2025 HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
RESEARCH
Funded 3 Research Grants
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory:
$75,000 to Camila dos Sants, PhD for her project: Probing the Role of BPTF Inhibitors in Blocking Breast Cancer Metastatic Development Memorial - Sloan Kettering Cancer Center:
$100,000 to Jomal Jhaveri, MD for her project: Enhancing Immunogenicity in ER+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer - The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health:
$90,000 to Betsy J. Barnes, PhD for her project: Mechanisms Contributing to EarlyOnset Breast Cancer – Dysregulation in the Machinery that Makes Proteins
- Maintained Communication with vetted Research Organizations
- Monitored 6 month and yearly progress reports on previous grants
- Reviewed with the Research Committee the process for grant selection
- Applied and accepted $500 grant from the Plandome Women’s Club
OUTREACH - DIRECT SERVICES
Provided information, emotional support and financial assistance to 146 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 14 women diagnosed with other cancers including:
- 31 meals and groceries; 5 wigs; 12 rent/mortgage payments; 1 prosthetic bra fitting; 2 transportation requests; 13 cold cap/lymph sleeves; 6 Hospice Care; 27 medical marijuana doses; 1 Bereavement payment; 2 payments for taxes; 1 tuition payment; 7 LiftMeUp Chairs for post-surgery recovery; Sauna treatment blanket and towel and 1 moving expense.
- Reimbursement of 105 bills (co-pays, medical, prescription, insurance, oil bills, living expenses); in addition, offered $6,517 in Emergency Relief Funds to Recipients in dire need.
- Wellness services including 29 medical massages, physical therapy, acupuncture sessions, yoga and exercise classes
- Distributed 15 Gifts of Hope & Healing and delivered 73 Special Gifts throughout the year.
- Provided pre and post-surgical items: 19 tote bags, 19 resource binders, 42 nutrition and reference books, 3 J-Zip T shirts, 4 handmade blankets for use during chemotherapy, 6 seat belt pillows and numerous wellness recipes and care packages
- Outreach Direct Services were funded from the following: Coalition General funds, Directed by Donor funds, a Manhasset Community Fund Grant and Outreach Miscellaneous funds ($75,977).
OUTREACH - COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Provided a variety of wellness and educational programs that offered practical assistance, compassion, and meaningful impact as follows:
- Assisted non- and underinsured patients through the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program with helpline support, transportation assistance, and 25 food gift cards to 17 patients
- Supported the JCC’s Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center with specialized exercise and discussion groups, totaling 422 exercise class attendances and 359 discussion group attendances.
- Funded a one-day wellness retreat at the JCC’s Nancy Marx Cancer Wellness Center for breast and gynecologic cancer survivors, serving 50 participants, including six caregivers.
- Supported Northwell Health with integrative therapies and transportation assistance, providing 1,460 reflexology treatments, 81 chair yoga and Qi Gong classes serving 541 patients, and 50 transportation and companion care services for breast cancer patients.
- Supported palliative care staff development at Northwell Health through attendance at the 2025 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care.
- Funded creative therapy programming at the St. Francis Hospital Cancer Institute, including aromatherapy, art therapy, therapeutic gardening, and a year-round Care Cart stocked with creative and therapeutic activities, serving over 150 patients and caregivers.
- Supported the Cooking is Caring Nutrition Program at St. Francis Hospital Cancer Institute, providing 5 hydration days and 2 shake days serving 195 patient participants, and 3 cooking classes serving 34 participants.
- Supported 12 Ballet for Recuperation classes at Berest Dance Studios to help alleviate neuropathy-related discomfort from cancer treatment.
- Supported the Lean on Me Breast Cancer Network Winter Serenity Wellness Retreat, held on May 3 rd , serving 50 participants through healing and wellness workshops.
- Helped fund the sold-out Strength for Life Weekend Wellness Retreat held on December 13th and 14th .
- Assisted CancerCare with providing individual counseling services and support groups to 690 breast cancer patients.
Outreach Community Programs were funded from the following: Directed by Donor funds, Outreach Miscellaneous funds, and a Manhasset Community Fund Grant ($45,850).
FUNDRAISING/DONATIONS/ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONAL
- Ladies’ Night Out was reimagined this year as a lively, co-ed Bet on Pink Casino Night, held Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at Leonard’s Palazzo in Great Neck. With more than 200 guests in attendance, the evening delivered an energetic atmosphere that brought the community together while giving this beloved tradition a fresh and exciting twist.
- The October 5, 2025 MWCABC Annual 5K Walk/Run (led by new chairs) was an incredible success, welcoming a record 772 registered participants and generating tremendous enthusiasm and momentum for continued community engagement.
