Dream Makers Gala Program – Children's Brain Tumor Foundation

VIEW PROGRAM

Jeffrey H. Wisoff, MD

Recipient of the Leary Legacy Award

Dr. Jeffrey Wisoff retired after a 40-year career in pediatric and congenital neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital. A founding member and longtime Director of NYU’s Pediatric Neurosurgery Division, he made groundbreaking contributions to brain tumor treatment and neurosurgical advancements. A leader in the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) for over 30 years, he led a major international study on pediatric brain tumors and published over 200 scientific works. Widely recognized for his expertise, he has held key leadership roles, lectured globally, and received numerous honors, including the 2024 Franz Ingraham Lifetime Achievement Award.

Erin Crotty, MD

Recipient of the Trailblazer Award

Dr. Crotty is a pediatric neuro-oncologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. She specializes in treating brain and spinal cord tumors and leads clinical oncology for the Retinoblastoma Program. Her research focuses on developing immunotherapies and precision medicine for hard-to-treat pediatric tumors, supported by a CBTF grant and the Children’s Cancer Research Fund Emerging Scientist Award. She is a key investigator in international collaborations, advancing liquid biopsy techniques and new clinical trials to improve outcomes for young patients.

Billy Fischer

The Power of Hope Award

From diagnosis to thriving young adult, Billy’s story reflects the courage, resilience, and spirit that define the CBTF community. A longtime member of the CBTF family, Billy has grown up surrounded by the care, friendship, and support that make this community so special. His journey is a testament to the power of hope — showing how strength, positivity, and connection can turn even the most difficult challenges into a story of perseverance and purpose. Tonight, we are proud to honor Billy with the Power of Hope Award in recognition of his inspiring journey and the light he continues to bring to others.

EMCEES

Dash Miller

Dash Miller is a high school junior at San Francisco’s University High where he is a student government leader and on the varsity volleyball team. In recent years, Dash has become an ardent cancer advocate, serving on UCSF’s Youth Advisory Council, and leading multiple fundraising and awareness initiatives. Dash loves San Francisco’s restaurant scene, and luckily also enjoys pickup basketball at city gyms.

Axel Miller

Axel Miller is in 7th grade in San Francisco’s St. John School, where he enjoys history, science and art. A World War II buff, a pianist, and an urban chicken farmer, Axel’s wide range of interests, kind heart, and dry wit, make him a fun kid to be around. He can often be found hiking in local canyons with his labrador, Buttercup, or playing on his school soccer and basketball teams.

ENTERTAINMENT

Xavier Mack

Xavier Mack, Creative Director WynterDiva Foundation: Xavier is a sophomore at Pace University pursuing a BFA in Commercial Dance and a teacher at Brickhouse NYC. Xavier has had a passion for dance at a young age where he studied at Broadway Dance Center and a member of the AIM youth dance company and Brickhouse NYC and a member of the GenX Hip Hop Dance crews. Xavier is a former Kaos Squad member and a Monsters of Hip Hop dance alumni.

Xavier has honed his creative side through his passion for choreography. Xavier’s work has been featured at various venues including Choroegrapher’s Carnival, Sybarite, ClubNYC, and WynterDiva Festival. Xavier has donated his talent to causes such as Dance Against Cancer at The Lincoln Center, CBTF Gala, Garden of Dreams Radio City Music Hall honoring his sister Wynter Mack

Xavier’s dance credits include: 2025 Usher Met Gala performance, 2025 GMA Disney Zombies premiere, CBS tv series The Equalizer and 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade with Billy Elliot. In his youth, Xavier is credited as a principal actor in Pyer Moss short film “Seven Mothers”, Bruno Mars on Nickelodeon’s Lip Sync Battle and various commercials and modeling campaigns. Xavier is also a former member of the Brooklyn Nets Kids Dance Team.

Dancers

Heaven Allah
McKinley Alston
Emily Balee
Hunter Capellan
Jayla Capellan
Jazmyn Durham

Clementine Fullerton
Kai Fullerton
Nathan Fullerton
Peter Hegener
Zion Jones
Frida Kasimis
Krystalee Morales

Gabe Morris
Chloe Negron
Isaac Rivers
Elysia Vasquez-Ospace_nyc
Miah Velasquez-Ospace_nyc
Ciara Volston-Pace University
Nicholas Zapata

Thank you to Brickhouse NYC, Broadway Dance Center NYC and other surrounding studios in the NYC area for their contributions.

