A 15-year breast cancer survivor, Abella has been volunteering for American Cancer Society since 2005. She has volunteered with cancer events at Marine Stadium Long Beach, CSULB, and other cities as walker, fundraiser, committee chair, guest speaker, and volunteer entertainer.

Abella serves as a Legislative Ambassador for American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Representing Long Beach, she travels to Sacramento and Washington DC meeting face-to-face with Congress on cancer and national health issues. It is there that she met Congressman Alan Lowenthal and Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell. She is a highly sought guest speaker for events including UCLA Cancer Research Center and more. For her charitable efforts Abella has received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Volunteerism under President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush for more than 100 hours of volunteerism.