Actor and comedian Kenan Thompson and actor Luis Guzman were named among the hosts of the 17th Annual Cristian Rivera Foundation Celebrity Gala, a fundraising event scheduled for November 10 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. According to the foundation’s official announcement, the organisation has donated more than $4 million towards research into diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive childhood brain tumour, as well as financial assistance for affected families.The event, which also featured NBC’s Darlene Rodriguez as a host, was organised to raise funds for clinical trials, medical research and family support programmes. The evening’s programme was scheduled to include a red-carpet reception, dinner, an awards ceremony, live and silent auctions, and a video presentation highlighting the experiences of children and families affected by the disease.According to the foundation, proceeds from the gala will support research and clinical trials led by Dr Mark Souweidane at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medical College, along with research conducted by Dr Oren Becher at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital. A portion of the funds will also go towards providing direct financial assistance to families dealing with DIPG.
Inspired by a loss
The organisation’s origins are rooted in the personal tragedy of its founder, John “Gungie” Rivera, who established the Cristian Rivera Foundation in 2009 after losing his son to DIPG. According to the foundation’s account, Cristian Alexander Rivera was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour on January 22, 2007. He was four years old at the time. Despite receiving treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Weill Cornell Medical Center, the child died on January 25, 2009, after fighting the disease for two years.His father’s experience prompted him to establish the New Jersey-based nonprofit with the aim of funding research towards a cure, spreading awareness and helping families navigate the challenges of a childhood cancer diagnosis. The foundation says it has since become one of the country’s major private financial supporters of DIPG research. Its work also includes providing information, resources and monetary assistance to families affected by the disease.
$365,000 donation supports research at Weill Cornell
In January 2026, the organisation announced a $365,000 donation to Weill Cornell Medicine, its largest single contribution to date. According to a January 8 report by Weill Cornell Medicine, Thompson joined Rivera in presenting the donation to Dr Mark Souweidane, vice chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery and director of paediatric neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital.The contribution will support Souweidane’s research into developing more effective, targeted treatments for children diagnosed with DIPG. The foundation said the donation was raised through its fundraising initiatives, including its annual celebrity gala.A February 2026 report by Inside Philanthropy also noted that the foundation had crossed the $4 million mark in cumulative donations towards DIPG research and family support.
What is DIPG?
DIPG is a fast-growing tumour that develops in the pons, a part of the brainstem responsible for several vital functions, including breathing, heart rate and movement. According to the US National Cancer Institute, approximately 300 children are diagnosed with the condition in the country every year.The tumour is particularly difficult to treat because of its location and its tendency to spread into surrounding healthy brain tissue. Most children diagnosed with DIPG do not survive longer than two years, the institute says. There is currently no established cure for the disease, making research into new treatment approaches and clinical trials particularly important.
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