Photo:The Mendoza Family
The Mendoza Family
The winner of the family brand’s 13th annual Photo Search was announced on Wednesday, with the world being introduced to Colorado’s own Madison “Maddie” Mendoza.
Of entering her daughter, Crystal tells PEOPLE, “I liked that there was a throwback aspect to it. I was going through my old photos and happened to find one where I was wearing a very similar outfit to what Maddie was wearing.”
Finding out that their daughter was selected has been “surreal” for Crystal and husband Jun — high school sweethearts who have been together for 22 years, enduring 9 years of a long-distance relationship in the process. Today, Jun is a Lieutenant Colonel physician in the Air Force and has been serving the United States for 16 years, while Crystal works as a dentist.
“The hardest part was not sharing it with our closest family and friends,” Crystal adds. “But they found out today and they’re in tears.”
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Gerber
The infant, who turns 10 months old this week, is already a world traveler and loves hiking with her parents, swim lessons and music classes. Maddie also has an adventurous palate, falling in love with new foods.
“She’s definitely mastered her crawling and getting into things,” Crystal laughs. “She’s learned to stand up on her own and I think she’ll be walking soon. Her top teeth started coming in last night.”
Both Jun and Crystal are from first-generation families from the Philippines, with both of Maddie’s grandfathers having served in the U.S. Navy after coming to the U.S. with little, beginning a family legacy of “resilience and love” that the family hopes to continue with Maddie.
“Military children especially go through a lot with their parents being deployed or out a lot, supporting the country. So I think that Maddie is a military child, it really helps highlight how special these children are and how strong and resilient they can be,” Jun says.
In their continued support ofMarch of Dimes' maternal and infant health programs, Gerber will also match Maddie’s cash prize with a donation, as well as making a donation toOperation Homefront, which supports military families.
For Jun, who was in pediatrics before moving on as an allergist, the donations are extra special.
“I saw a lot of families struggle with babies who were born prematurely or with birth defects, so we’re grateful for organizations like March of Dimes that support those families,” he says. “We’re very grateful they’re donating to Operation Homefront as well.”
“That was a complete surprise for us,” Crystal added.
source: people.com