Tyler Magrone, Sonia Rose and Eric Texiera

My name’s Tyler Magrone I’m the bassist and songwriter in Alternative Metal band “THE UNCRTN”. I started this project in 2019 with an old friend and a girl I met in college, I pitched it to them as a fun side project but I knew all along I wanted to make this my life’s work. We wrote a few songs, pushed through covid and after a few years of playing show’s all throughout New York we’ve finally started to find our footing. We’re currently coming off our most successful release to date, a cover of Rihanna’s “Where Have You Been” in collaboration with NJ artist “BVDMIND”. It’s opened a ton of doors for us so the future is truly looking bright. The end of 2025 is stacked for us, we’ve got a new track releasing on 10.24 called “MEMORY” which we’ll be performing acoustically at the “Dream Makers Gala”, followed by our very own Halloween music festival “Hallowmania” on 10/31 at Gleason’s Gym present by “Give A Kid A Dream” foundation.

CBTF has been a part of my family’s life for close to 20 years. They’ve been by our side for my brother’s entire brain cancer journey and have been nothing short of incredible every step of the way. They’ve always found a way to support and connect survivors and families to fight these battles together. CBTF has served as a constant reminder that you are never alone in this life. It’s been my pleasure to give back to CBTF in any way I can.

Above all CBTF has brought so many amazing people into my life, one man who has left a permanent mark on my life is Jeremiah. Jeremiah was my brother’s best friend, and was truly like an older sibling for me. I have only the most beautiful memories with him whether it be concerts in states I would only drive to for him, or late nights cracking jokes and talking about nonsense. Jeremiah always brought a chill vibe to the air, and his outlook on life and essence was a reminder to cherish what I have around me… to practice gratitude. May he rest in the sweetest peace.

TRIBUTES

About the Artist Steven R. Hazlett is a photographer and brain tumor survivor whose work captures moments of light, connection, and resilience. His images often explore the quiet beauty within urb

Jeremiah McCarthy

Creative Matter Co-Founder, Mentor and Artist

The Dream Makers Gala and the entirety of our work is dedicated to all of the CBTF family members we have lost too soon–whose impact continues to inspire us and will be felt forever.

Leigh Anne Brodsky

Board Member, Innovator and Mentor

Leigh Anne Brodsky was a prominent board member, innovator, and mentor in the licensing and entertainment industry. She served as a longtime board member of the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation (CBTF), where she was actively involved in charitable efforts, and also contributed to the Dementia Society. Her leadership in these organizations reflected her deep commitment to social causes, particularly those related to children’s health and neurological conditions.

CO-CHAIRS

Harvey Berger, M.D.Chairman & CEO, Kojin Therapeutics; Former Chairman & CEO, ARIAD Pharmaceuticals; Board Member – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Joseph Chan
COO, CFO, and General Counsel, Viscogliosi Brothers LLC

Molly Ferguson
Executive Assistant to Principal, Anthony Viscogliosi, Viscogliosi Brothers LLC

Christopher Gioffre
Vice President, Viscogliosi Brothers LLC

Yuri Krupp
Director, Operational Risk Data Management, UBS; Director – Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation

Lionel Leventhal
Managing Director, Ladenburg Thalmann; Board Chair – Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation

Tim Vogel, M.D.
Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hackensack University Medical Center

Anthony G. Viscogliosi
Principal, Viscogliosi Brothers LLC

Thanks to the following for their contributions to making this event possible

Caroline Corner and Dan Barahona
CBTF Ambassadors
The Gonzales-Jackson Family
Seth and Nolan Thompson
Jason Mack and Tahira Wright
Karen Duff
The Dodd Family
Katy and Glenn Whitefield

Morgan and Dana Fischer
Finn Hastings
Eve Hastings
Nora Osterman-Davis
Marshall Fine
JRF Teen Action Group
Rob Kline, Multitude Marketing
Levi Webb

Sierra Barnes
Waverly Dodd
Kayla Giacin
Steven R. Hazlett
Isaac Leeman
Luciana Leeman
Will Mumford

The survivors and siblings who contributed by sharing their family stories, Survivor and Sibling Artists

Thanks to the McCarthy family for generously allowing us to offer one of Jeremiah’s pieces.

CONTRIBUTORS

Silent Auction Donors

Alison and Michael Teicher
American Dream
Beauty Bar
Brandon Berman
Carnival Corporation & Partners
CBTF Board Member Gary Brewster
Cheryl Coutts
Debra McGuire
Hackensack Meridian Fitness & Wellness
Harry Shulman
Lilian Dugan
Linda Angel
Lisa and Tim Robinson
Lobel’s
Macy’s Inc.
Martin Van der merwe
Michael Strahan
Mona’s Cosmetics and Day Spa
NBC Universal-Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Rachel Smith
Revival Ey-Gabriella Ruiz
Rita and Steve Oroho and Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Sheryl Luppino
Susan Marinoff-Zausner
The Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation Board
The Drew Barrymore Show
The Friedman Family
The Kelly Clarkson Show / NBCUniversal
The Sparta Family
Thomas Cubby
Vivi De Souza
Wendy Lobel
Zadig & Voltaire

Special thanks to Auction Chairs Ginny Shulman and Cheryl Coutts for their leadership and dedication,
and to Haley Deal for her support. Together, you help make brighter futures possible.