When smart, compassionate women join forces to make a difference—take note. It will change lives. Pascack Valley native Jennifer Errity and her friends are living proof.
Years ago, when a good friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jennifer watched as her friend, Mary, lost her hair, brows, and lashes due to chemo. Seeing the toll it took on Mary's self-esteem and confidence, Errity encouraged her to visit her own stylists and salons to help her look and feel better. That was only the beginning.
"I shared this with my friend, Jennifer Tannenbaum, and she suggested getting stores to donate clothing for people who are going through cancer treatments. I thought it was a great idea," says Errity. "Then, we added in stylist services and accessories as well."
Jennifer Tannenbaum owns Closet & Retail Therapy, specializing in helping women look great and feel confident in what they wear. Errity, herself has a professional background in the fashion and accessories fields and has numerous contacts in the industry. With that collaboration, Spoil Me Pink (SMP) was launched in 2013 as a non-profit 501c3 organization. "All donations go directly to the women we serve and toward expenses. There are no administrative costs," says Errity.
A third friend was introduced into the mix: Tara Pearl, a two-time breast cancer survivor who knew first-hand how draining cancer treatments can be--both mentally and physically. A valuable addition to the SMP team, Pearl had worked with the American Cancer Society in various fundraising roles. Along with her wealth of life experience, Pearl adds her special touch to events with her home-baked gourmet sweets.
The team secured local salons wanting to support the cause by hosting the events. Small groups of cancer "survivors and thrivers" soon enjoyed a day of pampering and beauty, including hair and wig styling, massage, and skincare. Participants leave with bags overflowing with donated cosmetics, clothing, purses, and accessories. "Thrive Causemetics is one of our outstanding sponsors," says Errity.
Women with cancer are not only struggling with the disease and its treatment but also facing dramatic changes in their bodies. "Their skin is dry; they may have lost a lot of weight or be bloated from medications," states Errity. "They come in looking timid and apprehensive, but they walk out like they are on the runway!"
Live events were not an option throughout the pandemic, so the team devised an online presence in order to be connected, sending out baskets directly to send out baskets to women who requested them. This prompted ABC news and LIVE with Kelly and Ryan to cover the story. The media spots elevated Spoil Me Pink's visibility and dramatically increased its website traffic. During that time, they put over 1500 packages in the mail to all 50 states. Errity’s daughter, Kate, soon came on board as COO to streamline the business and manage its social media presence.
Now, they are thankful to be able to return to their primary focus of "in-person" events. They recently rolled out new events in Florida, and are looking to expand to other areas of the country.
Bringing a bit of joy to women dealing with a cancer diagnosis makes a world of difference. "We're not curing cancer," states Errity. "We’re just giving women a much-needed break.” The testimonies speak for themselves:
“Spoil Me Pink was just what I needed to feel pretty again (even without hair)! You ladies couldn't have made my mother and I feel more at home. There is a special place in heaven for the three of you.”
“Thank you for making me feel special during my makeover! Confidence and strength are all a woman needs. Thank you!”
“What a very special group of women and a very special organization! I not only enjoyed the time here, but I loved looking forward to this very special day. Thank you so very much.”
“I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”
“Thank you for all your time, expertise, and compassion. Even though it was a breast cancer survivor event I forgot for a couple of hours that I was afflicted with the illness. Thank you for helping me realize my new normal. Thank you and God bless.”
“I would call it a labor of love,” says Errity, “but it’s not a labor. I really love doing it.”
Jennifer has been in the fashion industry for over 20 years. She now works for the Pascack Valley Regional High School district as a community internship facilitator, coordinating internships for seniors in high school. She lives in Woodcliff Lake with her husband and three children.
"They come in looking timid and apprehensive, but they walk out like they are on the runway!”
“I would call it a labor of love,” says Errity, “but it’s not a labor. I really love doing it.”