Monthly Newsletter July 2010Greetings from the Cristian Rivera Foundation.
July marks one year since John “Gungie” Rivera started the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Six months after Cristian Rivera lost his battle with Pontine Glioma, his father dedicated himself to finding a cure and saving future children and their families from the heartbreak associated with this deadly disease.
It’s been an eventful first year, to say the least. Who can forget the Foundation’s first fundraiser gala at New York City indoor/outdoor venue Eden? The site had special significance since it’s where Cristian had his fifth birthday party—the last birthday he was really able to celebrate before Pontine Glioma fully took hold of him. Hosted by comedian Ruperto Vanderpool and emceed by J.I. Starr of La Mega 97.9 FM, the night featured dinner catered by celebrity chefs Ricardo Cardona and Alex Garcia, as well as entertainment from Raul Acosta of Oro Solido and a special speech by former New York City mayoral candidate Bill Thompson.
Photos and videos of the event—which featured such esteemed guests as actor Luis Guzman, actress Miriam Colon, filmmaker Franc Reyes, international Salsa star Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Dina Manzo of Real Housewives of New Jersey and rapper Jim Jones—is available on cristianriverafoundation.org. If you weren’t there to also take part in the festivities, don’t worry. A second event is scheduled for later this year. Keep checking cristianriverafoundation.org for all the details.
Over the past year, the Cristian Rivera Foundation has amassed an impressive Committee that continues to grow month by month. This year alone, we’ve added Luis Guzman, Alex Garcia, Miriam Colon and Mohammad Ali’s daughter, Khalia Ali. Our Committee Members are an essential part of the Foundation’s mission, helping get the word out by wearing Foundation wristbands during public appearances, donating goods and services and selling wristbands as part of our successful Wristband Project.
Another highlight of the Foundation’s first year was the billboard campaign that took place in May on the West Side Highway. “This billboard is something I dreamed of doing since the Foundation started and now that it’s up, people are responding,” John said at the time. “I’ve gotten such positive feedback from friends, family and even strangers. What that tells me is what I set out to do—to raise awareness—is working. And that brings me so much joy.”
That recognition and impact has helped the Cristian Rivera Foundation become a well-respected member of the DIPG community, with established foundations reaching out to one as new as ours. John attended the 8th Annual Dream and Promise Awards Benefit for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, as well as the Fifth Annual Fundraising Event put on by Voices Against Brain Cancer, a foundation started by John’s friend Mario Lichtenstein. At both events, John was struck by the strength of resolve both on the part of the foundations and the parents dealing with Pontine Glioma. “It made me very emotional to hear the parents speak whose children had passed away. So many memories come flooding back after talking with parents who went through the same thing I did,” John said. “I know how difficult it is to keep on living after such a great loss. It takes courage to continue fighting this battle after some would say we’ve already lost.”
As we celebrate our first birthday, we look forward to continuing the fight and we pay tribute to the children who, like Cristian, were not able to survive. John was at the hospital when we lost Cristian’s friend Valeria last November, helping her parents who had become “like family” to him. And just this past month, news came that Danielle Rosario died on Father’s Day. John had come to know her father Larry through a friend from the DIPG community named Bee Farina, whose daughter Meghan also died from Pontine Glioma. John and Larry would talk about the different types of treatment, and they came to be friends by the time Danielle had passed away.
There are 300 new cases of Pontine Glioma detected each year, so more children will meet the same fate as Valeria, Danielle and Cristian if we don’t do something to help. Go to the “Shop” tab at cristianriverafoundation.org to buy a Foundation wristband or one of our new Foundation t-shirts. Once you’ve bought one, wear it proudly and explain to your friends and family just why our cause is so important. You can also sell wristbands to your friends and family on behalf of the Foundation as part of our Wristband Project. All of the money we raise goes towards promising research that will one day result in a cure.
Thank you for your continued support throughout our first year and for all of the hard work that we will do together in the years to come.
Sincerely,
John “Gungie” Rivera, “Forever Cristian’s Daddy,” and all of the members of the Cristian Rivera Committee: Alex Garcia, Andy Epstein, Anthony Mason, Boy Wonder, David Maldonado, Denise Miranda, DJ Camilo, DJ Funkmaster Flex, DJ Tedsmooth, Dr. Ben Velazquez, Dr. Mary Saleeby, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, Hamlet Peralta, James Cruz, James R. Cotto, Jay Hernandez, Jeff & Valerie Lavino, Jim Jones, Jimmy Rodriguez, J.I. Starr, John “Jellybean” Benitez, Jessy Terrero, Johnny Nuñez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Joseph Mbeh, Kamar De Los Reyes, Kenya Bradix, Khaliah Ali, Little Louie Vega, Luis Guzman, Mark Rosner, Mathew “Mateo” Rajkumar, Melissa Chung, Miriam Colon, Murray Richman, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ray Wong, Ricardo Cardona, Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Ulysses Terrero, Vic Latino, Victor Martinez and William Pla.
