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.
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