Happy Halloween from the Cristian Rivera Foundation! On Halloween, Cristian loved to dress up, trick-or-treat, and collect as much candy as possible. Days like this are so important to children and a time where they create lasting memories with friends and family. What are your plans to help your kids have a great time while staying safe?
SOLD OUT
13th Annual CRF Celebrity Gala
We are incredibly excited for our SOLD OUT 13th Annual CRF Celebrity Gala! We’ve never sold out this early, and it’s thanks to all of you who support our foundation and connect with others to spread awareness. The gala is less than 3 weeks away. We can’t wait to have this celebration of hope together and to take another big step in funding for DIPG research and family support.
Whether or not you’re attending the gala, there are several ways to continue supporting the foundation. We encourage you to consider donating at cristianriverafoundation.org/donation/. You can also contact us info@cristianriverafoundation.org if you’re interested in donating an auction item that will be sold at the gala. Finally, we are looking for volunteers to help make the gala run smoothly. If you know anyone that might be interested, tell them to send an email to info@cristianriverafoundation.org and we will be in touch.
OUR HONOREES
Our honorees at this year’s gala are some of the most dedicated and generous people that you will ever meet. They are extraordinary. We’re proud to have them at the 13th Annual CRF Celebrity Gala.
Chazz Palminteri, recipient of the CRF 2022 Heroes Award, is a legendary Academy Award-nominated actor and producer, but he’s also a hero to so many children. His efforts to cure thalassemia through the Child Reach Foundation and to support law enforcement families with special needs children have been nothing short of heroic.
Maestro Cares, recipient of the CRF 2022 Humanitarian Award, dedicates itself to helping children in the U.S. and Latin America through orphanages, education, and recreational programs. There is not hing more important than giving disadvantaged children a better future.
Linda Wachtel, recipient of the CRF 2022 Vision of Hope Award, has had a huge positive impact on children with brain tumors. She sits on the board of Jenna’s Rainbow and the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, where she has shown her vision for a better future by working towards cures and improvements to quality of life for children with brain tumors.
Melinda Colon Cox, recipient of the CRF 2022 Service and Dedication Award, has led the Cristian Rivera Foundation to our most hopeful year yet. Her service as Chairman of the CRF Board has resulted in bigger and bigger strides toward a cure for DIPG.
Jesselyn "JessZilla" Silva, recipient of the CRF 2022 Warrior Award, is a Junior Olympic gold medalist boxer who was diagnosed with DIPG last year. Despite this, she has shown her tenacity by fighting against DIPG with her eyes on the 2024 Olympics.
THANK YOU
Without your support, the Cristian Rivera Foundation can’t do our work to support families affected by DIPG and to research a cure. We are incredibly grateful to each of you that have contributed your time to helping the children who need it the most. Continue to stay up to date at cristianriverafoundation.org.
Founder:
John “Gungie” Rivera
"Forever Cristian’s Daddy"
Board of Director:
Darlene Rodriguez.
Committee Members:
Aldo Marin, Carlos Colon, Fernando Ferrer,
Francesco Quattrone, Jarrad Seuferling,
Kenan Thompson, Luis Guzman,
Meiling Macias Toro,
Paul Pristavec, Rafael Toro, Steve Cox
and Vanessa Rodriguez
Honorary Committee Members:
The Late Anthony Mason
and The Late Miriam Colon.
Chairman of the Board:
Melinda Colon Cox
Executive Board Member:
Rena Kliot
Committee Friends:
Alberto Torres, Alex Garcia,
Maggie Meehan, Mark Rosner, and Michael V. Narvaez
Supporters:
David Rodriguez, Edward Caban,
And Vito Bruno.