Cristian Rivera Foundation July 2011 Newsletter

Greetings from the Cristian Rivera Foundation.

Welcome to the Cristian Rivera Foundation’s July Newsletter. This month we celebrate our second anniversary and kick off our third year with a successful event, a look ahead at the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Fundraiser Gala and a new committee member.

But first, we want to send our best wishes to Jordan Malave. John “Gungie” Rivera is glad that he’s gotten to know Jordan and his family, and even saw Jordan after his kindergarten graduation on Thursday June 23. However, Jordan took a turn for the worse in June. He went for an MRI and in just two months his tumor has gotten bigger and developed a lesion. Out of everything we do in our fight against Pontine Glioma, the most important thing is the families. Whether their child is one of the 200-300 diagnosed with the disease every year in the United States or their child has already earned their wings, the Cristian Rivera Foundation cares about all of them. John and the entire Cristian Rivera Foundation are hoping that Jordan’s health will begin to improve and we will do everything possible to help him and his family.

That includes raising awareness of Pontine Glioma and raising money that will fund promising research into its cure. We accomplished both of those goals with our Salsa Fundraiser at Latin Quarter on Wednesday June 29. Hosted by La Mega 97.9 FM’s JI Starr, the event was a great success. Committee Member Jose Alberto “El Canario” and his Orchestra performed two sets. Right when the salsa music began, couples were hitting the floor, not only dancing and socializing for enjoyment but simultaneously supporting a great cause. Committee Member Ralph Mercado III, aka DJ Wreck of La Mega 97.9 FM, helped keep the music going all night along with DJ Norty Coto. Among the night's guests were Committee Members celebrity chef Ricardo Cardona, real estate agent Fulvia Lora, co-founder of independent record label Cutting Records Aldo Marin, designers Joseph Mbeh and Ray Wong, "The Remix King" DJ Tedsmooth, Red Entertainment Group Founder Carlos Keyes, Dr. Ben Velasquez, event promoter Jerry Chaparro, Latin Kitchen co-owner Robert Vazquez, "Las Gemelas Lulu y Lala" of X96's Luis Jimenez Show, founder of Pay Up Management Elis Pacheco, businessman Jeff Lavino and legendary music producer John "Jelly Bean" Benitez.

This month we’re expanding our Committee once again by welcoming Jeninha Lopes. Lopes has garnered attention over the years with BET Jazz as a host and producer, specializing in many projects with the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and touring with both JALC and Wynton Marsalis as producer of the television series "Journey With Jazz at Lincoln Center" for six years. She has also been a talk show host along with Ralph McDaniels on Radio New York’s "Late Night Love Talk."

We are happy to have Jeninha join the Committee and we hope that all of you will join us on Monday September 12 for the Third Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Fundraiser Gala at Committee Member Alex Garcia’s newly-launched Copacabana Supper Club, located in the former China Club space. Details of the event will be announced in future newsletters, as well as on our websitewww.cristianriverafoundation.org. To keep up with the latest news on the gala and the Foundation, visit our Facebook pagewww.facebook.com/cristianriverafoundation and follow us on Twitter@tweetcrf.

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 www.cristianriverafoundation.org, where they can make a donation or purchase a signature foundation wristband, T-shirt or “On The Right Track” pendant from Joan Hornig Jewelry. Any donation, big or small, helps bring us closer to our goal of curing Pontine Glioma forever.

Sincerely,

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, Solange Osorio, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Tony Ferrara, Vic Latino, Victor Martinez, Vito Bruno and William Pla.


Show your support for the
Cristian Rivera Foundation.

