The Beautiful Baby Contest is a friendly competition that displays children's photos (newborn to 4 years of age) and collects votes to raise funds for handicapped-accessible housing for young military troops returning with severe life-altering injuries. One hundred percent of the money raised this year by the contest will again be donated to Homes For Our Troops, a national nonprofit that builds houses at no cost to the soldier.babycontest2010@gmail.com for more information.

This year's proceeds are being earmarked this year to build a home in West Haven for 22-year-old Army Ranger Sean Pesce. SPC Pesce was shot 13 times, and has damage to several major organs, with one bullet severing his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Submitted photos are displayed on a voting booth at various events and locations in Newtown. The public votes with dollar bills for the cutest baby. The child whose photo raises the most amount of money wins the title.

The winning family will be featured in the Newtown Labor Day Parade as the Beautiful Baby Winner, riding in a chauffeur-driven convertible provided by Mercedes of Danbury.

All information on the back of the photo is blacked out with permanent marker before the voting booth goes to any location.

Children do not need to live in Newtown or Sandy Hook in order to be entered.

Entry fee is a $10 check donation made payable to Homes For Our Troops. Mail checks and a 4 x 4-inch or wallet size photo with child's name, parent's contact e-mail and phone number written clearly on the back to Baby Contest, c/o Lois Barber, 33 Zoar Road, Sandy Hook CT 06482.

Deadline for submissions is June 30.

Call 203-270-8017 or e-mail