FDA Officially Approves Clinical Trial Headed By Dr. Mark Souweidane

Dr. Mark Souweidane, a neurosurgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Director of the Weill Cornell Pediatric Brain and Spine Center, officially received FDA approval on Thursday, December 29, 2011 for his pioneering clinical trial aimed at finding a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Dr. Souweidane will be selecting 12 patients for the trial, which is expected to begin in the last week of January. The innovative use of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) will be the first of its kind to administer radio immunotherapy to children with an otherwise incurable tumor. The doctor has worked for the past 12 years to cure the inoperable tumor, which takes the life of 200 children in the United States every year, typically within three to 18 months after diagnosis.

11-year-old Victim of Brain Tumor Exhibited Zest Beyond Her Years She raised $350,000, participated in medical trials and did 100 paintings.

By Sandy Strickland

While she was dying from a brain stem tumor, 11-year-old Ellie Kavalieros showed others how to live. 

She participated in a painful vaccine trial that she knew probably wouldn't save her but would provide valuable data for those diagnosed in the future. 

She inspired events that brought in more than $350,000 for a research fund in her honor. 

She did 100 paintings and had a show at the Cummer Gallery of Art & Gardens. 

She dressed as a banana last Halloween, her favorite holiday. 

The Jacksonville Country Day School sixth-grader died at home on Christmas Day with her big stuffed kitty and the blanket that swaddled her as a newborn in the crook of her arm. 

So inspiring was her story that she received 107 messages of condolence on a tribute page. 

"She lived every day to its fullest," said her father, Nick Kavalieros. "She was passionate about the way she lived." 

The Jacksonville native was diagnosed in May 2010 with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, an inoperable brain tumor and deadly pediatric cancer. There is no cure. 

After agreeing to the vaccine trial designed to stimulate her immune system, Ellie and her parents made about 13 trips to Pittsburgh for the experimental vaccine. Most people with the disease live nine months, said Kavalieros, adding that she lasted longer than the 14 or so others in the trial. 

"She fought for 19 months and largely because she did love life so much," he said. "A lot of the reason she lived as long as she did and fought as long as she did is that she looked past all the deficits, the pain and the frustration that this horrific disease gives you and found laughter, love and that quality of life that she needed." 

Her brain images became a major topic at pediatric brain conferences across the world because she was so unorthodox in how the disease affected her and how she fought it, he said. 

She met celebrities, such as Tim Tebow and tennis player Roger Federer, and had a touching phone conversation with surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm to a shark and inspired Ellie in times of frustration, said her mother Lisa. 

The "A" student also was an avid surfer and tennis player who enjoyed being outdoors and trying new things such as scuba diving or unusual cuisine. When her body stopped working, she met the challenge of being inside by turning to art. 

It was difficult because she would breathe so hard and fast that her chest would heave up and down for days, Kavalieros said. A week before she died, she painted for hours at the kitchen table barely able to prop herself up. 

The Kavalieroses said they are grateful for the care she received from pediatric oncologist Michael Joyce at Nemours Children's Clinic and the staff at Wolfson Children's Hospital, where she spent many weeks. 

Friends and classmates raised money for the research fund through birthday parties, lemonade stands, cookie sales, a rock concert, a golf tournament, a haunted house designed by a Mayo surgeon who is their neighbor and a 150-mile bike ride made by a family friend in Massachusetts and 13 of his friends. Donations may be made to The Ellie Kavalieros DIPG Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,www.jimmyfund.kintera.org/Ellie-DIPG. 

Other survivors include two younger sisters, Mila and Penelope, and grandparents Theodoros and Aphrodite Kavalieros and Jack and Rosemary Arnold of Jacksonville. 

A celebration of her life will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Deerwood Country Club, 10239 Golf Club Drive.

For more on her life, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/elliekavalieros. (You must be a registered user of Caring Bridge to see this page. It is free to register.)

Cristian Rivera Foundation December 2011 Newsletter

Monthly Newsletter December 2011

Greetings from the Cristian Rivera Foundation.

The holiday season is officially upon us and at this festive time of year, when asked what The Cristian Rivera Foundation's holiday wish is, founder John "Gungie" Rivera said "to cure DIPG once and for all." We are blessed with so many amazing supporters who share our passion for helping the 200 children who face a deadly DIPG tumor each year, and share our resolve that our wish will come true in our lifetime.

We are proud to have a new Committee Member come on board this month to help us make our dream a reality in 2012. Welcome aboard, Jaison Newring.


Jaison Newring is the Vice President of NYC Tastemakers, where he runs the company's nightclub division. Newring has brought his unique touch to nightlife events at some of the city's top hotspots, including Duvet, LQ and China Club. Newring is also the author of weekly music blog Waking Up Dreaming, which focuses on videos and content from emerging artists.


How can you help make this holiday miracle come true for young children and their families across the country?

Get Involved: The Cristian Rivera Foundation holds many fundraiser events throughout the year, including concerts, walk-athons and an annual gala. The first annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Paintball Tournament was held on Saturday, December 3, at NYC Paintball, 47-11 Van Dam Street in Long Island City , from 8am to 12 noon. We'd like to thank everyone who attended and congratulate the winners, Team AVS. 100% of the proceeds from the first annual Paintball Tournament went to the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Special thanks must go to Committee Member Robert Vazquez for organizing the event. Robert is celebrating his birthday this month, along with fellow Committee Members Anthony Mason, Jose Alberto "El Canario," Wiliam Pla, Rickie Ricardo and Elis Pacheco.

If you were unable to attend, you can still make a donation by visiting www.cristianriverafoundation.org and clicking the Donation tab. And please be sure to check our website, as well as our Facebook page www.facebook.com/cristianriverafoundation and our Twitter feed @TweetCRF in the New Year as more fun and exciting events are being planned, all with the goal of raising money toward finding a cure.

