Our Founders
The Colangelo Family
The Colangelo family started the original roots of Family Reach over twenty years ago. James and Andrea lost their son Christopher in 1981 after a battle with neuroblastoma, and soon after, in his memory, started the Christopher Colangelo Home Care Fund at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York. The Home Care Fund helped families largely with palliative care and end-of-life needs. James and Andrea combined efforts with the Morello family and Chris Wiatrak in 1995 to create a larger fund to help others in need. Andrea is now on the Board of Directors of Family Reach, and James serves as a Founder and Co-Chair of the annual charity golf outing. Christopher's siblings, Justin and Tamara, play volunteer roles with Family Reach Foundation. All members of the Colangelo family are residents of Union, NJ.
The Morello Family
The Morello family joined forces with the Colangelos and Chris Wiatrak in 1995, after Kristine lost her battle against Ewing's sarcoma at age 27. Rick (Sr.) and Marilyn Morello, Kristine's parents, have been active in developing Family Reach for the last eight years. Rick (Sr.) is a Co-Chair of the annual charity golf outing, and Marilyn plays several roles as a Founder. They have been residents of Oakland, NJ for over 30 years. Kristine's brother Brian is a Project Director for the current Foundation and is responsible for many marketing, event and program elements of the day-to-day organization. He resides in Parsippany, NJ with his wife Kristina who also helps drive many marketing aspects of the Foundation. Kristine's brother Rick assumed the role of volunteer Executive Director and Board President in 2003. A resident of Boston, MA, Rick conducts a range of day-to-day management activities of the Foundation.
Christopher Wiatrak
As the former husband of Kristine, Chris joined forces with the Colangelos and Morellos after her death in 1995 and founded the original Colangelo/Morello-Wiatrak Cancer Fund. His relationship with Sloan Kettering in New York, and efforts to raise funds and help families were instrumental to building the current Foundation. In his full-time job, Chris serves as a District Manager for Genentech. He resides in Wyckoff, NJ with his wife Monique.
The Colangelo family started the original roots of Family Reach over twenty years ago. James and Andrea lost their son Christopher in 1981 after a battle with neuroblastoma, and soon after, in his memory, started the Christopher Colangelo Home Care Fund at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York. The Home Care Fund helped families largely with palliative care and end-of-life needs. James and Andrea combined efforts with the Morello family and Chris Wiatrak in 1995 to create a larger fund to help others in need. Andrea is now on the Board of Directors of Family Reach, and James serves as a Founder and Co-Chair of the annual charity golf outing. Christopher's siblings, Justin and Tamara, play volunteer roles with Family Reach Foundation. All members of the Colangelo family are residents of Union, NJ.
The Morello Family
The Morello family joined forces with the Colangelos and Chris Wiatrak in 1995, after Kristine lost her battle against Ewing's sarcoma at age 27. Rick (Sr.) and Marilyn Morello, Kristine's parents, have been active in developing Family Reach for the last eight years. Rick (Sr.) is a Co-Chair of the annual charity golf outing, and Marilyn plays several roles as a Founder. They have been residents of Oakland, NJ for over 30 years. Kristine's brother Brian is a Project Director for the current Foundation and is responsible for many marketing, event and program elements of the day-to-day organization. He resides in Parsippany, NJ with his wife Kristina who also helps drive many marketing aspects of the Foundation. Kristine's brother Rick assumed the role of volunteer Executive Director and Board President in 2003. A resident of Boston, MA, Rick conducts a range of day-to-day management activities of the Foundation.
Christopher Wiatrak
As the former husband of Kristine, Chris joined forces with the Colangelos and Morellos after her death in 1995 and founded the original Colangelo/Morello-Wiatrak Cancer Fund. His relationship with Sloan Kettering in New York, and efforts to raise funds and help families were instrumental to building the current Foundation. In his full-time job, Chris serves as a District Manager for Genentech. He resides in Wyckoff, NJ with his wife Monique.
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