Tanger® Outlets Presents Gift of $17K to Breast Cancer Coalition

North Fork Breast Health Coalition Treasurer Susie Bandiera (left) and Vice President Melanie McEvoy Zuhoski (right) gratefully accept a large gift from Lesley Anthony (center), general manager, Tanger® Outlets Riverhead.

Riverhead– Just in time for the holidays, Tanger Outlets, Riverhead, presented the North Fork Breast Health Coalition with a gift of almost $17,000. The donation was a result of the “Pink Card” campaign that was held in October during breast cancer awareness month. For a $10 donation, shoppers could get a 25-percent unlimited-use savings card that was good all month at most of the Riverhead outlet stores.

Tanger Outlets had also sponsored the “5K Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness,” held by the North Fork Breast Health Coalition on September 23. This was the 20thAnniversary of the fundraiser, which traditionally takes place at the Riverhead location and signals the coming of breast cancer awareness month. This year, that event attracted about 320 walkers and brought in almost $21,000 to benefit local breast cancer patients.

Currently led by Susan Ruffini, the North Fork Breast Health Coalition is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that supports local breast-cancer patients with programs such as Helping Hand grants. Funds raised by the event will also allow the group to continue to provide free services such as gentle yoga, massage therapy, reflexology and guided mediation to breast-cancer patients and survivors.

For more information about the North Fork Breast Health Coalition and the services that the organization provides to breast-cancer patients and survivors who reside in the North Fork area, call 631-208-8889, e-mail nfbreasthealth@gmail.comor visit www.northforkbreasthealth.org. Ann Cotton-DeGrasse and the late Antonio DeGrasse founded the North Fork Breast Health Coalition in 1998.