Meet the Hughes—Mike, Rachel, Danielle, and Lory—a family that’s all in when it comes to giving back. They’ve turned their volunteer work with Dance for the Cure (DFC) into a full-on family affair, showing us all how teamwork and a dash of creativity can bring light to those facing breast cancer in our local communities.
Danielle kicked things off by diving headfirst into her role as assistant to DFC co-founder, Joanne Liscovitz. She is involved with every aspect of Ribbons of Hope (ROH), from jazzing up certificates to keeping tabs on those all-important donor lists. She’s also the distribution mastermind behind Tie the Town Pink, making sure our towns shine in shades of hope.
When the world hit pause during Covid, Danielle and her mom, Lory, put their sewing skills to good use, whipping up masks that were about more than just safety—they raised a whopping $2,500 for DFC. Talk about turning a tough time into a tide of generosity!
Lory was bitten by the DFC bug—she threw her heart into the Pink Bow Project, helping drape our communities in symbols of support and love, and then illustrated her creative streak making those gift baskets everyone raves about and joining the ranks of the “basket genies” in 2022.
Mike, a.k.a. Dad, started volunteering with Tie the Town Pink and later became one of the famous pink-shirted gentlemen who sell 50/50 tickets at ROH. He also brings his A-game to DFC from his days driving for Frito Lay by expertly navigating the logistics of trucking hundreds of delicate baskets from the Basket Central (the DFC warehouse) to the Ribbons of Hope event venue.
“I love that the Hughes family has embraced our mission,” enthused Joanne. “They are a fun bunch with big hearts and tons of talent! I am so fortunate to have them as volunteers on our team and to call them friends.”
The Hughes family is pretty clear about why they do what they do. Danielle puts it simply, “To be part of this incredible team is fantastic, but doing it with my family? Even better. It’s all about the connections made and the joy in giving back. Plus, watching my mom get creative and my dad expertly maneuver those trucks —or wear a little pink apron—is just the cherry on top.”
Lory shares her piece of the joy, “Seeing all those baskets ready to go is just the best. It’s about more than baskets; it’s about hope, and doing it together makes it even more special.”
For Mike, it’s about making a real difference. “Knowing we’re helping women facing breast cancer, giving them a bit of relief, means everything. Whether it’s delivering the ribbon boxes, helping bring the baskets to the dinner, or selling 50/50 tickets. I love the interaction with all of the fun folks at the ROH dinner the best!”
Kathleen Cirioli, co-founder of DFC, expressed her appreciation, “I am grateful to the Hughes family and other families who volunteer with DFC. We have mothers & daughters, sisters, and friends who believe in our mission and bring others into our circle of volunteers. We are thankful for everyone who contributes to helping our organization grow.”
Not previously a fan of the color pink, Danielle and her family have been somewhat stunned to find that their closets are now liberally sprinkled with pops of bright pink clothes, from hats to shoes and everything in between! Even sister Rachel got into the spirit by sporting two-toned pink jeans at Ribbons of Hope! With each ribbon tied, basket crafted, and ticket sold, they remind us that a little bit of fun mixed with a lot of passion can make waves of change.
Here’s to the Hughes—true heroes in pink.
Are you interested in volunteering?
Please visit our Support Us page or contact Joanne or Kathleen directly.
Visit our Volunteers page to see our great team!
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