Girls of all ages should start practicing smiling, waving, walking in heels and wearing a pageant gown for next month's event.

KARE for Kids, a local non-profit organization that assists hundreds of needy children in the community each year, will hold its inaugural Miss KARE for Kids Pageant Oct. 10 at Riverview Middle School. 

"This is a new event that we hope will become a community favorite and one that is fun for those who participate," said Calvin Byrd, president of KARE for Kids. "This is our second new event that we added this year because we want to reach out to everyone in the community to show them what KARE for Kids is all about. This event will allow us to get kids involved in an organization that their peers benefit from."

The pageant is open to girls ages infant to 22 years to compete in seven different age groups, with competitions going on throughout the day, the first beginning at 10 a.m. and the last scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

The cost to participate will be $40 per contestant - $20 for second contestant within the same immediate family. Admission will be $3, and each paid contestant receives one free adult admission.

A photographer will be on site for photos.

The event will feature a Most Photogenic Contest. For a $5 entry fee, participants can submit a photo no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches, which will be returned at time of check in at the pageant.

All winners will represent KARE at local events throughout the next year.

Those interested in participating must pre-register by Oct. 1, and mail registration forms to KARE for Kids, P.O. Box 211, Dawsonville, GA 30534.

For more information, contact Nicki Knight at nickiknight@hotmail.com.

Registration forms can be downloaded from KARE's Web site, www.kareforkids.us.