Satisfy Your Holiday Shopping List With Cristian Rivera Foundation Merchandise: The Cristian Rivera Foundation's first Merchandise Catalog is now available on our website. Click through to see all of the various items we have for sale, including our signature blue wristband and our new wristband with white lettering, two types of t-shirts, and necklaces and brown beaded bracelets with your choice of a brass or silver charm. Visit www.cristianriverafoundation.org and click the Shop Tab to make a purchase online.



Remember that the Cristian Rivera Foundation is a 501(c)(3) and all donations made to the foundation are tax deductible. Your donations go toward helping DIPG families in need and funding important research and clinic al trials by doctors and medical facilities at the forefront of DIPG research. The Cristian Rivera Foundation donated $100,000 at the Third Annual Gala to Dr. Mark Souweidane, a neurosurgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Director of the Weill Cornell Pediatric Brain and Spine Center. Starting in 2012, we will also begin supporting the research of Dr. Oren Becher from the Duke Department of Pediatrics, who has been doing mouse model work and studying tumor tissue to learn more about DIPG tumors. In particular, Dr. Becher is studying Cristian's tumor tissue, donated after he passed away. According to Dr. Becher, Cristian's tumor tissue has been the most helpful in helping scientists learn all there is to know about DIPG tumors.

We received the great news on Thanksgiving that Dr. Souweidane received approval from Memorial Sloan Kettering for his pioneering clinical trial into the innovative use of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) to administer radio immunotherapy. He is well on his way to starting his trial and bringing us ever closer to finding a cure.

Unfortunately, with every piece of good news about developments in DIPG research we must also face the devastating news of lives being taken too soon by this terrible disease. With great sadness, the Cristian Rivera Foundation announced that Heaven gained another DIPG Angel on Thursday November 17. Jordan Malave passed away at 6:30 that Thursday morning, bringing to an end his three-year battle with DIPG. He fought for an exceptionally long time and showed incredible bravery and strength in the face of this dreadful disease. John "Gungie" Rivera and the entire Cristian Rivera Foundation extend their sincerest condolences to Jordan 's parents, Leeana Castro and Jayson Malave, and his entire family.

The Cristian Rivera Foundation started a DIPG Angels page on our website, http://cristianriverafoundation.org/dipgka.html, to honor all of the children whose lives have been lost to DIPG. We sent out an email to the Yahoo and Google DIPG groups inviting parents to participate in the page as a tribute to their child who fought so hard and so bravely. The Cristian Rivera Foundation’s DIPG Angels page features photos of the children, which link back to their individual CaringBridge or foundation page. Any DIPG parents who would like their child included on this page can email John “Gungie” Rivera at gungie@cristianriverafoundation.org.

With every beautiful child who passes away, we are reminded how horrible DIPG is and why it needs to be cured within our lifetime. So this holiday season, think of the Cristian Rivera Foundation, Jordan Malave, all of the DIPG Angels who suffered so needlessly at such a young age, and all of the children and families fighting every day to beat this terrible monster. Share your family's blessings with those in need by purchasing Cristian Rivera Foundation merchandise or making a donation at our website,www.cristianriverafoundation.org, or by mail via check made out to The Cristian Rivera Foundation.

Please note that our address has changed and mail all correspondences to:The Cristian Rivera Foundation
40 West 37th Street, Suite 402
New York, NY 10018

Our phone number remains the same at 212-779-2222.

We want to take this time to thank each and every member of the Cristian Rivera Foundation family for your love and dedication to this incredible cause. We wish you and your family only the best this holiday season and look forward to your continued support in 2012.

Sincerely,
“Cristian’s Mommy” Jenelle Asencio, John “Gungie” Rivera “Forever Cristian’s Daddy,” and all of the members of the Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee: Aldo Marin, Alex Garcia, Andy Epstein, Anthony Mason, Camilo, Carlos Colon, Carlos Keyes, Dr. Bear Walker, Dr. Ben Velazquez, Carlos R. Colon, Dolores Catania, Doug E. Fresh, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, Fulvia Lora, Funkmaster Flex, Hamlet Peralta, Jaison Newring, Jay Hernandez, Jeff Lavino, Jerry Chaparro, Jerry Salerno, J.I. Starr, Jim Jones, John “Jelly Bean” Benitez, Johnny Nuñez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Joseph Mbeh, Kamar De Los Reyes, Karen Cerna, Katie DeFlorio, Kenan Thompson, Khaliah Ali, Little Louie Vega, Luis Guzman, Manuel Alejandro Ruiz (Boy Wonder), Mark Rosner, Matthew “Mateo” Rajkumar, Melissa Chung, Miriam Colon, Murray Richman, Odalys Molina, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ramon E. Javier, Ray Wong, Ricardo Cardona, Rickie Ricardo, Robert Vazquez, Ruben Sierra, Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Tony Ferrara, Victor Martinez, Vito Bruno, William Padilla and William Pla.

Michelle Monje '98

Vassar alumna Michelle Monje '98 talks about her work as a pediatric oncologist and her groundbreaking research on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a highly aggressive pediatric brain tumor.

Brain Stem Glioma Research

Dr. Michael Prados of the University of California, San Francisco
talks about advances in brain stem glioma research.

Happy Holidays from the Cristian Rivera Foundation

 

We at the Cristian Rivera Foundation extend the warmest of holiday greetings to our friends, family and supporters. Thank you for the generosity and care you've shown throughout the year, whether it be through making donations, attending our events, or even just wearing our wristband every day and educating your loved ones about our cause. You have made an amazing contribution to the fight against DIPG and we look forward to taking the fight even further in 2012. We would also like to extend a special greeting to all of the brave DIPG families. Whether your child has already earned their wings or your family is still in the midst of this devastating struggle, we want to thank you for inspiring us and showing us all the true meaning of love, bravery and courage. You are all in our thoughts this holiday season.

