One World, One Future
As an 18-year-old social entrepreneur and the founder of my own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, I’m passionate about spotlighting changemakers from around the world. Through my podcast, I give these incredible individuals a platform to share how they’re making the world a better place, one step at a time.
If you’re someone who’s creating positive change in your community and would like to be featured, I’d love to connect with you! Visit www.sargeantsarmy.org to learn more and get in touch.
One World, One Future
Miss New York 2024 - Abby Quammen
My journey with the Miss America Opportunity began nearly a decade ago when, at just fourteen, I was a young girl seeking confidence, purpose, and stability. I found all of that—and more—through this program. As Miss Kentucky’s Teen 2017, I earned the Miss America’s Teen Presidential Scholarship and pursued a degree in Musical Theatre at The University of Alabama. Surrounded by fellow titleholders who became lifelong friends, I stepped onto stages I had only dreamed of and grew into a confident, determined woman who knows she doesn’t need a crown to make a difference.
As Miss New York, my mission is to close the literacy gap by empowering children to read and equipping them with the tools to succeed. My community service initiative, Read → Lead → Succeed, was born from my own story—when my family lost our home at age 12, reading became my safe haven. From cookbooks to classics, books offered me consistency and hope during a time of chaos. Today, I bring that same hope to children through after-school programs in Title I schools, one-on-one tutoring with Reading Partners, and a national reading challenge, Book Buddies, which helps kids develop comprehension and conflict resolution skills through reading.
Outside of advocacy, I’m a career fundraiser and MBA candidate at NYU, specializing in leadership and change management. I help donors build legacies through scholarships and credit the Miss America Opportunity for guiding me toward this path. My ultimate goal is to serve as Executive Vice President of Programs for a major philanthropic foundation, championing educational equity through revitalized libraries and programming for underserved schools.
I am deeply honored to serve as Miss New York, not for recognition, but as a vessel to uplift the people and communities I love. This year, I’m committed to expanding literacy opportunities across New York’s 700 school districts and raising a record-breaking amount for the Miss New York Organization. Most of all, I hope every person I meet—whether in person or online—doesn’t just know Miss New York, but feels like they are friends with her.
Follow us on Instagram @oneworldonefuturepodcast to be the first to know when new episodes drop! And don’t forget to follow our host, Ashley, at @itsashleynevison for even more updates and behind-the-scenes content!
