What Cristian Rivera Foundation does

The Cristian Rivera Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by John 'Gungie' Rivera in memory of his son Cristian, who passed away from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (D.I.P.G.) on January 25, 2009 after a two-year battle with the disease. Headquartered at 1452 River Road, Edgewater, New Jersey, the foundation pursues a three-part mission: (1) fund research toward a cure for D.I.P.G., (2) provide financial and emotional support to families affected by the disease, and (3) drive public awareness of D.I.P.G., an inoperable pediatric brain tumor that accounts for 10-15% of childhood brain tumors and primarily affects children aged 5-10. The organization has channeled over $3.5 million to D.I.P.G. research and family programs since inception, including a long-running Phase I clinical trial at Weill Cornell Medical Center led by Dr. Mark Souweidane using Convection-Enhanced Delivery of 124I-8H9, which has produced three documented pediatric remissions.

The foundation's service portfolio is organized around three core research/family programs (D.I.P.G. Research Funding, Family Support Services, D.I.P.G. Awareness Campaigns), family-focused programs (the Warriors and Angels initiative supporting children currently battling D.I.P.G. and honoring those who have passed), and a recurring annual events program comprising the Celebrity Gala (17th annual scheduled for November 10, 2026), the Flashback Boat Ride (10th annual on July 18, 2026), and the CRF Full Steam Ahead 5K (9th annual on June 13, 2026). Distribution and donor engagement occur through the foundation's owned website (cristianriverafoundation.org), an e-commerce CRF Store selling mission-merchandise, a TCPA-compliant SMS text blast service, email newsletters, and an active presence on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.

The foundation operates as a donation-driven nonprofit with no product or service sales. Revenue is generated entirely from tax-deductible donations, event ticket and sponsorship revenue, merchandise sales, and corporate sponsorships anchored by Goya Foods (Goya Gives), Koeppel Auto Group, and Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates. Operating with 1-10 employees and recognized with 9 consecutive years of GreatNonprofits Top-Rated awards (2018-2026) and 8 consecutive years of the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency (2018-2025), the foundation is governed by a Board of Directors with the support of a Medical Advisory Board that includes partnerships with Weill Cornell Medical College, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and oncologists Dr. Mark Souweidane and Dr. Oren Becher.

Name

Cristian Rivera Foundation

Legal name

Cristian Rivera Foundation

Website

https://cristianriverafoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cristian Rivera Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Edgewater, NJ that funds Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (D.I.P.G.) pediatric brain tumor research, supports affected families, and raises awareness through annual galas, boat rides, and 5K events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Cancer Research Nonprofit

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (81331)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

Keywords

• Pediatric cancer research
• Brain tumor funding
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Family support services
• Charitable donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Edgewater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The foundation raises funds through tax-deductible donations, event fundraising (galas, boat rides, 5K runs), and corporate sponsorships. All donations support DIPG research and family assistance programs.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cristian Rivera Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (D.I.P.G.) clinical trials and research, supports families affected by D.I.P.G. through financial assistance and emotional support programs, and raises public awareness about the disease. It raises funds through individual tax-deductible donations, annual fundraising events (Celebrity Gala, 5K Run, Flashback Boat Ride), merchandise sales via the CRF Store, and corporate sponsorships, directing all contributions toward D.I.P.G. research and family assistance.

Product overview

The Cristian Rivera Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (D.I.P.G.), a rare and deadly pediatric brain tumor. The foundation operates as a unified charitable organization offering multiple interconnected services: direct funding for D.I.P.G. research through clinical trials at institutions like Weill Cornell Medical Center, family support programs for those affected by the disease, and awareness campaigns to educate the public. The foundation generates revenue through merchandise sales via the CRF Store and hosts signature fundraising events including the Annual Celebrity Gala, CRF 5K Run, and Flashback Boat Ride. Additional engagement includes an SMS text blast service for event updates and a Warriors and Angels program supporting affected families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• D.I.P.G. Research Funding Program The foundation's primary initiative funding clinical trials and research toward a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, including Dr. Mark Souweidane's Phase I clinical trial at Weill Cornell Medical Center using convection-enhanced delivery of 124I-8H9. Designed for medical researchers, clinicians, and donors supporting pediatric brain tumor research.
• Family Support Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3.5 million donated toward D.I.P.G. research and family support
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Dr. Mark Souweidane (Weill Cornell Medical Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation funds Dr. Mark Souweidane's Phase I clinical trial at Weill Cornell Medical Center using Convection-Enhanced Delivery of 124I-8H9 for patients with non-progressive diffuse pontine gliomas. Three children have responded well to this trial.
• Weill Cornell Medical CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey research partner for D.I.P.G. clinical trials and treatment research
• Goya FoodsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting foundation events and fundraising efforts through Goya Gives program
• Rivera Marketing and Media GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesigned the foundation's website and provides marketing and media support
• Koeppel Auto GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for multiple annual events including galas and 5K runs
• Patrick B. Jenkins & AssociatesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for annual celebrity galas
• Dr. Oren BechercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned oncologist working to cure D.I.P.G. in conjunction with foundation-funded research efforts
• Memorial Sloan KetteringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial treatment location for Cristian Rivera; involved in D.I.P.G. research and clinical trials

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation: The largest nonprofit dedicated to pediatric brain tumors, funding research, family support, and advocacy across many tumor types including DIPG. Comparable as a funder of pediatric brain tumor research and a provider of family support services, though broader in scope.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: A national nonprofit accelerating the search for cures for childhood cancers, including DIPG, through research funding and advocacy. Comparable as a research-grantmaking peer in the pediatric oncology space.
• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: A youth-driven nonprofit that funds childhood cancer research grants and runs awareness/fundraising events. Comparable in mission (childhood cancer research funding) and event-based fundraising model, though broader than DIPG alone.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: A nonprofit funding collaborative pediatric cancer research across multiple institutions and tumor types. Comparable as a peer in pediatric cancer research grantmaking and family support, with a national footprint.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: A leading childhood cancer research and family support nonprofit that funds research grants, including in DIPG, and runs a national fundraising infrastructure. Comparable as a peer in pediatric cancer research grantmaking, but at substantially greater scale and broader disease focus.
• Musella Foundation / Brain Tumor Foundation: A brain tumor-focused nonprofit that funds research, runs clinical trial navigation, and supports patients and families. Comparable in research-grantmaking and patient-support mission, with a broader brain tumor focus that includes DIPG.

Direct peers

• Swifty Foundation: A foundation that funds pediatric brain cancer (including DIPG) research through grants to researchers and post-mortem tissue donation programs. Comparable as a research-grantmaking peer in the DIPG/pediatric brain cancer space.
• Michael Mosier Defeat DIPG Foundation: A nonprofit focused exclusively on funding DIPG research and supporting affected families, with a similar model of grantmaking to research institutions and family assistance programs. It is the most directly comparable peer to CRF in mission and disease focus.
• The Chad Tough Foundation: A DIPG-specific foundation funding pediatric brain tumor research at major academic centers, also born from a family's personal loss. Directly comparable in disease focus, family-driven origin, and research-grantmaking model.
• The Children's Brain Tumor Foundation: A nonprofit dedicated to pediatric brain tumor research, family support, and survivorship, with overlapping DIPG funding and family-assistance programming. Directly comparable as a peer in pediatric brain tumor-focused grantmaking and support services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tweetcrf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChP6cUjvtwhF70KwHQRJ91g
• Facebookfacebook.com/cristianriverafoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cristian-rivera-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/cristianriverafoundation
• TikToktiktok.com/@cristianriverafoundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cristian Rivera Foundation