Foundation Battles To Fight Brain Tumor In Paintball Tourney

 A group of paintballers came together in Queens on Saturday with a mission to remember a little boy who lost his life to a rare illness.

Cristian Rivera died in 2009 from pontine glioma, a brain stem tumor which strikes up to 300 children per year in North America and has no cure.

The foundation named in Rivera’s honor held a paintball tournament to raise money to fight the disease in Long Island City.

“We do six to seven annual events a year and the goal is to try to raise funds for the clinical trials, awareness, and support families who are currently dealing with the disease,” Ridgewood resident Ralph Mercado said.

Eleven teams raised more $4,000.

The Cristian Rivera Foundation Hosts Successful First Annual Paintball Tournament

 

The Cristian Rivera Foundation gathered supporters, Committee Members and paintball lovers alike for the foundation's First Annual Paintball Tournament. Teams competed from 8am to 12 noon at NYC Paintball in Long Island City on Saturday December 3. It was a morning filled with high-energy but good-spirited competition. The main goal was not to win—though victory was certainly sweet for winners Team AVS. The true goal of the day was to raise money toward finding a cure for DIPG, a rare, inoperable brain stem tumor that takes the lives of 200 children in the United States each year. All of the proceeds from the First Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Paintball Tournament went toward that goal. If you missed this amazing event, visit www.cristianriverafoundation.org where new events are being announced all the time. You can also use that link to make a donation and help find a cure for DIPG.

The Cristian Rivera Foundation Helps Raise Over $7500.00 for DIPG Research

Pictured Above From Left to Right:Cristian Rivera Foundation Founder John "Gungie" Rivera, Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee Member Chef Ricardo Cardona, Founder of the Mikey Czech Foundation Steve Czech, and The Winner of The Auction

The Cristian Rivera Foundation and Committee Member and Celebrity Chef Ricardo Cardona helped raise over $7500 at the 4th Annual "Moms for Mikey" event, held at The Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT in memory of DIPG Angel Mikey Czech. The Cristian Rivera Foundation donated an event package with Chef Cardona that was auctioned at the fundraiser gala on Saturday November 19. The lucky winner bid $7500 to have Chef Cardona come to their home and cook for 10 people. One server, food and wine was included in the winning bid. The Cristian Rivera Foundation also donated a baseball autographed by New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, which was auctioned off as part of a gift basket. We are proud of the work being done by the Mikey Czech Foundation and are happy to help in whatever way we can, so that together one day we can rid the world of DIPG once and for all.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Cristian Rivera Foundation

The Cristian Rivera Foundation would like to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. DIPG has taught us how important it is to appreciate those we love and we give thanks for those who are with us, as well as those who have gone on to Heaven, at this joyous time of year. Together we will work tirelessly so that one day we'll be able to give thanks for DIPG's cure as well.

The Cristian Rivera Foundation Remembers Faith Sonia Griffin on Her 9th Birthday

Today, Tuesday November 22, 2011, marks what would have been Faith Sonia Griffin’s 9th birthday. Sadly, Faith is not here with us to celebrate her big day. After fighting bravely against DIPG for approximately 13 months, Faith earned her wings on November 2, 2008. Faith, her parents Charles and Sonia, and her younger brother Elijah are in our hearts and our thoughts today.

Jordan Malave Earns His Wings After Long Battle With DIPG

With great sadness, the Cristian Rivera Foundation announced that Heaven gained another DIPG Angel on Thursday November 17. Jordan Malave passed away at 6:30 on Thursday morning, bringing to an end his three-year battle with DIPG. He fought for an exceptionally long time and showed incredible bravery and strength in the face of this terrible disease. Cristian Rivera Foundation founder John "Gungie" Rivera had become close to Jordan and his parents, Leeana Castro and Jayson Malave, and even saw Jordan after his kindergarten graduation this past June. Jordan reminded John very much of Cristian, and watching him suffer was like living through Cristian's illness all over again. John and the entire Cristian Rivera Foundation extend their sincerest condolences to Jordan's family as they are once again reminded how horrible DIPG is and why it needs to be cured within our lifetime.

Cristian Rivera Foundation November 2011 Newsletter

Greetings from the Cristian Rivera Foundation.

Welcome to the Cristian Rivera Foundation November newsletter.

This month started off with an amazing concert produced by Committee Member Vito Bruno. Freestyle Free for All and Friends was held Saturday November 5 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ, with performances from Tiffany, Slick Rick, Stevie B, Vanilla Ice, Cover Girls, Rockell, Noel, Lisa Lisa, Corina and Judy Torres. The show also featured three former members of TKA appearing on stage together for the first time in more than a decade to perform hits like "One Way Love," "Scars of Love" and "Maria." Vito included the Cristian Rivera Foundation in all of the advertising for the concert, showing a great example of how a committee member can take what he or she already does and use it to spread the word about the foundation.

Three of Vito's fellow committee members also had reason to celebrate this month. Carlos Keyes and John "Jellybean" Benitez both celebrated their birthdays, and we'd like to send out warmest birthday wishes to both of them. Kenan Thompson, who many of you got to see as one of the hosts at this year's Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala, also deserves our congratulations as he and his fiancée Christina Evangeline were married on Friday, November 11, 2011. 11/11/11 only comes around once in a millennium and The Cristian Rivera Foundation wishes them as many years, and more, of happiness.

As we celebrate the achievements of our esteemed committee members, we are happy to announce that three brand new committee members have joined their ranks:
Carlos Colon is the founder of X-Interactive Media, a startup company that specializes in developing custom applications. He has developed software for MindSpark and designed branding and identity campaigns for major events at venues such as the Madison Square Garden, the Las Vegas Hilton, Jones Beach and Lincoln Center. He designed www.cristian-rivera.com and had an integral part in the creation of the Cristian Rivera Foundation's official website as well.

