Like many New Yorkers, Cynthia and her family were hit very hard by the 2020 pandemic. Each morning, she walked the shorelines of Long Beach searching for peace while she recovered. Looking to give back and make a difference, she volunteered for beach cleanups with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society. Each time, one litter stood out: the number of balloons and tangled ribbons she found. She researched and found this was a little-known but global problem. Over the next two years, an idea for a solution began to take shape: a vision to get ahead of the problem and intercept balloon litter at the source.
From great loss rose purpose. In 2023, Cynthia shifted her focus from insurance and launched the country’s first post-event balloon collection program, the Balloon Mission, in three elementary schools and one public library. Since then, Cynthia has built a movement in sustainable celebrations, expanding collection and recycling initiatives with over 100 participating organizations across twelve states. Balloons are also mailed to the nonprofit by eco-conscious citizens from around the country who want to enjoy their celebrations while protecting people, animals, and the environment from this single-use waste.
Cynthia has lectured in five states on Balloon Mission’s innovative sustainability solutions, the role of collaborative partnerships as an engine for progress, and balloon-legislation initiatives and laws in the U.S.
Cynthia believes that every person, regardless of age or experience, can identify a problem, envision a solution, and make a difference for a better tomorrow. She credits the program's success to the people and partners who said "Yes!" to joining a Balloon Mission.
While she's no Mother Theresa, Cynthia does love this quote, "I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples."
So too does a balloon.
