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Chords2Cure
Team

Meet the fabulous people who make our organization possible!

Junior Board

 

Ruby Block

Ruby, a senior at Crossroads School, is in her third year on the Chords2Cure Junior board. When her sister Charlotte, was diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma, a form of cancer affecting only one in 1 million children, Ruby made it her mission to raise funds for research and to spread awareness about the disease. She is thrilled to support UCLA‘s Sarcoma Program, where Charlotte was treated by Dr. Noah Federman.

Passionate about music, Ruby works with C2C in a variety of capacities including event production and fundraising. She is excited to continue her journey with the organization as Crossroad’s Chords2Cure club leader, club liaison, and music production assistant. Ruby appreciates the chance to be part of an organization that brings a variety of talent and expertise together to support such an important cause.

 

Zachary Zwelling

Zachary is a musician and surfer living in Malibu, CA. He is a songwriter, guitarist and producer. 

At age ten, he moved to NYC and starred in School of Rock on Broadway and performed in over 400 shows at the Winter Garden Theater.  When he moved back to California, he realized how important it was to use his music to help others. When Zachary was in 6th grade, he joined the Chords2Cure family as a performer.  Now, four years later, he is a proud member of the Junior Board and is always thinking of ways he can contribute to his community by creating music and awareness to help raise funds for great causes, such as pediatric cancer research and eradication.

 
 
 
 

Sofia Trejo

Sofia is a senior at Crossroads School and is so excited to be a new member of the Chords2Cure Junior Board. She became involved in Chords2Cure last year through performance and is looking forward to continuing to raise awareness. She is grateful to be a part of an organization that makes so much positive change that mixes both her passions - service and music.

 

Merlot Ghadoushi

Merlot is a Senior at Palisades Charter High School. She was a former President of a school club. Now, she is a junior board member, executive assistant, as well as the leader of the community events team. Merlot has been singing ever since she could walk. Being involved with music theater from a young age then moving on to writing her own songs and singing covers. Merlot lives to volunteer, go to the beach, and travel in her free time. In the future, Merlot would like to study medicine and hopefully follow in the footsteps of Dr. Federman. She loves being part of Chords2Cure and will even take this fantastic organization with her to university!

 
 

River Tharae

River is the President of the Chords2Cure Club at Palisades Charter High School for the current school year! She performed at her first Chords2Cure concert, the Under the Stars benefit concert with Acapali and was so inspired by the stories, the passion, and the courage of the Chords2Cure team. She is so excited that her dream has come true of spending her junior year on this amazing team, and she plans to perform, fundraise, and help out wherever she can! She is also on the Fundraising Committee, so she will oversee fundraising efforts for junior members, will work closely with outreach and social media, and more! She has spent her life in theater, and she is so excited to use what she has learned to give this organization the funds and the recognition it deserves.

 
 

Campbell Douglas

I am a Senior at Crossroads and a member of the Junior Board, having volunteered for several years now.  I have always been deeply moved by the power of music. I think of it as the playlist of our lives and can still remember my very first C2C concert back in elementary school. I love how music can encourage, inspire and comfort us in times of need, and in the case of C2C, has rallied an entire community behind such a meaningful cause. 

Like most, I have been touched by illness, both personally and with people I love, so I am honored to be a part of an organization that has made an enormous impact on research and medical advancements in pediatric cancer. It has been a humbling experience and one which I will always be grateful for.

 
 
 

Chase Klein

Chase is a sophomore at Brentwood School and this is her first year with Chords2Cure. She is thrilled to be the Vice President of the C2C club at Brentwood, and to be involved with this incredible organization. Chase has been singing, and playing piano and guitar for 13 years. She started in musical theater and began writing music at the age of 11. Chase is also a cheerleader and loves traveling, photography, ballet, and most importantly, her dogs Sunshine and Hunter. She has family members and friends who have fought cancer, so she is incredibly grateful to be able to share her passion for music in support of C2C. Chase is so excited to be a part of this wonderful organization. She can’t wait to collaborate with others and spread awareness for this important cause. 

 
 

Maxine Grossman

Maxine is a senior at SAMOHI. She has been playing various instruments for a long time and singing forever. She loves just sitting at her piano for hours recording music all day long. As a part of the junior board she will be helping with fundraising and community event planning. At SAMO she is heavily involved in the arts especially the theatre program. She is so excited about this school year and being apart of Chords2Cure.

