Monthly Newsletter March 2010
Welcome to the first Cristian Rivera Foundation newsletter. As a valued member of the Cristian Rivera Foundation family, we want to keep you informed each month about everything going on with the Foundation and with the latest advances in medicine that will help realize our dream of a world without Pontine Glioma.What is Pontine Glioma? It's a rare, inoperable brain stem tumor that predominantly affects children between the ages of 1 1/2 and 10. Only 300 cases are discovered in the United States each year and because there is no cure, its young victims only have 3-18 months to live after they've been diagnosed.
It is thanks to you that 2009 was a successful first year for the Cristian Rivera Foundation. We officially launched in July and went live with our website in August. As you remember, we held our first fundraiser gala on September 29 at Eden, which was also the site of Cristian's memorable fifth birthday. We were touched by everyone who came and donated and showed their support. Pictures and video from the event are available at http://cristianriverafoundation.org/, as well as http://cristian-rivera.com/. You can also see an updated gallery of celebrities sporting the Cristian Rivera Foundation wristband, as well as some of Cristian's original artwork.
All of your hard work is only going to make 2010 a stronger and more fruitful year for the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Our billboard will debut on the West Side Highway in late spring/early summer, and a second gala will once again celebrate Cristian's life around the same time. We will certainly keep you posted as dates, locations and special guests are announced.
Our quest toward finding a cure has also led us to Dr. Mark Souweidane, one of the doctors who conducted various shunt surgeries on Cristian. Dr. Souweidane is the Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Director of Pediatric Neurological Surgery at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He has dedicated himself to researching these brain tumors and he thinks he has had a breakthrough testing new delivery methods on animals. Dr. Souweidane has many foundations and private donors contributing money to take his research to the next stage: testing on humans.
The Cristian Rivera Foundation is proud to be one of the foundations supporting Dr. Souweidane's research. But we can't make a difference without your help. All of the members of the Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee ask you to visit our website, http://cristianriverafoundation.org/, and make a tax-deductible donation. Pass this newsletter on to your friends, family and colleagues so that they too can get involved.
Another way you can help is to purchase a Cristian Rivera Foundation wristband and wear it to show your support. You'll be in good company. Committee Member DJ Tedsmooth wore his wristband on Good Day New York. Committee Member and Celebrity Chef Ricardo Cardona, along with Committee Member Solange Osorio, wore it for TV interviews on Univision and the Food Network. Committee Member DJ Camilo wears his wristband every day and at all his appearances. So do Committee Members Steve Cox, Pablo Diaz, Kenya Bradix, Victor Martinez, Alex Aviles, Ralph Mercado III and Dr. Ben Velazquez. Celebrities have also been spotted wearing the Cristian Rivera Wristband, like P.Diddy, Kid Capri, model/actress Bobbi Jo, Dina Manzo from The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Juelz Santana and Khaliah Ali, daughter of Muhammed Ali.
We also invite you to become part of our Wristband Project. We give you 10 wristbands to sell and you mail a check for the proceeds to the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Many people have gotten involved in the project and it has proved to be an effective method of raising both awareness and funds. To get involved, email wristbandproject@cristianriverafoundation.org or call 212-779-2222.
Without dedicated people like you, we would not be able to achieve all we have done so far and all we will do in the future. Thank you again and may 2010 be the year we say goodbye forever to Pontine Glioma.
Sincerely,
John "Gungie" Rivera, "Forever Cristian's Daddy", and all of the members of the Cristian Rivera Committee: Alex Aviles, Andy Epstein, Ann Lee Caceres, Anthony Mason, Bill Marin, 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, Jay Marin, Jeff & Valerie Lavino, Jim Jones, Jimmy Rodriguez, J.I. Starr, John "Jellybean" Benitez, Jessy Terrero, Johnny Nunez, Jose Alberto "El Canario," Joseph Mbeh, Kamar De Los Reyes, Kenya Bradix, Little Louie Vega, Maria Marin, Mark Rosner, Mathew "Mateo" Rajkumar, Melissa Chung, Murray Richman, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ray Wong, Ricardo Cardona, Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Ulysses Terrero, Vic Latino, Victor Martinez and William Pla.