- Cash for the Cure (also led by new chairs) sold out again in 2025. 500 tickets sold with the 3 winners chosen just prior to the 5K before an excited audience.
- On May 12, 2025, MWCABC’s president and past Outreach recipient, Therese Curry, were the Honorees and guest speakers at Pink Cans for 4 Cancer’s Swing for a Cause annual golf fundraiser.
- On April 6, 2025, MWCABC hosted a Pickleball fundraising event at Sportime in Port Washington. Both beginners and skilled players turned out for a fun and exciting round robin style play.
- MWCABC once again participated in Champions for Charity at the Americana.
- Many individuals and organizations set up and ran their own fundraisers to benefit the MWCABC. This was a record year for these third-party events--from sports teams to ladies’ golf groups to triathlon runners, and even a back yard BBQ! Some highlights include:
- The Plandome Ladies Golf Organization Swing, Serve and Support
- The Port Washington Yacht Club Ladies Committee Anchored in Hope: An Evening of Giving
- Gary H. Silver & Billy Panosopoulos participated in the Montauk Triathlon and raised funds in honor of Angela Panousopoulos, Natalie Kirby, Ali Horowitz, Gary’s mom and his sister Penny
- Glen Cove 9 Hole Golf group made MWCABC the beneficiary of their annual charity event
- Orangetheory Fitness in Carle Place sponsored a fundraiser challenge
- Multiple youth sports teams raised thousands of dollars this year for the Coalition, including both the Manhasset and Port Washington HS field hockey teams, the Port Washington HS football team, the Manhasset HS girls tennis team and many other youth leagues of different ages around Long Island.
- MWABC received 2 original paintings and a set of high-end prints donated by local artist Christina Lynch-Burgdorf. They were installed to beautify and enhance the labs of the Northwell Feinstein Institute. The researchers love them!
JUNIOR COALITION
- The Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer (MWCABC) Junior Coalition, has approximately 250 members.
- Spring 2025 activities included celebrating an Outreach recipients 100 Birthday. Juniors visited her home and brought festive curb appeal to the home with flowers, and birthday decorations and sang happy birthday
- Spring 2025 Juniors made 150 mulligans (pink ribbons) for the Plandome Country Club fundraiser
- The 5K Family Fun Run held on October 5 th , 12 th grade and 11 th grade Juniors helped streamline runner registration and distribute marathon T-shirts, while 9 th and 10 th grade Juniors brought energy and spirit with their creative posters, in addition to running the coffee station, cheering on all participants and handing out water at the finish line.
- On October 22nd, at the MWCABC “Ladies and Gents Night Out”, the Juniors officially kicked off their annual Tree of Hope fundraiser. They led the effort by selling ornaments representing Hope, Strength, and Courage. This fundraiser continues through December.
- The Juniors participated in the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce’s “Merry Little Manhasset” event. Providing information on the organization and fundraising by selling ornaments and T-shirts
- Additional fundraising at Raindew Pharmacy in Manhasset for 3 weekends in December selling ornaments, T-shirt and informing the community about the organization
- Juniors paired up with the Friedman Center for Breast and Lymphatic Surgery, the center put ornaments on display for sale, and the Juniors donated T-shirts to the office and patients
- Junior Coalition welcomed five new advisors for the Freshman class: Jennifer Amato, Melissa Cinquemani, Angelic Durante, Melissa Napolitano, and Lisa Sypress.
- 9th Grade fundraiser Pink Ball fundraiser took place on November 10th at the Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club and brought together more than 150 first-year students in support of MWCABC’s ongoing fundraising efforts.
- Juniors baked, wrapped, and delivered 20 holiday cookie baskets to women in Manhasset, Port Washington, New Hyde Park, Mineola, and Roslyn who are part of the MWCABC Outreach Program. Baskets included cookies, t-shirt and Tree of hope ornament
- 10th Grade Snowball Fundraiser took place on January 23rd at the Manhasset Bay Yacht bringing together over 140 second- year students in support to MWCABC’s ongoing fundraising efforts.
- Juniors reached out to Ruby Hill Farm, and they graciously made and donated 10 seat belt cushions for the Outreach program
COMMUNICATIONS AND OPERATIONS
- Distributed biannual newsletters updating community of events and news regarding the MWCABC
- Updated and Maintained MWCABC WEBSITE
- Maintained SmugMug photo account and added to website to archive event photos past and present
- Maintained Social Media Communications
- Created emails, website placement and social communication with Outreach to promote programming
- Updated and maintained contact database
