Dana Dance-Schissel has always believed that if you can help, you must. Her family instilled that conviction in her from childhood, and it has stayed with her. It is now taking shape as something unexpected: a Mah Jongg community that is raising thousands of dollars for Shaw at Home.
More Than a Game
Dana was introduced to Mah Jongg, a tile-based game, last summer while recovering from her third back surgery. Looking for human connection and a reason to gather, she began organizing Vail Mah Jongg in June 2025. What started as a small circle of players has grown to more than 300 participants.
“I love the smiles,” Dana says. “I love bringing people together.”
She quickly decided to keep organizing the games for free, funded by donations, with any additional proceeds going to charity. The decision felt natural. Growing up in central Florida, her father—a well-known businessman frequently seen on local television—modeled what it meant to be embedded in a community. Giving back was what their family did. “If you can help, you must help,” Dana says.
A Lifelong Love for Vail
Dana has been coming to the valley since her parents bought a second home in East Vail when she was a toddler. She and her husband have also brought their children here, and she has always imagined making Vail their permanent home. Ten years ago, the couple made it a reality.
Over the years, Dana has been a patient at several Vail Health departments, and the care she received left a lasting impression. “I’ve been through experiences in other towns, in other hospitals and settings, and nothing compares to what I’ve received here,” she reflects. “You’re not in a paper gown and treated like cattle. It’s personal, calm, and comfortable.”
One memory stands out above the rest. In the 1990s, when Vail Health was known as Vail Valley Medical Center, Dana’s young son was seriously ill. She was sitting at the foot of his hospital bed, frightened and uncertain, when a nurse noticed her tears and offered quiet reassurance: “Don’t worry, we’re going to get through this. He’s going to be okay.” She never forgot those consoling words.
Fundraising for Shaw at Home
When Dana decided to direct her fundraising toward a cause, she was inspired by the services offered through Shaw at Home. The program provides comprehensive home-based care to Shaw Cancer Center patients and their families during treatment.
“To be able to have dignity at the different stages that you’re facing in life, especially while being treated for cancer, can make the difference between a good experience and a horrible experience,” she says.
Dana has taken her fundraising a step further by commissioning custom Mah Jongg tiles featuring Vail Valley landmarks from a local artisan. She aims to raise $25,000 for Shaw at Home, with a portion of it coming from a tournament she organized in July.
The tiles, the tournament, the community she has built—all point back to something simple for Dana: caring for one another.
It’s not about me. It’s about making others’ lives better.” Dana Dance-Schissel