Rebecca’s Rooms is set to present “I Am Me,” a beauty and beau pageant celebrating special needs children and adults Saturday at 10 a.m. at the New Hope Middle School Auditorium in Columbus, Mississippi. 
Rebecca’s Rooms is a non-profit organization created by Reid Carter to honor his daughter Rebecca’s memory. Rebecca had a chromosome abnormality called Trisomy 13, which caused her to have multiple disabilities and medical problems. 
According to a Rebecca’s Rooms fundraising committee press release, the mission of Rebecca’s Rooms is to provide disabled children with a newly remodeled and decorated room that will be customized to his or her personality and needs to establish fun, be stimulating and relaxing when necessary.
The event will feature entertainment from Jasmine Murray, the 2014-2015 Miss Mississippi, American Idol Finalist and top 10 contestant at the Miss America Pageant. WCBI anchor and Miss USA 2002 Shauntay Hinton will also be present to emcee the event.
Denene Thomason, board member of Rebecca’s Rooms, said the non profit organization was established after the death of Rebecca and holds great meaning.
“Rebecca passed away at age 8 from Trisomy 13, and her father wanted to do something in her memory, so he started remodeling bedrooms of disabled children and adults for free,” Thomason said.
Thomason said the pageant is to recognize children and adults with disabilities.
“It’s really a celebration of who they are,” Thomason said.
Thomason said she believes the pageant is significant because society often treats people with disabilities differently from others.
“We can get caught up being ‘normal’ and exclude people who are not like us. We are trying to get the word out and stop this trend and let families know they’re not alone. We are all created differently, but we all have some similarities,” Thomason said.
Thomason also said she believes the pageant impacts the community because all individuals are important.
“Every life is important,” she said.
 Reid Carter, board president of Rebecca’s Rooms and Rebecca’s father, said he created Rebecca’s Rooms to not only honor his daughter’s memory, but to also help children with disabilities and their parents.  
“We as parents tend to be hermits. We don’t really get to go out a lot because it’s hard to pack up equipment, and it’s hard to get babysitters because the babysitters are scared to care for a child with disabilities,” Carter said. “I wanted to help those children and make a network of support for parents.” 
Carter said he hopes the pageant and the organization motivates others.
“I hope it gives people the kick to do something. We want to get the word out and let people know that children with disabilities are not different,” he said.
The pageant is to honor children and show their strengths and talents, according to Carter.
“It’s a celebration of each child’s uniqueness and abilities,” he said.
Mindy Matherne, accountant at Mississippi State University and board member of Rebecca’s Rooms, said the pageant will allow children a freedom of expression. 
“We want to recognize children with special needs and let them be free,” Matherne said. 
Matherne also said the pageant will display great teamwork. 
“It shows people really coming together and great community involvement,” Matherne said.
Registration for the event is free for any special needs child or adult. Individual sponsorships of contestants are $40. To register or sponsor a contestant, visit www.rebeccasrooms.com. Individuals may register or sponsor a contestant up to the day of the pageant.