Miss Delaware 1976

A glimpse of Day Gardner's personal history reveals a diverse and dramatic range of experiences. As Miss Delaware, she made history as the first black woman to be named as a semi-finalist of the internationally renowned Miss America Pageant, breaking through numerous racial and stereotypical roadblocks for others to follow.

In the late 1980’s, Ms. Gardner established the Guam based Lipford Corporation, which provided project design and development services for numerous hotel, entertainment and resort projects being developed on Guam and throughout Micronesia.  As President and Director of Lipford Corporation, her main achievement was co-designing a $36 million dinner theater and nightclub facility located in the center of Guam's thriving tourist district.

She has worked as a media consultant at KUAM-TV on Guam, and was an on-air personality and producer with African Broadcasting at the World Trade Center in New York City.

Ms. Gardner has been actively involved in a number of charities.  She spent a year working with the mentally disabled for the ARC of Atlantic County, New Jersey and served meals to Atlantic City's homeless.  She also spearheaded an annual toy and clothing drive for needy families in the Atlantic City area.  A firm supporter of public television, she was a volunteer television co-host for New Jersey Network's fund-raising drives.

In 1999, Ms. Gardner relocated to Bowie, Maryland, and became actively involved with Georgetown University Medical Center's Diabetes Research and Education Program.  She also was employed with an Arnold Palmer Country Club as the Director of the Membership Department.

Ms. Gardner began 2002 by entering her bid for a seat in the Maryland State Legislature.  During her campaign she surprised many by earning endorsements from The Washington Post and The Washington Gazette.

She was formerly the National Director of Black Americans for Life (an outreach of National Right to Life Committee). Presently, she is the Founder and President of The National Black Pro Life Union and Associate Director of NPLC on Capitol Hill.  Ms. Gardner also anchors a radio program for NPLR.net online.

Day Gardner received a Doctorate in Humanities from the Faith Evangelical College and Seminary, Tacoma, Washington.  Dr. Gardner travels throughout the United States and abroad as a sought after speaker.  She has been a guest on many national and local television and radio networks and programs including FOX News, ABC, CNN, CBN as well as a special guest on Glen Beck and others.

She is an active member of many organizations including the American Center for Law and Justice and the Frederick Douglass Foundation.  She serves on several boards including the National Pro Life Religious Council and formerly on Maryland’s Advisory Board for the Homeless.

A wife and mother, Dr. Gardner, has written two books--the first, IF NOT FOR GRACE, is available in book stores and online.