Monthly Newsletter May 2011Greetings from the Cristian Rivera Foundation.
Welcome to the Cristian Rivera Foundation’s May Newsletter.
First, we want to thank everyone who supported the foundation through donations or participation in last month’s 4th Annual Walk for Health Walk-a-Thon PONTE-EN-FORMA. The five-mile walk-a-thon, which took place on Sunday April 17th, 2011 from 10am-2pm at Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx, benefitted the foundation and helped us raise both awareness and funds towards curing DIPG. Many of our Committee Members were there, including Deputy Inspector Edward Caban, La Mega 97.9 FM's On-Air Radio Personality J.I. Starr, The Remix King DJ Tedsmooth, Marketing Company Owner Elis Pacheco, Interior Designer Solange Osorio, Talent Agency CEO Carlos "Keyes" Fernandez, Renowned DJ and Business Impresario Ralph Mercado III, Art Director for Lillian August Design Katie DeFlorio, Music Producer and Cutting Records Owner Aldo Marin and Real Estate Agent Fulvia Lora. We were also honored to be joined by some of the families of children who lost their lives to DIPG, including Javier “Buji” Villamil, who earned his wings on January 4, 2010, about eight months after he was diagnosed with DIPG, and Alexander Jonathan Montes, who was diagnosed on December 12, 1997 and earned his wings on July 27, 1998. It was a truly special day and we are grateful for all of the amazing support.
The Walk-A-Thon marked the first time John “Gungie” Rivera met Alexander’s parents, Nereida Perez and Robinson Montes. They had heard about the event though a friend and wanted to participate to honor the memory of their child, who was only 3 years old when he was diagnosed. “He was my hero,” Perez said of her son, who loved dancing and riding his bike, as well as characters like Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story and the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. “He was such a strong little boy and so bright and smart.” Though it was emotional for Perez and Montes to participate in the Walk-A-Thon, they felt good about coming out and doing something to keep Alexander’s memory alive while helping to cure DIPG. “Knowing that we saved someone’s life would make us happy because we don’t want any family to go through what we did, or any child to go through what Alexander did,” said Montes. “We just want to find a cure and save another child from this disease.”
All of us at the Cristian Rivera Foundation share that sentiment and this month, we welcomed two new committee members who are committed to helping us achieve that goal:
First, we want to thank everyone who supported the foundation through donations or participation in last month’s 4th Annual Walk for Health Walk-a-Thon PONTE-EN-FORMA. The five-mile walk-a-thon, which took place on Sunday April 17th, 2011 from 10am-2pm at Roberto Clemente State Park in the Bronx, benefitted the foundation and helped us raise both awareness and funds towards curing DIPG. Many of our Committee Members were there, including Deputy Inspector Edward Caban, La Mega 97.9 FM's On-Air Radio Personality J.I. Starr, The Remix King DJ Tedsmooth, Marketing Company Owner Elis Pacheco, Interior Designer Solange Osorio, Talent Agency CEO Carlos "Keyes" Fernandez, Renowned DJ and Business Impresario Ralph Mercado III, Art Director for Lillian August Design Katie DeFlorio, Music Producer and Cutting Records Owner Aldo Marin and Real Estate Agent Fulvia Lora. We were also honored to be joined by some of the families of children who lost their lives to DIPG, including Javier “Buji” Villamil, who earned his wings on January 4, 2010, about eight months after he was diagnosed with DIPG, and Alexander Jonathan Montes, who was diagnosed on December 12, 1997 and earned his wings on July 27, 1998. It was a truly special day and we are grateful for all of the amazing support.
The Walk-A-Thon marked the first time John “Gungie” Rivera met Alexander’s parents, Nereida Perez and Robinson Montes. They had heard about the event though a friend and wanted to participate to honor the memory of their child, who was only 3 years old when he was diagnosed. “He was my hero,” Perez said of her son, who loved dancing and riding his bike, as well as characters like Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story and the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. “He was such a strong little boy and so bright and smart.” Though it was emotional for Perez and Montes to participate in the Walk-A-Thon, they felt good about coming out and doing something to keep Alexander’s memory alive while helping to cure DIPG. “Knowing that we saved someone’s life would make us happy because we don’t want any family to go through what we did, or any child to go through what Alexander did,” said Montes. “We just want to find a cure and save another child from this disease.”
All of us at the Cristian Rivera Foundation share that sentiment and this month, we welcomed two new committee members who are committed to helping us achieve that goal:
Vito Bruno is founder and CEO of AM PM Entertainment Concepts. He got his start at iconic Brooklyn club 2001 Odyssey, where he became an integral part of the disco scene, organizing the first public show by The Village People as well as performances by Chic, Kool and the Gang, The Trammps, Gloria Gaynor and France Joli. Bruno has owned, managed and operated many of New York City’s most iconic nightclubs. He managed and built the careers of Noel and Crystal Waters, and he is credited with helping acts such as Lisa Lisa and Doug E. Fresh break into the mainstream. Bruno has produced many successful events over the years, including the Michael Jackson/ Pepsi Press extravaganza, KTU’s annual Beatstock concert, and parades for Puerto Rico Day, African-American Day, Cuban Day, Heritage of Pride and Halloween.
Carlos Keyes is president and founder of Red Entertainment and Talent Agency, where he currently manages Dionne Warwick, The Gap Band, Gloria Gaynor, JT Taylor (formerly of Kool and The Gang), Cameo and Chaka Khan. In his long and successful career, he has handled bookings for top artists including Gladys Knight, Kool and the Gang, Air Supply, Michael Franks, Stanley Jordan and Men At Work. Keyes also organized the sold-out Soul Divas Tour, which starred Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick in 2004.This month is National Brain Tumor Awareness Month, which recognizes those affected by all brain tumors, including DIPG. During this month, people around the country wear gray ribbons, which symbolize brain tumors, and remember those who have suffered from, or lost their life to, brain tumors. If you want to help us fund the important research that will one day find a cure for the Pontine Glioma brain stem tumor, please visitwww.cristianriverafoundation.org to 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.
Be sure to visit www.cristianriverafoundation.org to keep up on the latest news from the foundation and the DIPG community. Also visit our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/?tid=1613593259224&sk=messages#!/pages/Cristian-Rivera-Foundation/176323675727785, join our official Facebook Grouphttp://www.facebook.com/?tid=1613593259224&sk=messages#!/home.php?sk=group_143143255734418 and follow us on Twitter @tweetcrf.
Thank you and may 2011 be the year we say goodbye to 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. Ben Velazquez, Dr. Mary Saleeby, Dr. Bear Walker, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, Fulvia Gonzalez, Funkmaster Flex, Hamlet Peralta, James R. Cotto, Jay Hernandez, Jeff & Valerie Lavino, Jim Jones, Jimmy Rodriguez, J.I. Starr, John “Jellybean” Benitez, Johnny Nuñez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Joseph Mbeh, Kamar De Los Reyes, Katie DeFlorio, Kenan Thompson, 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, Stephanie Carrera, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Tony Ferrara, Vic Latino, Victor Martinez, Vito Bruno and William Pla.