Help Us Find a Cure for Pontine Glioma

Cristian Rivera Foundation Continues to Spread Awareness at the 2011 Latin Mixx Conference

Last night, the Cristian Rivera Foundation was featured during the Latin Mixx Conference (LMC) Awards Ceremony at The Times Square Center. The ceremony marked LMC's 6th year in the making, and honored the top Latino DJ's and promoters in the business. Founder, Kevin "Pills" Monatano, acknowledged the growing strength of the Latino population and pulled all the stops in coordinating this meeting of the minds for the three-day conference. The awards ceremony was hosted by Sito Rocks, K. Marie, BET & 105.1 FM's DJ Prostyle, and BET 106 & Park's very own Rocsi. However, hands down the most hysterical antics where Comedy Central Premium Blend, Galavision Que Loco, and BET Comic View's Jason Andors who kept crowd in stitches with his dance moves and impressions. Later in the evening, the Cristian Rivera Foundation's Founder John "Gungie" Rivera spoke on behalf of the Foundation in a heartfelt presentation about the devastating effects of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma or DIPG. Rivera extended his praise to all nominees for having come so far, and conveyed his enthusiasm for being Latino in the entertainment industry right now. Rivera also went into the grim details surrounding the loss of his son to the inoperable brain stem tumor, DIPG. He asked for the parents in the audience to identify themselves and related, "One thing for sure is that we love our children more than anything, that's the greatest love that we could ever experience." He spoke about how he created the foundation shortly after his son passed with the support of committee members in the audience like DJ Camilo and Tedmooth. Rivera ended his presentation with a story of hope. In January, a 6 year old girl from Spain was operated on by Dr. Mark Souweidane of Weill Cornell Medical College and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in an effort to save her life. Dr. Souweidane's viable scientific research has recently shown promise of a cure and that operation marked the launch of his medical trials. A girl who supposedly had just weeks to live, is stable 7 months later. Rivera extended his best wishes to the young girl and her family. The Cristian Rivera Foundation and its members look forward to a continued relationship with Latin Mixx. Overall, it was inspiring to see so many successful Latinos united to recognize each other's accomplishments.

Cristian Rivera Foundation Mini Fundraiser a Success!

3841 East Tremont Ave in the Bronx was jam-packed last night with supporters of the Cristian Rivera Foundation. Committee Members Robert Vazquez and DJ Lucho sponsored the event. Committee members Steve Cox, Fulvia Lora, and Solange Osorio were on hand to help produce the event. Committee member and La Mega 97.9’s DJ Wreck killed it on the one’s and two’s with hits that made the crowd wave into sync, followed by Committee Member DJ Tedsmooth who kept the crowd rockin’. Dozens of signature blue Cristian Rivera Foundation wristbands were spotted on the dance floor showing a promising future for the Cristian Rivera Foundation’s mission to spread awareness. Thanks to support like the one shown last night, the hope that no more families will have to suffer through this deteriorating disease is becoming more and more concrete. Full Steam Ahead.

The Cristian Rivera Foundation Holds Successful Salsa Fundraiser at LQ

The Cristian Rivera Foundation packed Manhattan hotspot LQ with its successful Salsa Fundraiser on Wednesday June 29. Hosted by La Mega 97.9 FM's JI Starr, the event was a big hit with guests who were entertained by Committee Member Jose Alberto "El Canario" and his Orchestra, who performed two sets. Committee Member Ralph Mercado III, aka DJ Wreck of La Mega 97.9 FM, helped keep the music going all night along with DJ Norty Coto. The Cristian Rivera Foundation's Salsa Fundraiser raised plenty of awareness of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, the rare pediatric brainstem tumor that took the life of Cristian Rivera when he was only six years old. The Foundation was also able to raise some money that will go towards promising research into curing the disease, which affects 200-300 children in the U.S. each year. The crowd was excited not only to experience all the great performances that night, but also to help such an important and worthwhile cause. Among those who came out to support the foundation were Committee Members celebrity chef Ricardo Cardona, real estate agent Fulvia Lora, co-founder of independent record label Cutting Records Aldo Marin, designers Joseph Mbeh and Ray Wong, "The Remix King" DJ Tedsmooth, Red Entertainment Group Founder Carlos Keyes, Dr. Ben Velasquez, event promoter Jerry Chaparro, Latin Kitchen co-owner Robert Vazquez, "Las Gemelas Lulu y Lala" of X96's Luis Jimenez Show, founder of Pay Up Management Elis Pacheco, businessman Jeff Lavino and legendary music producer John "Jelly Bean" Benitez.