Dolores Catania currently works in the medical field and has made numerous guest appearances on Bravo TV's blockbuster hit, "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." She serves on the Board of Directors for St. Joseph's Hospital and is a Founding Board Member of Project Ladybug, a children's charity that aids the families of those stricken with cancer.

Karen Cerna has been with "The Late Show with David Letterman" for over 12 years. She was hired as a part-time employee in the Audience department and has risen to her current position as the Senior Audience Coordinator for the show. Cerna is a firm believer in the importance of advocating and giving back to the community, which is why she currently sits on the Board of Directors of two non-profit organizations, The Long Beach Latino Civic Association and Sinergia.



We are proud to have Carlos, Dolores and Karen join the Cristian Rivera Foundation family, and we hope that all of you will join us on Saturday December 3 for the first-ever Cristian Rivera Foundation Paintball Fundraiser at NYC Paintball, located at 47-11 Van Dam Street in Long Island City. Committee Member Robert Vazquez organized the event, where 15 five-person teams will face off, all with the common goal of curing DIPG. The event runs from 8am to 12pm and costs $75 per person ($375 per team of five). The cost includes the gun, protective equipment, facilities and unlimited paintballs, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Please visit http://cristianriverafoundation.org/events.html or call 212-779-2222 to sign up.

While you are on our website, be sure to visit the Shop tab where you'll find great Cristian Rivera Foundation merchandise to put on your holiday wish list. Choose from three types of Cristian Rivera Foundation t-shirts, two Cristian Rivera Foundation wristbands in Cristian's favorite color blue, and our new bracelets inspired by Cristian's Mommy Jenelle Asencio. Each brown beaded bracelet features the Cristian Rivera Foundation logo in your choice of a bronze or silver charm. The bracelet was already seen on the wrist ofNew York Yankee greats Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia, as well as celebrity chefs Ricardo Cardona and Alex Garcia, Hot 97's Angie Martinez, and Danielle Staub of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey." Visit http://cristianriverafoundation.org/shop.html to order yours today.

As we approach the holiday season, it's important to remember those who are less fortunate and need our help. Approximately 200 children in the United States between the ages of 1 and 9 received a diagnosis of DIPG this year. With your help and support, the Cristian Rivera Foundation can make sure this is not the last Thanksgiving or Christmas they get to spend with their families. Happy holidays and full steam ahead!

Sincerely,
“Cristian’s Mommy” Jenelle Asencio, John “Gungie” Rivera “Forever Cristian’s Daddy,” and all of the members of the Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee: Aldo Marin, Alex Garcia, Andy Epstein, Anthony Mason, Camilo, Carlos Colon, Carlos Keyes, Dr. Bear Walker, Dr. Ben Velazquez, Dolores Catania, Doug E. Fresh, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, Fulvia Lora, Funkmaster Flex, Hamlet Peralta, Jay Hernandez, Jeff Lavino, Jerry Chaparro, Jerry Salerno, J.I. Starr, Jim Jones, John “Jelly Bean” Benitez, Johnny Nuñez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Joseph Mbeh, Kamar De Los Reyes, Karen Cerna, Katie DeFlorio, Kenan Thompson, Khaliah Ali, Little Louie Vega, Luis Guzman, Manuel Alejandro Ruiz (Boy Wonder), Mark Rosner, Matthew “Mateo” Rajkumar, Melissa Chung, Miriam Colon, Murray Richman, Odalys Molina, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ramon E. Javier, Ray Wong, Ricardo Cardona, Rickie Ricardo, Robert Vazquez, Ruben Sierra, Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Tony Ferrara, Victor Martinez, Vito Bruno, William Padilla and William Pla.

Freestyle Free for All and Friends

EVENT: Vito Bruno Presents Freestyle Free For All and Friends

VENUE: Trump Taj Mahal

DATE: Saturday, November 5, 2011

TIME: 8:00pm

ARTISTS: The Reunion
Performing for the first time on the same stage in more than a Decade. Three former members of TKA "One Way Love","Scars of Love" and "Maria".
Stevie B
"Spring Love"

Vanilla Ice
"Ice Ice Baby"

Cover Girls
"Show Me"

Noel
"Silent Morning"

Lisa Lisa
"Head to Toe"
Slick Rick
"The Show" "La di Da Di"

Tiffany
"I think Were Alone Now"

Rockell
"In A Dream"

Corina
"Temptation"

Judy Torres
"Come into My Arms"

MGM Guarnera Brothers

DETAILS: Part of the proceeds go to benefit the Cristian Rivera Foundation

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL
1000 Boardwalk Atlantic City, NJ 08401

For More Information go to http://cristianriverafoundation.org/events.html

A Run/Walk-A-Thon to benefit the Cristian Rivera Foundation

EVENT: Soldiers of the Military proudly present
A Run/Walk-A-Thon to benefit the Cristian Rivera Foundation

VENUE: Joe Michael's Mile

DATE: Sunday, November 13, 2011

TIME: Report in at 8:00am
Run/Walk-A-Thon 10:00am - 1:00pm

DETAILS: All Proceeds from this event will benefit the Cristian Rivera Foundation

For More Information go to http://cristianriverafoundation.org/events.html

The First Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Paintball Tournament

Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee Member Robert Vazquez Presents The First Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Paintball Tournament!

