|
An Entry in the Egg Decorating Contest
ElfWorksLane has announced that Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation is the winner of their First Annual Egg Decorating Contest!
The funds for the award were raised by a silent auction for the eggs.
ElfWorksLane, “the cutest little vintage and consignment shop ever”, is located at 2 Lagrange Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY, phone (845) 485-5202. Click to see their Facebook page.
A great fundraising idea! Many thanks from Miles of Hope.
Cathy Varunok, Athena 2011 Nominee
Miles of Hope Co-founder Cathy Varunok is among the nominees for the 2011 ATHENA award, to be presented by The Chamber Foundation.
The 2011 ATHENA nominees were chosen because of their strengths in career excellence and leadership, community volunteer involvement and willingness to serve as a mentor, especially to women in the business community.
The Chamber Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit organization of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, will present the award on Sunday, December 4 during a special brunch at The Grandview in Poughkeepsie, NY. The recipient of the award will travel to the ATHENA International conference in Chicago to represent the Hudson Valley region.
For more information, see the announcement on the DCRCOC website.
Cathy Varunok, Co-Founder of Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation with Caryn Solomon, St. Francis Hospital nurse at the Athena Awards cocktail reception on November 30, 2011 at the Vassar College Alumnae House. The two women have been nominated for outstanding personal and community achievements in their respective professions by the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Above: Miles of Hope representatives with some of the 78-member St. Francis Team. Below l-r: Cathy Varunok, Miles of Hope Co-Founder; Patty Nocket, St. Francis Hospital; Dori Kerner, SFH OT; Wendy Devens, SFH Director of Human Services; and Pari Forood, MoH Exec Director
November 2, 2011 — The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation announced today that the St. Francis Hospital Team won the prize and recognition as the Team with the most walkers and the Team who raised the most money from the Community Walk for Breast Cancer supporting Miles of Hope on October 2.
“Team St. Francis raised over $12,000 for this event and we are so grateful for their involvement,” stated Pari Forood, Miles of Hope Executive Director.
“This is an example of a classic grass roots effort to enhance and improve our community,” explained Cathy Varunok, Miles of Hope Co-Founder. “Everyone contributes and raises money for support programs for people affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley.”
On June 9, the Poughkeepsie Journal published an article about the Spirit of Dutchess Awards ceremony by Shantal Parris Riley. Here is an extract from that article:
Dana Effron, co-founder of Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, was given the Alexis de Tocqueville Community Service Award.
Pari Forood, Miles of Hope executive director, recounted the bumpy road to Effron’s co-creation of Miles of Hope with partner Cathy Varunok in 2004.
“Fifteen years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Forood said, adding she became a consultant to other breast cancer survivors. “She saw the need for a mentoring system for breast cancer victims in this area.”
The foundation offers peer-to-peer counseling, scholarships, complimentary therapy and medical care funding not covered by insurance for breast cancer victims, survivors and families throughout the Hudson Valley.
Effron, who took to the podium, tissues in hand, described being diagnosed with breast cancer as a “life-altering.”
She expressed her motivation in simple terms: “I do it because I can. I’m a survivor.”
The Hudson Valley’s only breast cancer foundation announced today the recipients of $1,000 college scholarships.
“Each year, we award at least 8 college scholarships to high school seniors whose lives have been affected by breast cancer,” Executive Director Pari Forood, explained.
“Since we help people in the eight counties of the Hudson Valley, we receive hundreds of applications from all public, parochial and private schools.”
2011 Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation Scholarship Recipients:
Victoria L. Arico, Arlington High School – Dutchess
Jeffrey F. Bastone, North Salem High School – Westchester
Vincent M. Graziano, F.D. Roosevelt High School – Dutchess
Erin E. Held, Warwick Valley High School – Orange
Jacqueline E. Lindine, Valley Central High School – Orange
Alyssa C. Murray, Port Chester High School – Westchester
Paul M. Renart, Warwick Valley High School – Orange
Anthony J. Rimoli, Brewster High School – Putnam
Crystal G. Zoodsma, Roy C. Ketcham High School – Dutchess
Students are judged based on grade point average, community service related to breast cancer, and an essay.
“For the past seven years, we have seen students go to college with Miles of Hope’s help and graduate, go to Medical School, Business School and start careers. We love to think we are a small part of the reason for their success,” Ms. Forood said.
Miles of Hope is a non-profit, public charity with a mission to fund support services for people affected by breast cancer in the 8 counties of the Hudson Valley.
Co-Founder of the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation, Dana Effron, will receive the 26th annual Alexis de Tocqueville Community Service Award given by the United Way of Dutchess County at the 2011 Spirit of Dutchess County Awards luncheon on June 8, at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel.
Each year, the United Way of Dutchess County Board of Governors and Alexis de Tocqueville Society pay tribute to an outstanding community leader whose spirit of philanthropy and volunteerism stands as an example of selfless dedication and service to the residents of Dutchess County.
The award name was chosen because of the French author’s admiration for the American spirit of voluntary association and effort for the common good which he documented enthusiastically in Democracy in America, 1835 and 1840.
“I am stunned and honored by this award,” Mrs. Effron explained. “When we started Miles of Hope in 2004, I had no idea we would be as successful as we are helping thousands of people in the Hudson Valley and engaging hundreds of volunteers many of whom are survivors like me.”
“Through our four pillar programs: Scholarships to college-bound high school seniors, Peer to peer counseling, Complementary medicine and Medical Gap Care Fund, we help women and their families, friends, and colleagues affected by breast cancer,” she said.
Miles of Hope is a non-profit public charity, with a mission to fund support services for people affected by breast cancer in the eight counties of the Hudson Valley.
Support 3 Fantastic Miles of Hope Volunteers
Each year, the United Way of Dutchess County sponsors the Spirit of Dutchess Award honoring volunteers in the county.
This year we have three Miles of Hope nominees to vote for.
Note: Only one vote per email address.
Click to vote on the Spirit of Dutchess website or use the link below:
http://www.spiritofdutchess.org/nominees.php?tt=yy&category=All&start=10
Click on one of our the nominees:
Thank you for helping out!
On April 11, the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation received one of Dutchess County’s highest honors and was awarded the 2011 Dutchess County Board of Health Public Health Partnership Award.
The ceremony took place at the Dutchess County Legislature where the attached photo was taken. According to a DCHD press release, the Public Health Partnership Award is given to organizations which demonstrate leadership, innovation and community involvement in the spirit of creating healthy communities. The award is designed to increase public awareness of the role and contribution of these organizations as well as to grant them the recognition and appreciation they so richly deserve during National Public Health Week.
It is official – St. Francis Hospital staff wins the award for having the most walkers from a single organization at the Community Walk for Breast Cancer on September 26, at James Baird State Park in Pleasant Valley, NY.
St. Francis staff raised over $12,000 for the Walk.
Pictured in the photos are the St Francis staff walkers at the Walk and in the atrium of St Francis with from left : Pari Forood Exec Dir of Miles of Hope and Cathy Varunok, Co-Founder of Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. The St Francis team received a plaque from the Foundation.
“We can’t wait to top our participation levels next year.” Dori Kerner, St Francis nurse and organizer said. “We had over 100 people there this year and we hope to have 200 next year!”
