Her many acts of compassion include volunteering as a Room Mother at the Walter C. Black School, providing music and movement classes at Better Beginnings and other child care centers in the area, At First Presbyterian Church of Hightstown, she is confirmation mentor, director of vacation bible school, and offers bible study classes for teachers and children.

Annually, she sponsors a child through the Fresh Air program, she has opened her home to a homeless pregnant teenager, and has taken into her home an 80-year old neighbor, in poor health, where she provided health care and love.

She and her husband, Pete Bussone (Cherish the Children Awardee 2003) have for years provided each child at Better Beginnings a bilingual book for his or her birthday. They also have provided a holiday stocking, each with the child's name individually printed thereon. In 2003, they conducted a massive toy collections which were distributed to the children at Better Beginnings, Home Front, Hightstown Head Start, and the Community Action Service Center.

For the topper, Mrs. Peterson-Bussone, with assistance from her husband and an impressive committee, chaired the Mayors' Shining Star Gala held on April 25, a very successful and time-consuming benefit for Better Beginnings.