VENUE: NYC Paintball

DATE: Saturday, December 3, 2011

TIME: 8:00am - 12:00 Noon

DETAILS: Everything Included (Gun, Protective Equiptment, Facilites + Unlimited Paintballs)
Proceeds from this event go to benefit the Cristian Rivera Foundation

TICKETS: $75 per team member ($375 per 5 person team)

For more information click the picture to the right or go to http://www.cristianriverafoundation.org/events.html

Fundraiser for Valentina Bravin - Saturday October 29, 2011

EVENT: Fundraiser for Valentina Bravin

VENUE: Mulcahy's Pub & Concert Hall

DATE: Saturday, October 29, 2011

TIME: 3:00pm - 7:00pm

DETAILS: 4 Hours of Open bar, buffet and music

TICKETS: $50 per person

If you cannot attend but would still like to contribute,
please make checks payable to:
"Friends of Valentina"
c/o C. Aiello
431 Scranton Ave
Lynbrook, NY 11563

Mulchy's Pub & Concert Hall
3232 Railroad Avenue, Wantagh, NY

For More Information go to http://cristianriverafoundation.org/events.html

Fundraiser for Valentina Bravin - Friday November 18, 2011

EVENT: Fundraiser for Valentina Bravin

VENUE: Mulcahy's Pub & Concert Hall

DATE: Friday, November 18, 2011

TIME: 7:00pm

DETAILS: Fantastic Prizes Will Be Raffled Off!

ADMISSION: $25 per person

Come on down and join us for a night of food, music and fun in order to support this beautiful 4-1/2 year old (our niece) who was recently diagnosed with DIPG, a rare inoperable brainstem tumor. Due to its location and the speed at which the tumor grows, treatment options are very limited. There have been no medical advancements made in the treatment of DIPG in over 30 years.

Please join us to help support the Bravin family as medical bills and expenses build. All proceeds will go directly to Valentina, a Farmingdale, NY child and now an MD Anderson Cancer Center patient in Texas.

For Additional Information,
Contact Gina at (516) 385-9739 or
Frank (516) 509-7862 or
beans14orosz@netscape.net

If you cannot attend but would still like to contribute,
please mail your donation to:
"Friends of Valentina"
c/o Mr. & Mrs. Orosz
431 Scranton Ave
Lynbrook, NY 11563

VFW Lynbrook
235 Merrick Rd, Lynbrook, NY

For More Information go to http://cristianriverafoundation.org/events.html

Cristian Rivera Foundation October 2011 Newsletter

Greetings from the Cristian Rivera Foundation.

Welcome to the Cristian Rivera Foundation October Newsletter.
We are still feeling all of the amazing love and support from the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala on Monday September 12 at the Copacabana Supper Club and Event Space. This year’s event far surpassed the first and second galas, and it’s thanks to people like you who share our passion for curing DIPG. Through overwhelming ticket sales, live and silent auction purchases and donations, the Cristian Rivera Foundation was able to present Dr. Mark Souweidane a check for $100,000. Dr. Souweidane, the Director of the Weill Cornell Pediatric Brain and Spine Center, was present at the event and took the opportunity to announce that his one-of-a-kind novel delivery system has gotten approval from the FDA and clinical trials will start in a few weeks.

The Third Annual Gala was hosted by two of our esteemed committee members, Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson and award-winning actor Luis Guzman, and attended by many high-profile guests, including Danielle Staub of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, comedian Ruperto Vanderpool, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., New York City Comptroller John Liu and Dangerous Minds actor Renaly Santiago. We also welcomed many Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee Members, including former Bronx Borough President and mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer, actress and founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Miriam Colon, legendary producer John “Jellybean” Benitez, former New York Knicks all-star Anthony Mason, La Mega’s JI Starr, concert impresario Ralph Mercado III, interior decorator Solange Osorio and professional body builder Victor Martinez. Photos from the event are available on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/cristianriverafoundation, as well as on our website at http://cristianriverafoundation.org/gala3/default.html.

If you were able to join us at the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala, not only were you in very good company but you got to enjoy delicious food provided by Celebrity Chefs and Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee Members Alex Garcia and Ricardo Cardona and an incredible band set from pop/Latin singer Brenda K. Starr. You also saw a heart-breaking video that chronicled Cristian’s struggle with DIPG, as well as interviews with Dr. Souweidane about why this disease desperately needs to be cured.

Whether you were there with us that night or not, you know that the fight to cure DIPG is far from over. We highlighted many of the DIPG Angels whose lives were taken too soon, and sadly another DIPG Angel has earned his wings. A three-year-old boy whose name was JuJu died just days after the gala. His mother had only recently reached out to John “Gungie” Rivera, so although he traveled to Massachusetts for the funeral, he never got the opportunity to meet this brave little boy who suffered so much.

Children like JuJu are losing their lives every day to DIPG. The Cristian Rivera Foundation aims to put a stop to this and save children like Valentina Bravin, who is currently still struggling with the disease and recently had a benefit held in her honor, which John attended. We can never lose sight of what is truly important in the fight against DIPG. Through hard work and dedication, the Cristian Rivera Foundation and supporters like you are saving lives.

To help continue our quest for a cure, we are proud to announce the first-ever Cristian Rivera Foundation Paintball Fundraiser on Saturday December 3, 2011 at NYC Paintball, located at 47-11 Van Dam Street in Long Island City. Committee Member Robert Vazquez organized the event, where 15 five-person teams will face off, all with the common goal of curing DIPG. The event runs from 8am to 11:30 am and costs $75 per person ($375 per team of five). The cost includes the gun, protective equipment, facilities and unlimited paintballs, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Please visit www.cristianriverafoundation.org or call to sign up.

Even if paintball isn’t your thing, you can help get us even closer to our goal by making a donation or purchasing a Cristian Rivera Foundation t-shirt, wristband or new bracelet. Inspired and designed by Cristian’s Mommy Jenelle Asencio, these new beaded bracelets got a great reception when they debuted at the gala. Each brown beaded bracelet features the Cristian Rivera Foundation logo in your choice of a bronze or silver charm. The bracelet was already seen on the wrist of New York Yankee greats CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez, as well as celebrity chefs Ricardo Cardona and Alex Garcia, Hot 97's Angie Martinez, and Danielle Staub of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. Visit http://cristianriverafoundation.org/shop.html to order yours today.

