Clubbing at “Eden” for a Great Cause: Honoring Cristian Rivera and Finding a Cure for Pontine Glioma
By J.M. De Jesus, President, Quadrant Two PR
Last night’s Cristian Rivera Foundation event Manhattan’s Club Eden was packed with many music and business impresarios in general. This is a 6 year old child who lost his life to this inoperable pediatric disease. I was invited by my dear friend Ralph Paniagua, President of R. Paniagua, Inc., who was kind enough to share one of his tickets with me. The event raised cash and awareness of a devastating and rare disease-Pontine Glioma-, which is brain tumors that largely affect children, ages 5-10. “Sadly, it took my little guy who was only six years old”, said John “Gungie” Rivera, entrepreneur and nightclub promoter, who is also the father of Cristian, during one of his addresses to those gathered last night hoping that their support would comfort the Rivera family and someday, facilitate a cure.
The event was top notch and was attended by many VIPs from the NYC Latin scene and some of the doctors who fought bravely for Cristian’s life from Memorial Sloan Kettering and other institutions.
The event featured a performance by Oro Sólido, but not before observing a minute of silence for deceased record producer and nightclub owner Ralph Mercado, Sr.. His son and daughter were in attendance and a heartfelt Happy Birthday goes out to Ralph, Jr. who was also celebrating his birthday last night. Also in attendance was actor Luis Guzman who told me about working on his upcoming HBO series role in John From Cincinnati, in which he plays the role of Ramon Gaviota.
The event was colorful to say the least and featured many models and other beautiful people. An unidentified artist was on hand and literally brush-painted a topless and near nude female model wearing only a bikini bottom from head to toe, by brush.
The crowd of invitees was beautiful and influential. It included the lovely Kim Loan, President/Director of PR Girls modeling agency (who is not exactly bad looking herself), restaurant impresario Jimmy Rodriguez, and Dina from Real Housewives of New Jersey, among others. To give you an idea of how influential this crowd of VIPs was, among those in attendance was mayoral hopeful Thompson who greeted the crowd to wish the family well and hope that a cure would be found soon. Naturally, if you’re a Democrat he wants your vote for Mayor of NYC in the upcoming election.
The food was also fantastic and featured treats from celebrity chefs Ricardo Cardona and Alex Garcia and was sponsored by Sofrito, Sazon, Hudson River Café, Mamajuana Café, and 809 Bar & Grill. For me, the “Ropa Vieja”(or shredded beef) on a toston, the ceviche, and the flan, were the culinary hits of the evening.
If you are interested in supporting the Cristian Rivera Foundation and the search for a cure for Pontine Glioma visit http://www.cristianriverafoundation.org and click on the “Donate” button. You can also show your support by purchasing a wristband from the site. Additionally you can mail a check to: The Cristian Rivera Foundation
9 East 38th St, Suite 901
New York, NY 10016.
