For Cynthia Seibold, recognizing the achievements and resilience of women is deeply personal. Raised by a single working mother, she saw firsthand the strength, determination and perseverance it takes to overcome challenges. Today she carries that legacy forward, and takes pride in inspiring strong, capable and resilient women herself.
Seibold’s path to founding Balloon Mission was unconventional. After earning a master’s degree in secondary education, she spent 20 years in the insurance industry, analyzing risk and researching hazards for organizations including the NBA and the NHL. “My mission at that job was to protect people from harm and save money,” she said. The role sharpened her research and problem-solving skills — which would later inspire her environmental advocacy.
The pandemic was a turning point. The health scare forced reflection. “It showed me how precious and fragile life is,” Seibold, 57, said. “Whatever days are left, I want to give back in some way.”
A lifelong Long Islander, she found peace by the ocean, but noticed balloon debris piling up on local beaches. While volunteering at cleanups, she researched the environmental impact of balloon releases. She was stunned by the volume of data on their harm to wildlife, waterways and ecosystems worldwide, with little accountability.
In March 2022, a New York Times article on the surging popularity of balloon decor was published on her late mother’s birthday, and Seibold took that as a sign. “The idea of a solution would not leave me alone,” she said of the problem of balloon waste. “If not me, who was going to do it?”
So she launched Balloon Mission, the first balloon collection-recycling infrastructure in the United States. “Here I am, an ordinary citizen stepping up,” she said. “Not certified in anything, but I did know how to research.” The early days were challenging, filled with “soul-crushing” moments and fears of being laughed at for “chasing balloons.”
What began with collection bins in three schools and one library has grown into a regional and national effort. In three years, Balloon Mission has collected more than 65,000 post-event balloons.
Seibold says that collaborative partnerships with strong, inspiring women helped make the initiative possible. “I would not be me without these partners,” she said, citing Allison DePerte, of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, and Maureen Early, of the waste-management company Reworld.
She also praises Tara Moran-Schneider, senior conservation biologist with the Town of Hempstead’s Department of Conservation and Waterways, for installing 20 “No Balloon Release” signs in local parks and on beaches.
“We’ve become the experts in the room through research and data collection,” Seibold said — not because of advanced degrees, but thanks to research, partnerships and persistence.
Women have guided her journey. “It’s vital for young girls to see female leaders in all roles,” she said. “Leading by example shows that positive change is possible. There is no age limit.” Since Balloon Mission started, she has worked with Girl Scout troops, educating communities about responsible balloon practices by expanding “No Release” signs across Long Island.
Seibold’s message to women with a passion for change is simple: “If you have an idea or solution that has latched onto you and won’t shake free, that wakes you up in the middle of the night,” she said, “you have to pursue it.”