While you are on our website, you’ll notice some new committee members have joined our cause:

Ramon Javier Esq. is a senior attorney with Mintzer, Sarowitz, Zeris, Ledva & Meyers, LLP, a law firm with offices throughout the Northeast and Florida. Mr. Javier is a litigator who has been practicing law since 1995. He is admitted to practice law in New York, District of Columbia, and Florida, and proudly provides pro bono service to select causes and clients.

William Padilla is the founder of Bronx Base Builders, a union general contractor that has worked closely with the New York City school system to build auditoriums and science labs, among other public and private projects in the commercial industry.

Jerry Salerno has led several entrepreneurial ventures in the entertainment industry. He served as founder and president of Metropolitan Recording Corporation and a principal at Sun Plastics Co./Dynamic LP Stereo. He also started a national distribution network and an international licensing network.

We are pleased to welcome Ramon Javier, William Padilla and Jerry Salerno to the Cristian Rivera Foundation family. We would also like to send our congratulations to two other committee members who are currently celebrating wonderful news. Victor Martinez just won the first-ever Arnold Classic in Europe on Saturday, October 9th and came in 4th at the Mr Olympia Contest on Sunday, September 18th. Katie Deflorio Conte just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy with her husband Giuseppe. We are proud of both you guys. Please make sure to share this newsletter with your friends, family and colleagues so they too can get involved in our never-ending quest to cure DIPG and save the 200-300 children ages 1-9 who receive this terrible diagnosis every year. Visit our website, www.cristianriverafoundation.org to make a donation, see photos and videos, read John “Gungie” Rivera’s journals and hear all of the latest news about the Cristian Rivera Foundation. You can also follow us on Twitter @tweetcrf. Together we can make our dream of curing DIPG a reality once and for all. Full Steam Ahead!

Sincerely,

“Cristian’s Mommy” Jenelle Asencio, John “Gungie” Rivera “Forever Cristian’s Daddy,” and all of the members of the Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee: Aldo Marin, Alex Garcia, Andy Epstein, Anthony Mason, Camilo, Carlos Keyes, Dr. Bear Walker, Dr. Ben Velazquez, Doug E. Fresh, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, Fulvia Lora, Funkmaster Flex, Hamlet Peralta, Jay Hernandez, Jeff Lavino, Jerry Chaparro, Jerry Salerno, J.I. Starr, Jim Jones, John “Jelly Bean” Benitez, Johnny Nuñez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Joseph Mbeh, Kamar De Los Reyes, Katie DeFlorio, Kenan Thompson, Khaliah Ali, Little Louie Vega, Luis Guzman, Manuel Alejandro Ruiz (Boy Wonder), Mark Rosner, Matthew “Mateo” Rajkumar, Melissa Chung, Miriam Colon, Murray Richman, Odalys Molina, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ramon E. Javier, Ray Wong, Ricardo Cardona, Rickie Ricardo, Robert Vazquez, Ruben Sierra, Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Tony Ferrara, Victor Martinez, Vito Bruno, William Padilla and William Pla.

The Cristian Rivera Foundation Donates $100,000 to Dr. Mark Souweidane of Weill Cornell Medical Center at Third Annual Gala

Thanks to overwhelming ticket sales, live and silent auction purchases, and donations associated with this year’s Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala, John “Gungie” Rivera was proud to present Dr. Mark Souweidane with a check for $100,000 at the star-studded event. 

John was joined on stage by all of the Cristian Rivera Foundation committee members in attendance - including former Bronx Borough President and mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer, celebrity chef Alex Garcia, actress and founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Miriam Colon, celebrity chef Ricardo Cardona, legendary producer John “Jellybean” Benitez, former New York Knicks all-star Anthony Mason, La Mega’s JI Starr, concert impresario Ralph Mercado III, interior decorator Solange Osorio and professional body builder Victor Martinez - or this historic moment. 

The event was held at the newly re-launched Copacabana Supper Club and Event Space in Times Square and hosted by Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson and award-winning actor Luis Guzman, both committee members of the Cristian Rivera Foundation. It featured a 30-minute band set by legendary pop/Latin singer Brenda K. Starr and food provided by Celebrity Chefs Ricardo Cardona and Alex Garcia. Among the night’s esteemed guests were Danielle Staub of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, comedian Ruperto Vanderpool, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., New York City Comptroller John Liu, Dangerous Minds actor Renaly Santiago and, of course, Dr. Souweidane, the Director of the Weill Cornell Pediatric Brain and Spine Center who took this opportunity to announce that his one-of-a-kind novel delivery system has gotten approval from the FDA and clinical trials will start in a few weeks. 

You can still help the Cristian Rivera Foundation raise money for Dr. Souweidane’s exciting and important work. Visit www.cristianriverafoundation.org to make a donation, or to purchase signature foundation t-shirts or one of our three styles of wristbands. All money raised goes directly to Dr. Souweidane and his team, and every donation, big or small, helps us get closer to our goal of curing DIPG forever. For photos of the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundaiton Gala, visitwww.cristianriverafoundation.org/gala3 or www.facebook.com/cristianriverafoundation.

John "Gungie" Rivera and Kenan Thompson's Interviewed on Visiones

Monthly Newsletter September 2011

Greetings from the Cristian Rivera Foundation.
Welcome to the September newsletter. It’s an exciting time at the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Our Third Annual Gala is all set for Monday September 12 from 6pm to 10pm at the Copacabana Supper Club and Event Space. So many great things are scheduled for the event, starting with a cocktail hour and red carpet arrivals for our esteemed committee members and celebrity guests. Committee member Kenan Thompson of Saturday Night Live and Nickelodeon is hosting along with fellow committee member and award-winning actor Luis Guzman. Dinner will be provided by the Copacabana, as well as our generous committee members Alex Garcia and Ricardo Cardona. There will be awards presentations, music and dancing, and a 30-minute band set from Brenda K. Starr, whose long list of hits includes “I Still Believe,”  “What You See is What You Get” and chart-topping Latin Tropical/Salsa hit “Herida.”

