We are currently adding to our Advisory Board and Board of Directors and are in contact with many talented individuals who are offering their support. Currently our Advisory Board members are:
Dr. Todd Shuster
Dr. Todd Shuster is an oncologist and hematologist with 18 years of clinical practice experience. He obtained his undergraduate degree at Haverford College, and his MD from the University of Rochester. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Hospital, and his Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA. Dr. Shuster was the Vice-Chair and Interim Chair in Medical Oncology at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington MA. He has served as an investigator for several oncology clinical trials. Currently, Dr. Shuster is a Senior Director for Clinical Development and the Oncology Therapeutic Area Co-Leader at a Boston based Clinical Research Organization. His areas of interest include new drug development for the treatment of lung, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. He lives in Belmont with his wife, 3 daughters and yellow labrador retriever.
Barbara Bonigli
Barbara Bonigli is the parent of Ashley, a childhood cancer survivor. She is dedicated to helping children who have been through cancer. Barbara has assisted in the start up and funding of Friends For Life, a group of parents who have had child diagnosed with neuroblastoma. She has hosted many fundraising special events and identified grant funding for the Friends For Life endowment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She is a graduate of Northeastern University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Barbara has worked in the Finance and healthcare industries and is currently raising her two daughters, Ashley and Kaitlyn.
Manny Correia
Manny Correia, Founder and Principal of Inclusive Coaching and a Coach at Allison Rimm and Associates, provides a range of services including career, leadership and management development coaching. Prior to this, Manny was the Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer at Harvard Management Company, Inc. Manny also founded the Financial Services Human Resources (FSHR) Group. Manny consults with several non-profit and professional diversity organizations. Manny has held leadership roles on numerous boards. Manny received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and an Associates Degree in Human Resources Management from Northeastern University.
Karen Daniels
Speech/Language Pathologist, Winchester Public Schools and Adjunct Professor, Wheelock College
Karen has worked in public schools and hospital settings for over 22 years. Through extensive post-graduate coursework and travel she has integrated her passions for drama, laughter, dance, music and poetry to tap into hidden languages and inner emotions of children. Karen has participated in workshops related to educational practices from Reggio Emilia, Italy, which fosters curiosity and art in the learning process. Her greatest interest is exploring the use of the Reggio approach. She strives to creatively entice young children to use their "one hundred languages" to communicate their understanding of their world with others.
Additionally, she has worked over 15 years with a variety of service based, non-profit agencies in Boston as a volunteer, fundraiser and grant writer.
Dr. Joseph Petner
Joe has worked in public education for over 40 years. He earned a doctorate from the University of North Dakota’s Center for Teaching and Learning in 1974. Joe joined the Cambridge Public Schools in 1974 and was director of the Cambridge Follow Through Program from 1979-1989. In 1989 he became Principal of the Haggerty Elementary School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a position he retired from in July 2007. During his tenure at the Haggerty he was involved in building a new school facility and the development of a whole school model of inclusion. Joe currently is the Educational Program Director for the CitySprouts School Garden Program in Cambridge, and also is an adjunct faculty member at both Lesley University and Wheelock College. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Federation for Children with Special Needs and is an Intergenerational Math Tutor for the Cambridge School Volunteers. He has been recognized by several organizations for his leadership roles and service to the community. Joe together with his family has participated in the Pan Mass Challenge Bike Ride for fifteen years. His wife Jody, his younger daughter Caroline, and he are all cancer survivors, which has made them appreciate the value of friends, family, and a community.
Mia Schon
Mia is currently a camp counselor for " The Hole in the Wall Gang" camp. Founded by Paul Newman in 1988, and named for the secret, outlaw hiding-place from his film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp has been serving seriously ill children with a remarkably empowering away experience for more than twenty years. Mia also works in many of the Boston area hospitals in their outreach programs.
Karen Koretsky Dillon
Karen Koretsky Dillon is a visual artist, freelance writer, art educator and owner of ArtisTRY Studio in Arlington, MA. She is also a mother, Reiki practitioner, grief counselor and cancer survivor. Karen served two terms on the Arlington Cultural Council, and is an active member of The National Art Educators Association, Arlington Youth and Health Safety Coalition and the Massachusetts Art Educators Association. In 2006 and 2007 she was a grant recipient of Massachusetts Cultural Council grants to produce programs she developed for children to connect to public art. In 2006 she was a recipient of the prestigious 2006 Gold Star award by the MCC. She has served on the board of directors for The Arlington Center for the Arts and is an experienced fundraiser and grant writer. For over a decade Karen has volunteered at The Children's Room; center for grieving children and teenagers as a grief counselor. At The Children's Room, Karen helps children use art as a tool for expression and healing. In 2006, Karen was the curator of a powerful art show of the work created by children at the Children's Room; "Art from the Heart"- which was showcased at the Massachusetts State House as well as many large corporate sites. Karen believes the creative experience can be life sustaining. Karen strives to help children realize that creativity can be a powerful tool for expression and healing throughout their lives.
