Happy holidays from the Cristian Rivera Foundation! This holiday season, the Cristian Rivera Foundation is thinking of those whose celebration is marred by the realities of Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Children like Jordan Malave, the 5-year-old boy from Brooklyn who has been living with DIPG for more than two years. Jordan and his parents met John “Gungie” Rivera and it’s inspiring to see how well he is doing with the tumor at this stage. He has gone through ups and downs with his treatment but he’s currently doing well. His MRI just came back this month saying he’s stable. The entire Cristian Rivera Foundation family is excited by the news and has him in our thoughts and prayers.
Like Jordan, there are 200-300 children diagnosed in the United States every year with DIPG. Their families know that this might be their last Christmas, New Years or other celebration they’ll have with their children. Many of those young kids will be spending the holidays in the hospital, which is a feeling John knows well since he spent Christmas 2008 in the hospital with Cristian. And then there are those who already succumbed to the disease this year. Don’t forget that DIPG can take a life in as little as 3 months; sometimes as long as 18. For those families, it’s the first of many holidays without their child. For them this usually joyous time of year will never be the same.
The Cristian Rivera Foundation is working to make that grim reality disappear. The money we raise goes toward increasing awareness about the disease and funding research and clinical trials that will one day lead to its cure. So please think of the Cristian Rivera Foundation when making your holiday gift purchases. We recently debuted the “On the Right Track” pendant, which Joan Hornig Jewelry designed specifically for the benefit of the Cristian Rivera Foundation. The two-inch sterling silver pendant, which hangs on a black suede cord, was inspired by the work of the Cristian Rivera Foundation and the foundation receives 100% of the proceeds from each $75 pendant sold. You can find this, as well as signature foundation t-shirts and wristbands, under the shop tab at cristianriverafoundation.org. You may also wish to make a charitable donation on behalf of loved ones or yourself this holiday season. That can be done by clicking the donation tab at cristianriverafoundation.org.
While you’re online, please visit the Cristian Rivera Foundation’s new Facebook pages. We recently launched an official page, which you can access by following here, or follow here to join our fan page. For up-to-the-minute information on the foundation, be sure to follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/tweetcrf.
One piece of news you’re likely to see on our websites is the addition of two new committee members: Stephanie Carrera and Tony Ferrara.
Model/TV personality Stephanie Carrera is the host of "IviveH2O Your Hispanic Obsession," as well as "TV Exclusive" with renowned animator David Marin. Carrera has interviewed several actors, singers and community opinion leaders over the years, including Carlos Ponce, Jose Guzman, John Leguizamo, Bachata Heights, Double T and Crock, Nina Sky, Aventura team members and many more. Besides being a presenter and model, Stephanie has also appeared in commercials and music videos. She has served as an emcee at various events, as well as an ambassador for Coalicion Latinoamericana Internacional. We are proud to have Stephanie Carrera join the Cristian Rivera Foundation family and we look forward to working with her and all of our cherished Committee Members to rid the world of DIPG once and for all.
Tony Ferrara is the Finance Manager at Koeppel Nissan in Jackson Heights, New York. Following his graduation from Bayside High School in Queens, Ferrara began his career at Koeppel Nissan, starting out in the parts department. He received a variety of promotions over the years, working through almost all functions of the dealership. Twenty five years later, Ferrara is in charge expediting paperwork and generating loans, acting as the mediator between the banks and the customers.So please remember to visit our website, cristianriverafoundation.org, to make a tax-deductible donation or purchase a wristband, t-shirt or pendant to help those less fortunate than you. Please forward this newsletter to your friends, family and colleagues and urge them to do the same. Be sure to join our official Facebook page and fan page, and post those links for others to click on as well.
We thank you for all of your support throughout 2010 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 Committee: Alex Garcia, Andy Epstein, Anthony Mason, Aurora Flores, Boy Wonder, David Maldonado, Denise Miranda, DJ Camilo, Dr. Ben Velazquez, Dr. Mary Saleeby, Dr. Bear Walker, Edward Caban, Elis Pacheco, Fernando Ferrer, 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, Kenya Bradix, Khaliah Ali, Little Louie Vega, Lucho Concepcion, Luis Guzman, Marianela Gonzalez, Marissa Gonzalez, Mark Rosner, Mathew “Mateo” Rajkumar, Melissa Chung, Miriam Colon, Murray Richman, Pablo Diaz, Ralph Mercado III, Ray Wong, Ricardo Cardona, Robert Vazquez, Solange Osorio, Stephanie Carrera, Steve Cox, Tedsmooth, Vic Latino, Victor Martinez and William Pla.
