MOMbies Dance to Donate
MOMbies Dance to Donate is a philanthropic initiative spearheaded by a collective of mothers in Fairfield, Connecticut, who dress as "ghastly zombies" and hold dance performances to raise funds to support metastatic breast cancer research.[1] Originating with a flash mob performance on Halloween night in 2016,[2][3][4] the initiative supports the Cancer Couch Foundation. As of Halloween 2023, Mombies Dance to Donate had successfully raised over $180,000 and created an annual tradition in their New England community.[citation needed]
History
[edit]In fall 2016, Terry Davis, the creator and director of MOMbies, envisioned a flash mob of spooky moms surprising their kids and neighbors on Halloween.[5][6][7] A group of local mothers began regular rehearsals.[8] On Halloween night, dressed in homemade costumes, the moms emerged as zombies from bushes, driveways, and front porches to dance in the street. The choreography of the MOMbies' performances was orchestrated by Vinny Patino[9] and Paul Herman.[10]
The MOMbies' dance performances have gone viral online, attracting national[11][12][13][14][15] and international attention.[16][17][18] Their annual Halloween performances have changed over the years, featuring new music and choreography, and including Fairfield University students and local first responders.[19]
The Cancer Couch Foundation
[edit]The core mission of MOMbies is to "dance to donate"; they raise funds[how?] for metastatic breast cancer research through the Cancer Couch Foundation. The Cancer Couch Foundation was founded in 2015 by Dr. Rebecca Timlin-Scalera, who was battling stage four metastatic breast cancer; Timlin-Scalera died in 2019. The foundation funds research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.[20][21]
References
[edit]- ^ "BACKSTORY". Mombies Dance to Donate. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Ferrari, Jerrod (November 2, 2016). "Fairfield moms transform in to Mombies in Halloween video". CT Insider. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
- ^ "Fairfield Moms Thrill Trick-or-Treaters with Flash Mob Performance". Fairfield, CT Patch. November 2, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Landaverde • •, Briceyda (October 25, 2023). "A group of MOMbies is dancing to raise awareness about metastatic breast cancer". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Ryan, Lidia (November 1, 2017). "Fairfield 'MOMbies' dance for a good cause". Connecticut Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ ""Mombies" Raise Money For A Good Cause Every Halloween". Scary Mommy. October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Yada, Hina (October 27, 2023). "Moms dress up and dance as 'mombies' to raise money for charity every Halloween". www.msn.com. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Meet The MOMbies, A Group Of Moms From Connecticut Who Dress Up As Zombies And Perform Annual Halloween Dances To Raise Money For Metastatic Breast Cancer Research". Chip Chick. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Weiss, Abby (October 3, 2022). "Gallery: 'MOMbies' group performs dance for first time since 2019". CT Insider. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Moms dress up and dance as 'mombies' to raise money for charity every Halloween". scoop.upworthy.com. October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ ABC World News Tonight (October 31, 2023). "Video 'MOMbies' raise awareness for breast cancer". ABC News. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ "'Mombies' raise money for breast cancer research". NBC News. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
- ^ Weiss, Abby (October 19, 2023). "The Fairfield 'MOMbies' get shout-outs from 'GMA,' 'Today Show'". SFGATE. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "'Mombies' dance to donate in Fairfield fundraiser". NBC New York. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ BOTELHO, JESSICA A. | The National Desk (October 23, 2023). "'Mombies' unite for Halloween fun, but also to raise funds to fight metastatic breast cancer". The National Desk. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Watch: 'Mombies,' Moms Dressed Up As Zombies, Take Over Streets In US; Dance To Thriller". IndiaTimes. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "'Zombies' take over US streets to raise funds for breast cancer research". Hindustan Times. October 24, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ ""Mombies": mães se vestem como zumbis e dançam por boa causa". Crescer (in Brazilian Portuguese). October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Ryan, Lidia (March 1, 2019). "Fairfield 'MOMbies' surprise crowd at basketball game". Connecticut Post. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ Eichenberg, Gretchen (October 27, 2023). "Connecticut moms prowl neighborhood as zombies to raise money for breast cancer research". Fox News. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Dancing mob of Mombies, zombie housewives, dance on Halloween". October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.