Of course you’ll also want to check out the amazing live and silent auction items that will be available at the gala. Among them are an autographed photo of Muhammad Ali holding the Olympic Torch, a bat used by New York Yankees star A-Rod, and autographed merchandise from Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets, New York Yankee Derek Jeter, NBA legend Michael Jordan, former New York Met Darryl Strawberry, legendary actress Marilyn Monroe and many more. Plus we’ll be offering one-of-a-kind experiences like home-cooked dinners provided by celebrity chefs Alex Garcia and Ricardo Cardona; a Marc Anthony dream package that includes an autographed guitar, Marc Anthony CD collection, a rare photo taken by Danny Hastings and signed by Marc Anthony, and four tickets to his next New York-area concert; a Jay-Z package that includes a hard-to-get pair of tickets for the Watch the Throne tour with Kanye West valued at $2,000, plus an autographed Jay-Z photo and a party at Jay-Z’s 40/40, including food and liquor, in the VIP room; an I Love NY Sports Team package that includes a baseball and photo signed by Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees, a photo signed by Eli Manning of the New York Giants and a helmet from football legend “Broadway Joe” Namath; a night on the town that includes two tickets to a Broadway show, dinner at the Copacabana Supper Club and a stay at the popular Sanctuary Hotel; and an exclusive package from the W Hotel Hoboken that includes a weekend stay, dinner at Zylo and a complimentary bottle at the Chandelier Room.

All money raised from auction items and ticket sales will go to Dr. Mark Souweidane, the Director of the Pediatric Brain and Spine Center at Weill Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Souweidane has conducted pioneering research and will serve as the Principal Investigator on an innovative clinical trial that will be the first of its kind. The trial was recently cleared by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and is now expected to begin at any time. For the latest on Dr. Souweidane and his team, visit his Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/WeillCornellPediatricBrainandSpine.
To make sure you don’t miss out on this amazing event, go tocristianriverafoundation.org/events.html today and purchase your ticket. Your attendance will mean the world to the Cristian Rivera Foundation as we not only celebrate the life of Cristian Rivera but also do our part to fund the promising research that will one day cure DIPG forever.

Among those who will be joining us at the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala are our two newest committee members, Anthony Bastone and Rickie Ricardo.

Anthony Bastone is the owner of some of the Bronx’s most popular restaurants, including The Pine Bar and Grill and Frankie & Johnnie’s.

Rickie Ricardo is a 30-year radio industry veteran and inductee into the New York City Radio Hall of Fame. He is in his fourth season with the Philadelphia Phillies broadcast crew at SBN Philadelphia.


Make sure you visit our website,www.cristianriverafoundation.org, often for all of the latest updates on this month’s exciting event. Also make sure to follow us on Twitter @tweetcrf and join our Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/cristianriverafoundation.

We hope to see you all at the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala. Tickets are going fast so log on to cristianriverafoundation.org/events.html today to buy your tickets. Even if you are unable to attend, please make a donation at cristianriverafoundation.org/donation.html and help support our fight against DIPG. Any donation, big or small, brings us closer to our goal of curing DIPG forever.

Full Steam Ahead!

Sincerely,

Cristian's Mommy Jenelle Asencio, John "Gungie" Rivera, "Forever Cristian's Daddy," and all of the members of the Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee: Aldo Marin, Alex Garcia, Andy Epstein, Anthony Bastone, Anthony Mason, Camilo, Carlos Keyes, David Maldonado, Doug E. Fresh, Dr. Bear Walker, Dr. Ben Velazquez, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, Fulvia Lora, Funkmaster Flex, Hamlet Peralta, J.I. Starr, James R. Cotto, Jay Hernandez, Jeff Lavino, Jerry Chaparro, Jim Jones, Jimmy Rodriguez, John "Jelly Bean" Benitez, Johnny Nuñez, Jose Alberto "El Canario", Joseph Mbeh, Kamar De Los Reyes, Katie DeFlorio, Kenan Thompson, Khaliah Ali, Little Louie Vega, Luis Guzman, Manuel Alejandro Ruiz (Boy Wonder), Marianela Gonzalez, Marissa Gonzalez,Mark Rosner, Matthew "Mateo" Rajkumar, Melissa Chung, Miriam Colon, Murray Richman, Odalys Molina, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ray Wong, Ricardo Cardona, Rickie Ricardo, Robert Vazquez, Ruben Sierra, Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Tony Ferrara, Victor Martinez, Vito Bruno, William Pla

Tickets for the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala Are Going Fast!!!

Show your support for the Cristian Rivera Foundation by attending the Third Annual Crisitian Rivera Foundation Gala on Monday, September 12, 2011 from 6pm to 10pm at the Copacabana Supper Club- located in Times Square at 268 W. 47th St. between Broadway and 8th Avenue. 

The Gala will be hosted by Saturday Night Live and Nickelodeon Star and Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee Member Kenan Thompson and award winning actor Luis Guzmán.

There will be red carpet arrivals for our esteemed committee members and high-profile guests.  A cocktail hour, followed by dinner with unlimited food and drinks provided by some of New York’s finest restaurants as well as a live and silent auction.Cocktail attire required.

For more developments on the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala, including additional hosts, entertainment and live and silent auction items, please continue to check this event, as it will be updated often.

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF CRISTIAN RIVERA AND IN OUR QUEST TO FIND A CURE FOR DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG).

Your attendance will mean the world to the Cristian Rivera Foundation and will help save the lives of children suffering from Pontine Glioma.

