Volunteer Spotlight: The Foti Family
- Dance for the Cure
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
A Legacy of Love and Service
At Dance for the Cure, volunteers are the heart of everything we do—and some bring not just their time, but their entire family. This month, we shine a light on the Foti family, whose commitment to our mission is both deeply personal and powerfully inspiring.
It all began with Susan Foti. After her own breast cancer diagnosis in 2017, she searched for a group that truly put patients first. “I was researching organizations but didn’t find one that was 100% supporting people,” Susan says. “Then my friend Brooke Herbst introduced me to Dance for the Cure, and I knew it was the right fit.” She was drawn to the way funds go to support local patients in need—and brought her family along for the journey soon after.
Susan’s favorite way to give back is through the Pink Bow Project (PBP), which decorates local businesses with bright pink bows each October as a visible show of support. “Every year, I get so excited to assist,” she says. “Hanging the bows, I’ve met so many amazing people. The people of the businesses and I made a bond—they were just as excited to see me as I was them.”
The mission became even more personal when Susan’s niece, Rosalinda Giles, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Rosalinda received financial assistance from Dance for the Cure during her treatment, and though she was still fighting her own battle, she felt a strong pull to give back. Her mother, Teresa Foti, remembers that moment clearly.
“I believe it was 2018,” Teresa recalls. “Rosalinda had been a donee that year, and she wanted to pay it forward by helping DFC sell tickets to Ribbons of Hope (ROH). Her goal was to have 20 people attend each year. Since then, I’ve been able to get 30 people to attend annually.” ROH is Dance for the Cure’s annual October fundraiser—an evening of dinner, raffles, and shared purpose that raises vital funds for breast cancer patients in Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, and Somerset counties.
For Teresa, volunteering is a way to honor Rosalinda’s memory. “This is important to me because I know it was important to my daughter. I want to continue in her memory.” One of her favorite memories is tying the town pink in Flemington Borough—part of our Tie the Town Pink (TTP) initiative—alongside Rosalinda and hanging bows together during the PBP.
Rosalinda’s passion for helping others also inspired her cousin, Giuliana Opalenik, to get involved. “I joined a few years ago after attending my first Ribbons of Hope event in support of my cousin, Rosalinda,” Giuliana says. Since then, she’s written blog posts, edited event videos, helped stuff ROH invitations, and delivered pink bows during the PBP. “One of my favorite memories was taking on Main Street in Raritan with my family for the Pink Bow Project. I grew up a few minutes away, so delivering bows to local businesses felt even more personal—especially doing it together, in the pouring rain.”
Giuliana’s mom, Rose Opalenik, followed suit. “My niece Rosalinda was a recipient when she was battling breast cancer, and I’m grateful for the assistance she got,” Rose shares. “She later volunteered, even while fighting her own battle. I’m sure she’d be happy I’m volunteering now in her memory.” Rose cherishes the camaraderie of volunteer gatherings, like the day she and Giuliana joined others at Joanne’s office to stuff ROH invitations. “We ended up making a video throwing all the label papers in the air and letting them fall on (DFC co-founder) Joanne—we all had lots of laughs.”
From bow-tying to envelope-stuffing to carrying on a loved one’s legacy, the Foti family’s commitment is a beautiful example of how Dance for the Cure brings people together. What began with Susan’s search for purpose after her diagnosis grew into a family-wide effort, inspired and deepened by Rosalinda’s courage and desire to give back.
Are you interested in volunteering?
Please visit our Support Us page or contact Joanne or Kathleen directly.
Visit our Volunteers page to see our great team!
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