 
 

Monty Oxman

Monty is a Senior at Crossroads School and is a new member of the Junior Board on the Social Media team. This is her first year with C2C and she is so excited to start working with such an awesome organization to fight pediatric cancer! Music and performing have always been a major part of her life, from her experience singing and playing guitar with her band, and from her years of acting, singing, and dancing in musical theater. She's so excited to be able to use her passion for a good cause. She has experience in social media management for other organizations and is eager to use her skills to help get more outreach and attention to this important cause on the Junior Board.

 

Edward Maxam

Edward is a junior at Oakwood, and this is his first year on the Junior Board. Edward is an avid musician and has family members who have battled cancer. He is the founder and president of the new Chords2Cure club at Oakwood and is passionate about bringing his community together through music to help make a difference. Finding creative and engaging ways to support others is his favorite part of Chords2Cure, and he hopes to leave a lasting impact on pediatric cancer research, Chords2Cure, and Oakwood!

 
 

Sadie Tanner Rose

Sadie is a senior at Crossroads and Vice President of the school's Chords2Cure club. She always loves singing with Chords2Cure and is thrilled to be a member of the Junior Board and the fundraising committee. Her background in the arts has taught her the value of human connection, and she is grateful to be part of a team fighting for such an important cause through music — the universal language. 

 

Jesse Nevins

Jesse is a senior at Crossroads School and this is his second year working on the Chords2Cure Junior Board. He has a love for all things music: he's a part of the jazz band at his school and wishes to marry his passion for music with his passion for helping others. Jesse also loves to craft stories through the use of film and photography. Currently running social media at C2C, he hopes to pursue his passions while also contributing to the world by raising money for pediatric cancer. 

 
 

Mickey Friedberg

My name is Mickey I’m a junior at Pali High and this is my second year as a junior board member, though I’ve been involved with Chords2Cure since I was young. I’m on the varsity baseball team at my school, and I enjoy surfing and playing music as well. Jaxon was my 5th grade buddy when I was in Kindergarten, and I have been very close with him and his family my whole life, along with many other families involved with Chords2Cure. I have worked behind stage as well as performed in the fundraising concerts and am excited to continue to work with the organization this year!

 
 

Jake Drexler

Jake is both the Club Liaison at Brentwood School and an Executive Assistant to the Chords2Cure Board. He has been playing the piano for over twelve years, and this spring, Jake completed the top-most level held by California state, earning the Advanced Level Certificate of Merit, with State Honors. On weekends, he also volunteers with the Harmony Project, helping to bring music education into underprivileged communities. As his mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just last year, Jake is extremely grateful to be able to share his passion for music to help fight against cancer.

 

Alumni Board

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Juliette Pegula

Juliette is a singer-songwriter/philanthropist from Los Angeles who co-founded Chords2Cure when she was in 7th grade in response to her friend Jaxon Blumenthal's excruciating battle with liver cancer and challenges related to his liver transplant. Juliette is dedicated to raising funds to help battle pediatric cancer through music. She hopes amateur and professional artists will join Chords2Cure to raise the necessary funds to find a cure for this horrible disease. Juliette will keep raising awareness for C2C from Belmont University in Nashville where she is studying creative writing and journalism.

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Jaxon Blumenthal

Jaxon is a three-time cancer survivor and liver transplant recipient. He was only 11 when he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hepatoblastoma (liver cancer). He underwent 6 months of grueling chemotherapy and a life-saving liver transplant. He has relapsed twice (the disease spread to his lungs), and endured two lung resections. He has also suffered two stints of acute organ rejection.
In 2019, Jax took a much needed medical leave of absence from his studies at school and focused on his mental health. Along with the medical trauma he endured he also faced a lot of emotional suffering. Coming face-to-face with death is not something you brush under the rug. Plagued with PTSD, depression and survivor’s guilt, Jax took the hard road and faced these new challenges head on. He wants other kids suffering from cancer and/or mental challenges to know they don’t always have to “be brave.” It’s okay to fall apart sometimes. But there is always hope!
As a young singer/songwriter/musician he has been able to channel much of his pain & suffering through his writing.

