It Takes a Pink Village

Little Pink Houses of Hope, the Burlington, North Carolina-based nonprofit that held a breast cancer retreat in Marco Island the first week of June, has a unique and highly efficient business model. With a paid staff of only five, including president and founder Jeanine Patten-Coble, the organization relies heavily on volunteers to conduct its more than 20 retreats across the country each year.

“We absolutely couldn’t do what we do for our families without the passion and support of our volunteers,” said Patten-Coble. “They are the ones who bring our retreats to life for participants and ensure a wonderful and relaxing experience for these families who so need it.”

Each retreat location has two distinct volunteer groups, although their work often overlaps in meaningful and intentional ways during retreat week.

“Team Pink” is the local corps of residents who help plan the week, solicit donations and sponsorships in the months leading up to the event, and help with logistics during the week itself.

The “Volunstars” is a group of volunteers – often from out of town – who are specially trained by Little Pink to act as something similar to a concierge for the families during the retreat. Each Volunstar is typically assigned to two families and acts as their main point of contact during the retreat, ensuring they’re aware of any schedule changes and fielding inquiries from the families, ranging from special meal requests to medical needs and any issues at their rental property.

All Volunstars and most of Team Pink have access to an online mobile app that provides real-time information specific to Marco’s retreat, including the week’s schedule and work assignments, details on the participating families and volunteers, contact info for all involved and information about local medical facilities.

“It’s a classic duck paddling on water scenario,” said Brad Shaw, local Marco Island resident and volunteer retreat coordinator for the week. “To the families, on the surface, it looks pretty seamless and effortless, and that’s the intent. They’re here to relax and not think about anything other than enjoying themselves. Behind the scenes, there’s a ton of effort and coordination that goes into the week, both before the retreat and during it.”

The Volunstars arrive the day before the families check-in and stop by each rental property to inspect the home, flag any potential issues for the property companies, check that the Wi-Fi works, test entry codes, stock the homes with cleaning supplies for the week, and leave behind a gift bag brimming with donated gifts and gift cards from local businesses.

Each day, the Volunstars have a morning meeting that includes some words of inspiration from the retreat director and a recap of the day’s schedule and work assignments. There’s also an evening meeting each day to hear everyone’s favorite moments from that day and review the events planned for the following day.

“We work long, 16 to 18 hour days during the retreat,” said Lauren Willets of Burlington, North Carolina, who served as this year’s volunteer retreat director. “It’s a pretty physical job hauling beach gear, setting up shade canopies, carrying paddle boards, coolers and the like. And keep in mind most of our Volunstars are still working full-time jobs back home, so they’re taking a week’s vacation to be here. It’s a true labor of love.”

In addition to Patten-Coble and Willets, the other Volunstars at this year’s retreat were Marco residents Mary and Brad Shaw; Leanne Aspinall from Atlanta, Georgia; married couple Tiffany and Charles Lowery from Grand Prairie, Texas; and Britney Park from Green Cove Springs, Florida. 

Tiffany Lowery, who is a breast cancer survivor and attended a Little Pink couples retreat with Charles in 2017, said her own experience as a retreat participant had a profound impact on her.

“I returned home with a new mindset,” Lowery said. “I realized it was okay to let others know how I was feeling and be vulnerable. I gained a new family and set of friends in the ladies that attended that retreat. I became a Volunstar to give women the same compassion, love and support that was given to me on my retreat.”  

As for Marco’s Team Pink volunteers, the group held its planning kick-off meeting last November to coincide with Patten-Coble’s visit to Marco Island to meet with current and potential donors, sponsors, and community members. The group met an additional two times prior to the retreat, with Shaw keeping the team updated via email throughout. 

In addition to providing input and suggestions on the week’s activities and meals, Team Pink fanned out into the Marco community to solicit businesses and other organizations and individuals for donations and sponsorships. All told, the group raised more than $30,000 in monetary and in-kind donations and gift cards to local restaurants and businesses. A number of Team Pink members also made substantial personal donations to the retreat.

During the week itself, Team Pink members were assigned specific tasks at the activities and meals, including decorating and cleaning up event spaces, serving food during group meals, helping supervise children during water events, bringing coolers of ice and drinks to each event, and transporting donated food. 

This year’s Team Pink included Deb Henry, Dianne and John Kernan, Amy and Ed Kramer, Sarah and Mark Morze, Marcia and Al Orsolini, Michelle Palazzo and her daughter Dayna Macari of Norwalk, Connecticut, Judy and Larry Sacher, and Fiona Winter. 

Dianne Kernan, who, with her husband John, hosted a home-cooked barbeque for the families at their condominium complex in Isles of Capri, said her experience as a 21-year breast cancer survivor is what drew her to Little Pink.

“I’ve been involved with cancer organizations over the years, doing the walks, volunteering to help out and such, but this to me is beyond anything that I’ve ever been involved in,” Kernan said, noting her own cancer journey gave her a connection to the participants. “They were so caring and felt so hopeful because they met somebody who has gone through the same thing that they’re going through. They see I’m still around and active after 21 years. I told them, ‘You’ve got this. You rock this.’’

“Family fun night was the best,” said Judy Sacher, who helped serve dinner that night with her husband Larry and is a breast cancer survivor herself. “Seeing all the families laughing together like they didn’t have a care in the world was just beautiful. One of the husbands said how much it helped talking with other husbands about their cancer journeys, and that comment really struck home.”

"I wanted to volunteer and give back every single thing I received to another family who was going through the same walk of life that I was," said Volunstar Britney Park, a breast cancer survivor and former retreat participant from Green Cove Springs, Florida. "Spending a week in Marco Island was truly the definition of perfect. It was so beautiful to see so many local partners share their love and support with Little Pink families currently fighting breast cancer. Marco changed the lives of twelve families and changed mine as well."

Anyone wishing to get involved in or donate to the Marco Island Little Pink Houses of Hope should contact Marco Island retreat coordinator Brad Shaw at brad@littlepink.org or 404-274-4834.