Beauty Bus has been providing beauty and grooming services to chronically and terminally ill patients and their caregivers since 2009. Hairdressers, nail techs and makeup artists volunteer their time and talents while providing those they serve with compassion, thoughtfulness and dignity. Marianne Dougherty, the 2017 Beauty Drive honoree, recently accompanied volunteers Patti Amaral and Letrice Lopez when they visited a Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) patient at her home for her monthly mani pedi. 

“What I’ve learned from my years in this industry is that most beauty professionals are less motivated by money than they are by the desire to make people look good and feel good about themselves,” said Dougherty, a recently retired beauty editor who spent the past 27 years editing the content of the industry’s leading trade publications. “Ultimately it wasn’t the manicure and pedicure that made this home visit so special. It was the human touch and sense of connection that Letrice and Patti provided. And that’s what makes Beauty Bus so vital to our community."

For the past five years, this 20-year-old SMA patient has received monthly mani pedis through Beauty Bus home visits. The massaging of the hands and feet help relaxed her while soothing conversation and gentle touches to her face and hair helped ease her comfort level as the visit continued. 

 For more information on Beauty Bus, or to become a volunteer, please log on to beautybus.org