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Mafalda von Alvensleben

Mafalda knew right away that the pain she felt in her right femur in the summer of 2014 was different. Yet nothing could have ever prepared her for the devastating diagnosis of Ewing Sarcoma, one of the toughest and rarest of all pediatric cancers. She went through 9 challenging months of treatment with 17 rounds of chemotherapy, 20 days of radiation therapy and Bone Graft Replacement Surgery. Mafalda's leg continues to give her problems after more than 7 years in remission and 7 surgeries, of which 4 years on crutches. Her leg finally showed promising signs of healing just in time for her first semester at Yale in 2018, yet it broke again in April 2019 with no more signs of any healing. In early January 2020 she had to take a semester off for a 16-hr complete reconstructive leg surgery with a vascularized fibula transplant. She spent most of her stay-at-home time to slowly relearn to walk again while catching up on her studies. Mafalda just received her Bachelor of Science majoring in cognitive science focusing on contemporary ethics and the future of morality. She is currently completing her Master at the Yale School of Public Health. Beyond her performances as a singer and a poet, Mafalda was Chords2Cure’s in house art director, designing the artwork for social media, as well as the website. At Yale Mafalda is an active member of DEFY (Disability Empowerment at Yale) advocating for Yalies with disabilities. She is a regular contributor to the Yale Daily News, and is a production manager for the Yale Scientific Magazine, and product manager for the publication STEAM. In her free time she loves to write for newspapers and write nonsensical spoken word poetry, act in theater productions and design costumes. She illustrated and wrote her first children’s book which she recently published and is dedicating all proceeds to Chords2Cure.

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Charlotte Furie

Charlotte became good friends with Jax and Juliette upon arrival at Crossroads in 9th grade and immediately wanted to be part of C2C. She has always loved performing at the annual concerts and has consistently been one of the top student fundraisers. These days, Charlotte is a senior at Northwestern University, where she can be found pursuing degrees in both theatre and business.  She is honored to be part of C2C’s Alumni Board and continue raising funds for critical research for Pediatric Cancer. Her goal is for no parent to ever hear the words:  “your child has cancer”.

Sophie Levin

Sophie became interested in the cause when she attended the first ever Chords2Cure benefit in 2015 to support loved ones in her community, such as Jaxon and Mafalda, along with all children battling pediatric cancer. Her passion for bringing awareness and funding to pediatric cancer treatments led her to become involved with C2C. When Sophie served as the social media manager, she spearheaded the launch of our Chords2Cure Live 24 hour Channel, C2C Video On Demand, C2C App and the “Share Your Voice” social media campaign to include people from around the world to join our community and fundraising efforts. Sophie is a Junior at the University of Virginia and continues to put her efforts into C2C by serving on the Alumni Board.

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Calli Blumenthal

Calli was actively involved with Chords2Cure from 2015 until she left for college in 2022. Her unwavering passion for raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer was ignited as she witnessed her brother, Jax, courageously battle this illness over the years. Observing the lack of understanding among young people regarding C2C's mission, Calli pioneered the C2C Junior Board, which now boasts 20 dedicated members who guide the organization's mission. Throughout her high school years, Calli served as the President of her school's Chords2Cure club and Co-President of the Community Service Honors Society. Calli is currently a sophomore at the University of Virginia, where her experiences as a sibling of a pediatric cancer survivor have deepened her commitment to fundraising and addressing the long-term effects faced by these young patients.

Jonah Berghoff

Jonah has been playing the guitar since he was a young boy. His commitment to raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer came when his best friend and cousin, Ava, was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was just 11 years old. She fought for 5 years before she passed away when she was only 16 years old. Jonah honors her memory and continues the fight on her behalf. Chords2Cure is the perfect combination of his two loves, Ava and music!

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Cate Landis

Cate is a sophomore at Tulane University. Cate has always been extremely driven and motivated towards helping others and making sure she makes some sort of impact to positively benefit the world. With Chords2Cure, she has been able to bring her love for both music and public service to the forefront, and also spend time fighting for an amazing cause! In her free time, Cate loves writing music, finding new and undiscovered artists, DJing at WTUL at Tulane, and being unapologetically herself.

