Alina DiMella receives a certificate of appreciation from Katherine Quinn, Support Connection Executive Director (center) and Robin Perlmutter, Support Connection Peer Counselor
A local Girl Scout recently completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project and in the process raised $1,400 to fund yoga classes for women with cancer.
Alina DiMella (Brewster, NY) is a sophomore at North Salem High School and has been a Girl Scout for 8 years. She is currently a Senior Girl Scout with Troop 2850 in North Salem, led by Dawn McCarthy of Brewster. Over the past year, Alina worked on planning and implementing an event she titled “Brave and Beautiful.” Her idea was to focus on the self-confidence of cancer survivors. In her words: “When people leave my event I want everyone to know that they are brave and beautiful.”
Alina’s project culminated with a brunch and fashion show held on April 3 at the Pleasantville Country Club in Pleasantville, NY, with Unique Affair Catering and Events. Fashions were provided by two shops in Pleasantville, Rhodadendron and At Last. The models at the show were all local cancer survivors who volunteered to participate.
Alina was thrilled with the success of the event. Almost 90 people attended, and the feedback from all in attendance was extremely positive. “My favorite part was talking with the models afterwards,” Alina said. “They all thanked me and told me how glad they were to be part of it.”
Another reason Alina held the event was to honor the work of Support Connection, Inc. She and her family have participated in Support Connection’s annual Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer for a number of years. Alina used the proceeds from Brave and Beautiful to pay for yoga classes for women affected by breast and ovarian cancer.
Executive Director Katherine Quinn says: “Alina did a terrific job planning this event. It was a beautiful day, and it’s another example of the good work done by young people who support us. The yoga classes being donated by Alina will bring peace and enhanced well-being to the women who participate.”