I am so excited to be nominated as a Luminary for After Dark 2026 and to continue growing my involvement with the American Cancer Society. My journey with ACS began in 2022, when I helped launch the GenNow board in Charlotte, NC. I had the opportunity to work with my now dear friend, Joyce Carion-Mercier. That experience showed me how powerful it can be to bring people together around a shared passion for supporting those affected by cancer. When I moved to New York, I knew I wanted to continue that work and immediately reached out to transfer to the NYC chapter.

Cancer affects so many of us, and for me, it has hit especially close to home. Both my mom and grandma have been diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, advances in medicine allowed them to catch their cancers early and receive the treatment they needed. However, not every patient or family is as fortunate, which has strengthened my passion for the work we do through GenNow. Our fundraising supports Hope Lodge NYC, which provides safe housing for patients and their caregivers while they travel to New York for treatment.

As a 2026 Luminary Nominee, I am excited to bring together friends, family, colleagues, and communities throughout New York to raise funds and awareness for a cause that means so much to me. I am incredibly grateful to everyone supporting my campaign, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together!