CAF 2018-2020 National Board of Directors Leadership Announced
July 2, 2018 – At the recent Annual Board of Director’s Meeting of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, a new slate of officers and Executive Committee Members were elected unanimously. The Officers of the National Board of Directors, who will serve two year terms, are:
President – Peter Chieco (Wealth Family Director, Morgan Stanley), Bedford Corners, NY
Vice President – Janice Cenzoprano (Office Manager, The Physical Rehabilitation Center), Garden City, NY
Medical Advisory Board Chair – Janet Kwiatkowski, MD, MSCE (Director of the Thalassemia Program, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), Philadelphia, PA
Treasurer – Dean Hernan (Public Accountant, Katz Viola Lebenhart & Mauro, LLP; Chief Financial Officer, The Forum Group), New Hyde Park, NY
Secretary – Maria Hadjidemetriou (Real Estate Sales Agent; Writer for Architecture+Lifestyle), New York, NY
Also unanimously elected were the Executive Committee Members of the Board of Directors for 2018-2020:
Peter Chieco – Executive Committee Chairman
Janice Cenzoprano
Janet Kwiatkowski, MD, MSCE
Dean Hernan
Maria Hadjidemetriou
Cammie Brandofino – Staten Island, NY
Amy Celento – Nutley, NJ
Mary Ann Cervoni-Iaia – Smithtown, NY
Ralph Colasanti – Newark, DE
Terri DiFilippo – Staten Island, NY
Robert Ficarra – Fair Haven, NJ
Frank Somma – Holmdel, NJ
Joseph Vigliotti, Esq. – Lodi, NJ
National President, Peter Chieco, thanked the Board Members for their vote of confidence for electing the Officers and Executive Committee Members. He added, “You have our word that we will work diligently to try and overcome every issue we face and to invest the funds raised wisely and for the benefit of our patients. Our goal is simple: every Cooley’s anemia patient, anywhere, deserves the opportunity to live their fullest life possible.”
The Board of Directors of the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation guides the Foundation in its efforts on behalf of those living with Cooley’s anemia, a genetic blood disorder also known as thalassemia. Those born with severe forms of thalassemia require lifelong blood transfusions as often as every two weeks and must undergo a daily drug treatment to remove excess iron from transfusions. Common complications include heart and liver failure, osteoporosis, diabetes, growth issues, and pulmonary hypertension.
In addition to the members of the Executive Committee, the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation Board of Directors includes Carmine Abruzzo, Robert Aiello, Tracy Antonelli, Josephine Bila, MSW, Shirley Cammilleri, Julia Cenzoprano, Thomas Cheng, Alan Cohen, MD, Sarah Baqueri Connolly, Michael DiFilippo, Joseph DiTrapani, Anthony Ferrino, Antoni Foe, Frank Fusaro, Anish Goel, PhD, Christine Horton, Richard Kirkendall, Michelle Chieco Lenz, Frank Marzano, Gianna Palminteri, Chi Pham, Paul Polo, Michael Pouchie, Michael Presto, Sharon Farrell Radonis, Thomas A. Rotolo, Phil Rutigliano, Joseph Sciame, Frank Tidona, Teresa Tomaino, James Ventola, Anthony J. Viola, Tom Watral, and Joseph Zuraw. Nunzio Cazzetta is Board Member Emeritus. Hilary Cooley is an Honorary Board Member.