Community Corner

Patch Donates Day to Breast Cancer Action Coalition

Seven Patch employees volunteered in an array of ways at Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition in conjunction with the launch of Patch's 100th site.

The Patch community took part in a huge milestone on Tuesday with the launch of its 100th site. In conjunction with that, Patch employees across America took part in one of our five "Give 5" days, when we donate our time to do charitable work in our Patches.

Seven Patch employees, ranging from current editors, Paul Shapiro (Huntington) and Josh Stewart (Syosset), to new Patch editors, Karen Forman (Dix Hills) and Michael Russo (Lynbrook) as well as advertising managers Meryl Otis Kessler, David Tesser and Laura Bonanno, got together in Huntington at Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC), a not-for-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the ultimate eradication of breast cancer through education and awareness, to volunteer in an array of ways. Some helped put together promotional bags that will be distributed during the Long Island Ducks' 5th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Aug. 23, while others created a free ad for the organization and the muscle (Josh and David who were put to work by HBCAC's office manager Samantha Graham) helped clean up the basement at HBCAC's headquarters.

 


"We're a volunteer organization and like most volunteer organization's, we need all the support, manpower and intellectual resources that we can get," said Karen Joy Miller, a breast cancer survivor and the organization's president and founder who explained that HBCAC's mission is to focus on prevention methods while actively helping those who are faced with a positive diagnosis. "Seven members of Patch came into our headquarters with a great attitude and gave us intellectual support as well as muscle, manpower support. Only smiling faces came. Everybody was wonderful."

At Patch, we believe that being part of a community means giving back to it. In addition to devoting editorial coverage to local charities on Patch, the company sponsors the "Give 5" program, so that Patch employees can give back to the communities we serve. Through the "Give 5" program, Patch gives five percent of its advertising space, free of charge, to local charities and all Patch employees spend five working days each year volunteering in their communities.

Meryl, who organized the five-hour event, said she wanted to volunteer at HBCAC to honor her mother, Renee Otis. "I met Karen when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer 20 years ago," she said. "The HBCAC served as a vital support group to her when they were newly launched. As a result, she became a volunteer to help raise awareness for prevention for the HBCAC's core mission to eradicate breast cancer through prevention. I wanted to honor my mom today by volunteering for the organization that provided her with the vital support she needed when she was newly diagnosed with breast cancer – the same organization she dedicated her time to as a volunteer."

Miller said HBCAC, which launched more than 20 years ago and today is nationally recognized for its incredible work in creating awareness for, lobbying for and advocating for raising awareness to breast cancer, was extremely lucky to have the help of the Patch employees.

"Like all volunteer organizations, especially in this climate, we need money, we need support and we're grateful for Patch-AOL for coming today," Miller said. "It was most helpful and I'll be upset when the day is over and I'll probably ask you for at least an annual visit."

See you next year? We don't see why not.

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