local who had to say goodbye to the beautiful beaches and hello to Waikato University when it came time to study. She graduated with a Bachelor of Communication Studies double majoring in marketing and public relations.
She is a RYLA graduate too.
Larissa currently has been successful in Miss Universe NZ, becoming one of the top 20 finalists and is just back from a trip to the Philippines, where she meet with the locals and other contestants. Tauranga Sunrise Rotary Club jokes that she is probably the only Rotarian to ever become a Miss Universe NZ finalist.
The grand final is on September 3rd and the one thing she loves the most about the way NZ does things, is that they have abolished the bikini round from the stage because they believe this is so much more about self-empowerment and using the platform to help others.
The charity that she supports is Variety - The Children's Charity and she is currently fundraising to support these kids of NZ in deprivation. The reason why she entered is because she thought it would be a good opportunity to reach out to organisations she is passionate about and use the title to do some good.
Larissa is super passionate about children/youth, keeping them safe and seeing them thrive, so the charity factor with Variety certainly sits well with me.
I am reaching out to every Rotarian in District for support in her very worthwhile endeavours and she has an everyday hero page set up: https://missuniversenz2016.everydayhero.com/nz/larissa-allen for donations. As of writing, there has only been $68.25 pledged. Her aim is a modest $2,500.
In and out of work there is never a dull moment in Larissa’s life. An adventurer and adrenaline junky at heart she always has something interesting on the go. Whether it’s trekking the Tongariro Crossing, jumping out of a plane or diving with sharks.
When she’s had her adrenaline fix you’ll catch her in the kitchen baking delicious treats, acting in the local theatre show , mentoring students or on Rotary business.