All proceeds from your ticket purchase go toward finding a cure for Pontine Glioma.
Click here to buy your ticket today.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE OR FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GALA SPONOSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAM ADVERTISEMENTS 

Cristian Rivera Foundation August 2011 Newsletter

Greetings from the Cristian Rivera Foundation.
August is here and for the Cristian Rivera Foundation, that means there’s only one month to go until our Third Annual Gala.

Tickets are selling fast for what’s sure to be a star-studded event on Monday September 12 at the newly-relaunched Copacabana Supper Club and Event Space. Join our friends, family and esteemed committee members as we celebrate the life of Cristian Rivera and raise money for the important research that will one day develop a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Hosted by Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee Members, Saturday Night Live and Nickelodeon star Kenan Thompson and award-winning actor Luis Guzmán, the Third Annual Gala kicks off at 6pm with red carpet arrivals for our committee members and honored guests, followed by a cocktail hour and sit-down dinner catered by some of New York’s top restaurants. Among the many exciting happenings, you will also get the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind items and experiences in our live and silent auctions, including private dinners catered by Celebrity Chefs Ricardo Cardona and Alex Garcia, and an autographed photo of boxing legend Muhammad Ali carrying the Olympic torch, along with many other items.

For more information on the event, and to purchase tickets, visitwww.cristianriverafoundation.org/events.html. Even if you are unable to attend, any donation big or small is a much-appreciated step toward our goal of curing Pontine Glioma forever.

Many of you did come out in support of the Cristian Rivera Foundation last month as we held our Second Annual Mini-Fundraiser at The Bronx’s Latin Kitchen on Thursday, July 14. We’d like to thank everyone who made the event an amazing success, including Committee Members Robert Vazquez and DJ Lucho, who sponsored the event. Committee members Steve Cox, Fulvia Lora, and Solange Osorio were on hand to help produce the event and committee members Tedsmooth and DJ Wreck kept the crowd dancing all night long.

The Cristian Rivera Foundation was also featured at last month’s Latin Mixx Conference & Latin Mixx Awards 2011. The event, held July 19-21, included an award show held at The Stage at The Times Center in New York, where we educated attendees about the horrors of DIPG. John “Gungie” Rivera, the founder of the Cristian Rivera Foundation, was there to honor the nominees as well as give a speech about the loss of his beloved son and how he began the foundation. He also touched on the positive progress being made towards making Pontine Glioma history. In addition, one of our esteemed committee members, Little Louie Vega, was honored at the three-day conference. The Latin Mixx Icon Award reception for DJ Little Louie Vega was held at Cielo. Little Louie received the DJ Icon Award surrounded by friends, family and fans all happy to celebrate his impact on the Latino community. Congratulations, Little Louie. You deserve it.
Little Louie Vega, and all of our esteemed committee members, can celebrate the addition of a new member to our Cristian Rivera Foundation team: former Major League Baseball All-Star Ruben Sierra. The celebrated Puerto Rican-born outfielder has played for many of the league’s top teams during his accomplished career, including the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and the New York Yankees.
Another significant player in the effort to rid this world of the effects of Pontine Glioma is Cristian’s mommy, Jenelle. Titled “Mommy’s Journal,” Jenelle introduces herself and explains her own fight against DIPG and the great pain that it causes. She goes into detail about how she is helping to support the cause of this foundation by going back to school to become a nurse, so that she can help ensure that no other family has to deal with this immense amount of grief. Despite the loss of her boy and the emotional rollercoaster heaved upon the family, Jenelle says, “Don’t feel sorry for us, help us”. Jenelle addresses how she and Cristian’s father may have dealt with the loss in different ways, but that they are both extremely involved in the cause and are working toward finding a cure for DIPG. To read her journal, please visit the Cristian Rivera Foundation’s website and click on “Mommy,” found under the Journal tab. It is obvious that Cristian’s life not only touched his mommy and daddy but will now touch millions. 

Please help us in our quest for a cure by logging on towww.cristianriverafoundation.org, where you can find all the latest news, photos and videos, and follow us both on Twitter @tweetcrf and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cristianriverafoundation. Please let your Facebook friends and Twitter followers know about the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Mention us on your social networking page and direct others to our website, where they can make a donation or purchase a signature foundation wristband, T-shirt or “On The Right Track” pendant from Joan Hornig Jewelry. And of course, make sure to purchase your tickets to the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Gala on Monday September 12 at Copacabana.

Thank you and may 2011 be the year we say goodbye to Pontine Glioma forever.

Sincerely,

Cristian's Mommy Jenelle Asencio, John “Gungie” Rivera, “Forever Cristian’s Daddy,” and all of the members of the Cristian Rivera Foundation Committee: Aldo Marin, Alex Garcia, Andy Epstein, Anthony Mason, Aurora Flores, Boy Wonder, Carlos Keyes, David Maldonado, DJ Camilo, Dr. Bear Walker, Dr. Ben Velazquez, Dr. Mary Saleeby, Doug E. Fresh, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, Fulvia Lora, Funkmaster Flex, Hamlet Peralta, James R. Cotto, Jay Hernandez, Jeff Lavino, Jeninha Lopes, Jerry Chaparro, J.I. Starr, Jim Jones, Jimmy Rodriguez, John “Jelly Bean” Benitez, Johnny Nuñez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Joseph Mbeh, Kamar De Los Reyes, Katie DeFlorio, Kenan Thompson, Kenya Bradix, Khaliah Ali, Little Louie Vega, Luis Lucho Concepcion, Luis Guzman, Marianela Gonzalez, Marissa Gonzalez, Mark Rosner, Matthew “Mateo” Rajkumar, Melissa Chung, Miriam Colon, Murray Richman, Odalys Molina, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ray Wong, Ricardo Cardona, Robert Vazquez, Ruben Sierra, Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Tony Ferrara, Vic Latino, Victor Martinez, Vito Bruno and William Pla.