When West Lincoln council voted not to support their hometown beauty queen financially last Monday night, she wasn't sure if she could pay her entry fee for the August competition.

But that all changed when Cindy Hendriks of Pride Homes called her Thursday morning and told her the Beamsville business would foot the bill.

"She's very, very happy," said Hendriks. "And we're happy to give her the chance to fulfill her dream."

The Hendriks family met Gluchowski at their home last Friday morning to give her a cheque for $1,250 and wish her good luck.

The South Lincoln High School alumnist won Miss Southern Ontario 2008 in December, besting 70 other beauties.

"You guys are fabulous," she told the Hendriks family. "Words cannot describe how grateful I am for your generosity."

It's not every day that you have someone phone you and offer you over a grand, she added.

"That's the beauty of being from a small town," she said. "Everywhere I go, people are telling me they are behind me 100 per cent."

Gluchowski said she is thrilled to be able to compete in the pageant, set for August 24 in Toronto. The pageant promotes Canadian women with all types of beauty, women as ambassadors for their city, region, province and country.

Each contestant needs two major sponsors to compete, however. Before Pride Homes signed up as a sponsor, Gluchowski only had the Egg Board of Ontario on board.