The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation 5th Annual Brunch on May 3, 2009, at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie honored the Dyson Foundation and the memory of its former President, Dr. Anne Dyson. Over 400 guests attended the function for a silent auction, brunch, a slide show of the past year’s activities and the presentation of an award to Mr. Dyson representing his family foundation.

“This year we didn’t know how the community would be impacted by the recession,” said Dana Effron, Co-Founder of Miles of Hope. “But as it turns out, the attendance was the same as last year and the Silent Auction made even more money than ever before.”

Final numbers are still pending, however, preliminarily, the Spring Brunch brought in $108,105 to Miles of Hope for support services for people affected by breast cancer in the eight counties of the Hudson Valley.

“We don’t fund research,” explained Cathy Varunok, the Foundation’s other Co-Founder. “We figure there are enough organizations out there funding the next medical breakthroughs and we are indebted to them and salute them. But we saw a need right here in our community for support for people in treatment for breast cancer and we aim to fill it every day.”

Miles of Hope has funded programs at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital, Benedictine Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital, Barrett House, Support Connection of Yorktown, Cancer Support Team of Mamaroneck, Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Centers in Newburgh, Family of Woodstock in Kingston, just to name a few.

“All money raised in the Hudson Valley stays in the Hudson Valley, helping our friends, colleagues and family,” stated Lisa Arnoff, Brunch Committee Chairman.

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation is a 501-c-3 non-profit public charity established to provide funding for programs and services supporting those affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley.

Read more information and see more photos on our brunch page.

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation 5th annual Brunch on May 3, 2009, at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie will honor Rob Dyson and the Dyson Foundation. Over 400 guests are expected at 11:00 a.m. at the Grandview for a Silent Auction, brunch, a slide show of the past year’s activities and the presentation of an award to Mr. Dyson representing his family foundation.

“We have chosen to honor the Dyson Foundation this year because of their enormous impact on this community,” Dana Effron, Co-founder of Miles of Hope said. “They are the definition of philanthropy and have helped so many organizations in the Hudson Valley including Miles of Hope.”

The Dyson Foundation supports the Medical Gap Care Fund, conceived and administered by Miles of Hope. The fund provides emergency financial aid for people in treatment for breast cancer who cannot pay a bill not covered by insurance. Cathy Varunok, Miles of Hope Co-founder and administrator of the program explained that the Dyson Foundation grants allowed the program to grow and to help hundreds of people.

“When we first came up with the idea of helping people in treatment for breast cancer who were strapped because of their medical costs, we didn’t know the form that the program would take. Now with help from six social service agencies, we have given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to people for rent, food, heat and reimbursement for expenses not covered by their insurance. This is one of the pillar programs of Miles of Hope and it is needed now more than ever. The Dyson Foundation, through three generous grants, helped us to help even more people in treatment for breast cancer.”

The Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity established to provide funding for programs and services supporting those affected by breast cancer in the Hudson Valley.

“All money raised in the Hudson Valley stays in the Hudson Valley helping our friends, colleagues and family,” stated Lisa Arnoff, Brunch Committee Chairman.

Learn more about the brunch and buy a ticket.