Monday, December 2, 2024
Hundreds filled the illustrious Garden City Hotel on Friday, Nov. 1, for the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition’s fifth annual fashion show. The highly anticipated event, which sold out weeks in advance, drew guests from across Long Island for an evening of food, fun, and fashions provided by Bloomingdale’s.
“The event was an enormous success, and it was our largest fundraiser to date, raising the most money we ever have in our eight years,” Erin O’Sullivan, co-president of the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, said.
O’Sullivan said that this year’s fashion show raised nearly $130,000 for the nonprofit, which has continued to support breast cancer patients in the community with education and services for almost a decade. The organization donates all proceeds toward research, treatment assistance, and emotional support for women battling breast cancer.
Over the past eight years, generous contributions have allowed the Coalition to pledge $45,000 over three years to Mount Sinai South Nassau’s “Cold Cap” program. It is a form of scalp-cooling therapy that helps reduce hair loss during chemotherapy and aims to alleviate its emotional toll.
This year’s honoree, Nicole Graziano, is a 25-year resident of Rockville Centre. She has also been a member of the RVC Breast Cancer Coalition’s Board of Directors since 2017, where she currently chairs committees on fundraising and event planning.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Georgetown University and a Master’s degree in Nutrition from Columbia University. Her professional background includes work as a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and as a medical director at MacAndrews & Forbes.
In addition to her role with the coalition, Graziano has volunteered extensively, including serving as a cheerleading coach at St. Agnes and acting as a nutritional consultant and guest speaker at the Sandel Senior Center, where she provides dietary advice and prepares meals for seniors.
When the center’s kitchen required renovation, her family funded and facilitated the upgrades. Her father-in-law, Michael Graziano Sr., a kitchen designer, even donated his time and expertise to install new cabinetry, countertops, and appliances.
Graziano said that she always felt the coalition was comprised of two separate arms — one that raises money and one that dealt directly with the women the organization assists.
“But on the day of the (fashion) show, those two arms came together to hold up, support, embrace, and clap with thunderous applause for those great women who got on that stage and made us all smile,” Graziano said. “I am so proud that this event has become the cornerstone of our fundraising efforts.”
She also expressed that the coalition will continue its work to provide support comfort and strength to any woman who comes to them for help.
“I know that it’s corny when they say, ‘If you love what you do, it’s never work,’” Graziano said. “But I love these women, and it is a privilege to do this work, and for me to be part of something that keeps growing and evolving while still keeping true to our original mission.”
The evening culminated with more than 20 of the coalition's models taking to the runway in Bloomingdale’s fashions, celebrating their strength and resilience.
While the fashion show was an incredible way to cap off Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, the fight against Breast Cancer continues for the Coalition all year round. To learn more about the ways you can help the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, visit RVCBCC.org.
