Kenan Thompson, Dr. Mark Souweidane and John Rivera
The Cristian Rivera Foundation (CRF) reached a historic milestone in its mission to cure diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) with a $365,000 donation, the largest single gift in the foundation’s history, to support groundbreaking research at Weill Cornell Medicine.
CRF Chair and Founder John “Gungie” Rivera and board member Kenan Thompson, actor and comedian, presented the check to Dr. Mark M. Souweidane, vice chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and director of pediatric neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital of Children’s Hospital of New York, during a dinner at Campagnola Restaurant in New York City.
The record-setting gift will fund Dr. Souweidane’s innovative research aimed at developing more effective targeted treatments for children diagnosed with DIPG, a rare and universally fatal pediatric brain tumor.
“In memory of my son Cristian, we are committed to breaking this record every year,” Rivera said. “And we did it again! This is the largest donation we have ever made, and it speaks to the extraordinary generosity of our supporters and our deep confidence in Dr. Souweidane’s work. We are determined to keep pushing forward until better treatments and ultimately a cure is within reach.”
Dr. Souweidane, an internationally recognized leader in pediatric neurosurgery and DIPG research, expressed gratitude for CRF’s continued partnership noting that philanthropic investments of this magnitude are essential to accelerating discoveries that can change outcomes for children and families.
The presentation underscored the power of collaboration among advocates, researchers and community leaders. Through sustained commitment and bold investment in science, CRF continues to drive meaningful progress in the fight against pediatric brain cancer.
Funding for this gift was raised through CRF’s ongoing initiatives, including the annual CRF Celebrity Gala held Nov. 16 at Cipriani Wall Street. Save the date for this year’s gala on Nov. 10, 2026. CRF’s next signature event is its annual 5K Run/Walk on June 13 at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. To register or support the event, visit cristianriverafoundation.org/crf5k.
For more information about CRF and its programs visit cristianriverafoundation.org.