On June 10, the Western Mass Mom Prom (WMMP) presented the Cancer House of Hope with an extremely generous donation of $25,000 to help fund the wellness programs and therapies CHH offers to people in our community who are managing a cancer diagnosis. This is the fourth year WMMP has included CHH among the local organizations it raises money for throughout the year.

A 100% volunteer-run effort, WMMP hosts a Purse Bingo event, yoga at a local brewery, and of course, their signature springtime prom—a memorable ladies’ night out with dinner and dancing that had a Kentucky Derby theme this year.

“It has been such a reward for us to be the beneficiaries of your giving and all the hard work you put in,” said CHH Program Director Margaret Toomey to WMMP volunteers at a June 10 thank-you donor celebration. “I’m here every day, so I get to see the fruits of your labor. I get to see how you make a difference in people’s lives.”

Ben Craft, vice president of community engagement at CHD, called WMMP’s donations “amazing acts of benevolence, kindness and generosity. This is sustaining-level funding—funding that keeps the doors of this house open, allows us to provide more services, and expand programming to touch more of the community.”

CHD President and CEO Jim Goodwin said two great things have happened to CHH in the past few years: the hiring of Toomey and the generosity of WMMP. “This kind of donation makes so much difference,” he said. “I am lucky to have met Margaret, and lucky to have been introduced to all of you.”

At the celebration, WMMP presented Toomey with the 2024 Jill Shinners Spirit Award, a new accolade named for a CHH member and volunteer who was also on the WMMP Board. Shinners, who died in 2023, “inspired us in so many ways, and we decided she deserves a legacy that will be continued,” said WMMP Chairperson Stephanie Shaw. Toomey said Shinners “was the most giving person I have ever met.”

WMMP made its debut in 2014 and has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help local women. Mom Prom chapters exist throughout the US, beginning in Michigan in 2006 as one volunteer group that wanted to raise money for their community.

For more information about CHH and WMMP, visit chd.org/cancerhouseofhope and westernmassmomprom.com.