Just weeks after being crowned Miss Kentucky’s Teen 2026, Bardstown native Laken Blanford visited the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth on Thursday, July 9, to share the story behind The Resilience Project, the nonprofit she founded to help children heal from trauma through extracurricular activities.
Sister Jacky Jesu, president of the Congregation, welcomed Blanford and said she was inspired after hearing her speak at a community event earlier this year.
“I was deeply moved by her courage, her honesty and, most of all, her desire to help children who have experienced trauma,” Sister Jacky said. “We share a common hope to accompany people with compassion, especially children and families who are facing difficult circumstances.”
Blanford, 15, said that shared commitment is what drew her to Nazareth.
“I just want to say thank you all so much for having me today,” she told the Sisters. “To have people who are willing to build our communities and support initiatives like mine means so much to me.”
The Resilience Project grew out of Blanford’s own experience with trauma. In fifth grade, her family experienced a home break-in involving a loaded gun. Shortly afterward, she was attacked by a Great Dane, leaving her with 40 stitches in her face. The events caused severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
Her recovery began when she returned to dance.
“I realized that was the way I was releasing all of my anxiety and all of my emotions,” she said. “Through dance, through art and through sports, you’re able to communicate and share your emotions without actually having to talk about it.”
That realization became the foundation of The Resilience Project.
“My motto is turning trauma into triumph,” Blanford said. “I didn’t build resilience simply because time passed. I built resilience through activities. I built resilience through dancing. I want to give that opportunity to kids all across Kentucky and, eventually, across the United States.”
During her presentation, Blanford used two backpacks to illustrate the difference extracurricular activities can make in a child’s life. One backpack represented the invisible weight children often carry after experiencing trauma: anxiety, depression, loneliness, hopelessness and low self-worth. The second represented what extracurricular activities can provide: confidence, friendships, mentors, resilience and life skills.
“When we give a child access to an extracurricular activity, we are giving them more than a lesson, more than a practice or a program,” Blanford said. “We are giving them a place to belong, a chance to grow and an opportunity to discover who they can become.”
The Resilience Project provides scholarships that allow children who have experienced trauma or financial hardship to participate in activities such as sports, dance, music and art.
Blanford shared the story of a young girl who dreamed of playing elementary basketball but whose family couldn’t afford the registration fees or equipment. Through The Resilience Project, she was able to provide the girl’s first season and the pink basketball shoes she had hoped for.
“Knowing that I’m able to give a pair of pink Nike basketball shoes to a little girl and the opportunity to play in her first elementary basketball game is something that’s so moving to me,” she said.
Although the organization is less than a year old, it has already helped more than 50 children, including more than 30 scholarships awarded in the last three months. Working with schools and community partners, the nonprofit identifies children who would benefit from financial assistance and connects them with programs that can help them grow.
Blanford said her goal extends beyond helping individual children. She hopes to break cycles of generational trauma by giving young people opportunities to build confidence, develop healthy relationships and discover their potential.
“Your pain didn’t start with you, but it can end with you,” she said. “We need to address the root of the problem. We need to keep them from falling in the first place.”
As Miss Kentucky’s Teen, Blanford plans to visit schools across the Commonwealth, sharing her story and expanding awareness of The Resilience Project. She will also represent Kentucky at the Miss America’s Teen competition later this year.
She told the Sisters that while winning a national title would help expand her platform, it isn’t what drives her.
“The best part about Miss America’s Teen isn’t the sash or the crown,” she said. “It’s that you have this platform and this title to truly make a difference.”
During a question-and-answer session, one Sister asked how she planned to continue leading the organization while finishing high school and eventually attending college.
Blanford said she has learned to balance her responsibilities because the work is deeply personal.
“I found that this is a passion that I have,” she said. “Knowing that there are kids who need help, and that I’m the program they’re resorting to, it just keeps the ball rolling.”
The visit concluded with conversation and photos, but the message Blanford brought to Nazareth lingered long afterward. Her visit reflected a shared belief with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth that every child deserves the opportunity to heal, belong and discover the gifts God has given them.
As she continues her year as Miss Kentucky’s Teen, Blanford hopes The Resilience Project will continue opening doors for children across Kentucky, proving that one opportunity can change the course of a young person’s life.