Miles Of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation

Fashion Show Benefits Miles of Hope

On a Friday night in June, at Casa Milanese in Highland, the culmination of months of planning and sewing came to fruition and the 2nd Annual “We’re All Mad Here” Fashion Show and Tea Party was held to benefit the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation. [Click to see their Facebook page]
The two organizers, Nicole Armeno and Alessia Milanese, who were high school seniors last year at FDR High School in Hyde Park, are now at FIT in New York launching careers in fashion.
“Being able to pursue my dream career while helping an amazing organization is an indescribable feeling. I do what I love and hope that it can help those I love,” explained Nicole Armeno.
“I have a history of breast cancer in my family, and the Miles of Hope Foundation has helped so many that I really wanted this to be an organization I support wholeheartedly,” she said.
Alessia Milanese and Christy Guercio design and make all of the clothes,” explained Miles of Hope Executive Director, Pari Forood. “Nicole handles all of the organizational aspects of the Fashion Show as well as marketing and logistics. They will all make brilliant businesswomen in the fashion industry!”
“Many organizations and stores helped with the success of this event,” Nicole said, “FACE Stockholm in Rhinebeck donated all of the Models Makeup; Bella Capelli Salon donated the models hair styling; Partners In Massage, Hyde Park donated raffle items; Casa Milanese donated the venue and Mrs. Seelke’s Health Class (FDR High School) held a bake sale to help fundraise.”
“This was a totally self-motivated initiative,” Ms. Forood said. “Nicole and Alessia came to us after their event with a check for over $1,000 to donate to Miles of Hope for programs and services for people affected by breast cancer within the eight counties of the Hudson Valley. So often, young people are not given credit for caring about their community or for looking outside themselves or their self-interests. Here is an example of two teenagers who are helping make our community and region a better place to live, and we salute them.”