Women of Distinction Magazine Selects Pauline Alighieri as a Distinguished Professional in Her Field

    ROCKLAND, MA, October 02, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Pauline Alighieri, Founder and Executive Director of Friends of Mel Foundation, has been recognized as a Distinguished Professional in her field through Women of Distinction Magazine. Pauline Alighieri will be featured in Women of Distinction Magazine in 2016/2017.

Hired as a Flight Attendant in 1968, Pauline Alighieri spent 40 years working in the airline industry. It happened to be where she met her friend Mel Simmons, also a Flight Attendant for Delta Air Lines. Simmons was a devoted single mother, a supportive and loving friend and, in the end, a woman battling metastatic breast cancer. With her infectious, positive energy, legendary generosity, and zany sense of humor, she made a lasting impact on people.

Simmons had that unique ability to make people feel special the moment they met her. Everyone wanted to be known as a "friend of Mel." During her treatment at MGH, a fellow flight attendant brought her a gift of colorful beaded bracelets from Istanbul. Simmons loved sharing them with the nursing staff and other patients who were in treatment with her. Sadly, she passed away in 2005. Soon after, her family and friends started wearing the bracelet in her memory. As the story behind the bracelet spread, even people who did not know Simmons began asking where they could get one. This is when the idea for Mel's Bracelets was born.

It was then that Alighieri and a small circle of women got together with the idea of raising funds for cancer research in her memory.

"With an average donation of $20 and a simple beaded bracelet as a token of appreciation, we set a fundraising goal of $5,000," Alighieri said. "Incredibly, within a year, we raised $1 million, which we gifted to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) where our friend had received treatment. Today, these bracelets are worn by hundreds of thousands of women across the globe to show their commitment to making a difference in the lives of individuals touched by cancer."

In 2006, recognizing an opportunity to grow and continue to make an impact in the cancer community, Alighieri formed the Friends of Mel Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) charity. Over the past 10 years, the organization has grown into an international community of women who have united to make a difference in the cancer world. Since its inception, the foundation has gifted more than $3 million to dozens of organizations to fund research, education, and support for cancer survivors and their caregivers.

Over the past decade, the Friends of Mel Foundation has made great strides, earning numerous awards. Mel's Bracelets have been featured on the 'Katie Show' starring Katie Couric and worn by cancer survivor Robin Roberts on 'Good Morning America'. Serving as Executive Director, Alighieri and her team are overwhelmed with the amount of support they have received over the years.

Looking at the future, Alighieri's specific goal is to understand more about the needs of cancer survivors and their caregivers so the organization can better serve them through education, patient support and wellness initiatives.

For more information, visit www.friendsofmel.org.

About Women of Distinction Magazine:
Women of Distinction Magazine strives to continually bring the very best out in each article published and highlight Women of Distinction. Women of Distinction Magazine's mission is to have a platform where women can grow, inspire, empower, educate and encourage professionals from any industry by sharing stories of courage and success.

Contact:
Women of Distinction Magazine, NY
631-465-9024 [email protected]

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