Dance for the Cure Raises Money and Provides Hope for Locals Battling Breast Cancer
Kathleen Ciroli, President of Dance for the Cure, is a two time breast cancer survivor who lives her life with a passion for dance. While battling breast cancer in 1999, she was invited to perform at Somerset Medical Center’s day of artistic celebration. Joanne Liscovitz, Vice President of Dance for the Cure, was teaching at Ciroli’s dance studio at the time.
They performed at the informal event and shortly after that, were invited to perform the tap number, “Go and Get Your Mammogram,” on The Rosie O’Donnell Show.
After that performance, Ciroli and Liscovitz said they realized breast cancer awareness was bigger than one performance. They said they thought they could do something to create a real impact in the community and help other people. Thus, Dance for the Cure was born.
For a while, they fundraised informally, but they started an official not for profit organization in 2000. In 2001, they officially started donating money to women battling breast cancer, specifically in Somerset, Hunterdon and Middlesex counties.
Liscovitz and Ciroli have built up a relationship with hospitals and social workers in all three counties and are often connected to the families they help through that route. Anyone can reach out to them though, specifically through the ‘Get Help’ page on their website.
Ciroli and Liscovitz said to contact Dance for the Cure if you or someone you know is in need while going through a breast cancer diagnosis and journey.
As of July, the not for profit has helped 39 women and raised $78,000 dollars for the year.
When the organization started, they were only able to give out small funds, such as a couple hundred dollars per person, said Ciroli. She said they are now able to give about $2,000 per person. She said they have never had to turn anybody away thus far, but they only help people one time each right now.
CIroli said they help between 40 and 45 people per year. To date, they have donated over $600,000 and have helped 503 people.
“We have a lot of support when people understand that story,” Liscovitz said. “We learn of these people, we meet them, they come to our event. We invite them as our guests the year that we help them. They’re so grateful and it’s unbelievable the stories and what they say to you.”
The organization’s main event is Ribbons of Hope, held every October. The event is usually at the Bridgewater Marriott and is a combination dinner and basket raffle. This year, Ribbons of Hope is being held on Oct. 17. Liscovitz said the event is attended by anywhere from 450 to 500 people and they usually raise around $85,000 from that night.
The organization has about 35-40 volunteers that create around 200 baskets they raffle off that night. They start building baskets in August and rent out a huge space to build them. The baskets they make depend on prize donations that community organizations and companies donate to them, they said. For example, if they get $100 restaurant gift card to Old Man Raffertys, they build a themed basket around that gift card, said Liscovitz.
Liscovitz said the event has grown a lot attracts a lot of people for a nice dinner and to shop for baskets.
“I remember being at Macys one day a few years ago and I was buying something for my mother at the makeup counter. I overheard two women who were talking about going to Ribbons of Hope. And I didn’t know who they were, they weren't my friends. And I was like, wow. So that was pretty cool,” she said.
Ciroli said Dance for the Cure always invites the women they helped that year to Ribbons of Hope as well.
“It’s festive, but there’s also a celebration of the people. We invite all the people we have helped that year. They’re in all stages of their disease. There’s that somber effect too,” said Ciroli.
Aside from Ribbons of Hope, the not for profit organization tries to get involved with the community for their fundraising efforts. Liscovtiz said this year they are reaching out to every high school in Somerset, Middlesex and Hunterdon counties and contactacting the athletic director about putting a donation can at their concession stands.
Within the realm of Hillsborough, she said the Hillsborough police department is supportive and collects money to give them a donation every year. Also, the mayor usually recognizes them in October. Catered Affair has helped by providing trucks for the day of Ribbons of Hope. Cafe Brio had special drinks and promoted Dance for the Cure. Even the high school Girls Soccer team helps them, she said.
“When the soccer team says they want to do something, that’s awesome because they are taking the ball and running with it,” said Liscovitz.
A project they started last year and are continuing this year is making big pink bows with the Dance for the Cure logo on them, to spread awareness in the month of October. They said their volunteers make hundreds of bows and go to businesses, asking to put them on their doors for the month.
Dance for the Cure is completely run by volunteers to help make all of their initiatives and events work. They gather their volunteers through Facebook, a mailing list, and Ciroli’s dance studio, Kathleen Academy of Dance.
“My dance studio is a great resources. We have hundreds of kids and women and moms and whatnot. That’s really been how it all was able to begin and get off the ground because of the dance studio,” said Ciroli.
20 years ago, Ciroli and Liscovitz performed on The Rosie O’Donnell Show and since then, they keep the tradition of dance alive in the organization through their current dance students. Every year, four dancers are chosen from Kathleen Academy of Dance to learn a lyrical dance. They perform at various events, including Ribbons of Hope.
“It’s a lyrical dance of hope and inspiration and it's a very positive dance,” said Ciroli.
Moving forward, Ciroli said she hopes the organization will continue to grow and gain support, while remaining local and run by volunteers.
“We hope we can keep sustaining it and that we’ll still keep getting the support that we have,” she said. “We hope that we’ll grow. The more help we have, the more we can grow, the more money we can raise. The more people we can help.”
** Photos Courtesy of Dance for the Cure