(L-R) Dana Effron, Lynne Kopac, Pari Forood and Cathy Varunok- Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce Power of Empowerment Award 2010
Last night at the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce Empowerment Awards, Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation founders were honored for their commitment to the community and to the women of the Hudson Valley.
Local breast cancer survivor and IBM employee Lynne Kopac nominated the two women because she felt they embodied the concept of empowerment.
“I help to organize the Family Fun Run every year and I see Cathy and Dana’s dedication to this foundation and to helping people with breast cancer,” Kopac said
“We are just thrilled,” Effron explained, “first to have Lynne, a good friend and great volunteer, nominate us and then to be recognized by your peers as empowering is such an honor for us.”
Miles of Hope sponsors 5 events every year – Hoops for Hope Women’s Basketball Tournament, The Annual Spring Brunch, Family Fun Run, Goals for Hope Women’s Soccer Tournament and the Community Walk for Breast Cancer.
“Each year we try to emphasize exercise, good nutrition and general attention to health as essential to lessening the risk for breast cancer,” Mrs. Varunok said, “helping women become healthier is definitely empowering!”
Lisa Arnoff, Chairman of the Annual Spring Brunch for Miles of Hope, is a tireless and committed volunteer. She has planned the event for the past five years increasing the donation to the Foundation every year. Along with her committee, she begins in December organizing the brunch attended by over 400 people, the Silent Auction which raised over $50,000 this year, and all raffles and door prizes. By the date of the function – each year the brunch is the Sunday before Mother’s Day – she has had committee meetings, tastings, organizational events, and many mailings and e-mailings. She devotes her life to raising money through the brunch for five months. In 2009, the Annual Spring Brunch raised over $108,000 for support programs for people affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley.
Mary Schanz is the Chairman of Goals for Hope Women’s Soccer Tournament held at the LaGrange Soccer fields every August. An avid soccer player and soccer mom, Mary decided that the Hudson Valley needed to sponsor an event where everyone from former college players to soccer grandmothers could come and enjoy the exercise, friendly competition and fun. She organized the first Goals for Hope five years ago and will chair her sixth Goals on August 1, 2009. Each year, more and more women come to Dutchess County to play soccer and honor or remember a friend or colleague or family member touched by breast cancer. Last year over 600 women competed and over 1000 spectators came to watch. Along with her committee, she organizes three different tournaments depending on ability, a concession stand, a kid’s soccer clinic, an obstacle course for the youngest fans, and the infamous Granny’s Game.