A Burlington baby, Joan Eleanor Cooper, is one of 14 infant finalists across the country competing in a contest to raise money for charity.
The daughter of Anna and David Cooper of Burlington, 11-month-old Joan has raised approximately $40,000 through the fundraising contest. Joan’s mom, Anna Cooper, said that the prize money would be donated to First United Methodist Church of Graham if Joan wins the contest.
The winner of the contest will be crowned as the 2024 Baby of the Year and is scheduled to be announced tonight, Anna Cooper said Wednesday in an interview with The Alamance News.
Meanwhile, baby Joan has advanced through eight elimination rounds this fall, beating nearly 225,000 other tots to become one of the remaining 14 finalists in the contest.
In addition to casting their votes for Joan in the contest, a member of First UMC of Graham, Barbara Crissman, who is married to former Graham planning board member Eric Crissman, handmade the dress that Joan wore for her contest photograph. Anna Cooper serves as the youth director at the church.
In addition to a grand prize, the winner of the 2024 Baby of the Year contest will be featured in an upcoming issue of Good Housekeeping, Anna Cooper told the newspaper.
The contest is sponsored by a nonprofit foundation, Baby2Baby, aimed at providing basic needs for children in need, as well as other charitable causes. The organization recently delivered $4 million worth of supplies to diaper banks in Asheville to assist parents impacted by Hurricane Helene, according to the Coopers.
“If this is how much she can do with her first contest, she is destined for big things,” her parents said, referring to the $40,000 that Joan has raised so far, with a goal of reaching $65,000.
For more information visit: https://babyoftheyear.org/2024/joan-eleanor-cooper.
The family lives at 113 Hazel Road in Burlington.