Caspar von Alvensleben

Cancer has been a part for Caspar’s life ever since his sister, Mafalda, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in 2014. He was then in 4th grade. Initially he started to help out with Chords2Cure events, from selling raffle tickets and auction items to setting up and helping with the merchandise. Over the years his responsibilities grew steadily. During his senior year, he was the President of the Chords2Cure Junior Board in charge of fund raising. Furthermore he proudly brought his saxophone skills to perform with his Jazz band. In addition to using his business skills to raise funds for C2C, he runs a small sneaker and sports cards business, dedicating 5% of his sales to C2C every year. Caspar is now a Freshman at the University of Southern California, focusing his interests on International Relations and Environmental Studies.

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Alex Levin

Alex attended the first ever Chords2Cure benefit concert in 2015 and, at a young age, was inspired by the musicianship and passion the kids had for helping the cause and most importantly for their friends going through treatments. He served as the Co-President of the Junior Board last year. Music has always been a big part of Alex’s identity, so he implemented his musical knowledge into helping the organization. Alex helped to oversee the musical aspects of the performances and performed in the concert for four years first with his Jazz band, and last year with the House Band. The transition from watching the magic happen on stage to actually living it, greatly motivates him to raise awareness and amplify his fundraising efforts. Alex is a Freshman at Princeton University and continues his involvement by serving on the Alumni Board of C2C.

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Mila Levit

Mila vividly remembers watching the first Chords2Cure concert in 2015 and was extremely moved by the kids' dedication to raising funds for Pediatric Cancer research. She officially joined C2C her freshman year of high school and will continue to perform, organize events, and participate with great enthusiasm.

Now a freshman at Northwestern University, Mila is pursuing a theatre major with a concentration in acting. She has been proud to have performed in the past three C2C annual concerts and is thrilled to continue with C2C on the alumni board.

Nathan Winthrop

Sound everyone! I’m Nathan Winthrop, currently in my first year at ESCP, London. I’ve been involved with Chords2Cure for just over 5 years now, and love being a part of this beautiful community and organization. I was proudly part of the “house band”. i feel honored to continue my involvement by now serving on the Alumni Board of C2C.

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 BOARD

 

Chrissy Blumenthal, President

Chrissy has been a Board Member for Chords2Cure since its inception in 2015, driven by a deeply personal journey. Her commitment to the cause emerged when her son, Jax, was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma (liver cancer) at the tender age of 11. Witnessing the physical and emotional challenges pediatric cancer patients and their families endure firsthand, Chrissy was inspired to join in and take action.Fueled by a sense of urgency and concern, Chrissy delved into the world of Pediatric Cancer awareness and advocacy. She uncovered the harsh realities of insufficient funding and the use of highly toxic treatments for these young warriors. As a mother of three adult children and now a grandmother, Chrissy knows the value of time and cherishes each moment spent.

Her dedication extends beyond her role as a busy mom and grandmother. Chrissy invests significant time and effort in nurturing and educating C2C’S Student Junior Board Members, instilling in them the vital importance of increased funding for pediatric cancer research. She enjoys the satisfaction and significance of nonprofit work and hopes to inspire the younger generation to do the same. 

Chrissy's commitment and passion make her an invaluable member of our board. She stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us all of the difference we can make in the lives of those who need it most.


Meredith Pegula, Vive President

Proud mom of 3 vibrant, creative young adults, Meredith co-founded  Chords2Cure alongside her daughter, Juliette, driven by a heartfelt desire to make a difference. This remarkable endeavor was born from the love and friendship they shared with Jaxon Blumenthal, a young warrior battling cancer. Meredith's musical prowess, honed through her career as a professional singer, songwriter, and voice coach, naturally led her to take the reins as the organization's Musical Director. Under her guidance, Chords2Cure has flourished, featuring a stellar cast of gifted student performers and musicians. Meredith also collaborates closely with special guest artists, infusing the organization's events with unforgettable musical experiences.

Meredith's philanthropic spirit has been an integral part of her life since her early 20s. She has continually lent her voice to perform benefit concerts that support a range of causes. Her heartfelt contributions have touched organizations such as A Place Called Home, Lupus LA, and more recently, Music Mends Minds. These performances not only showcase her musical talents but also embody her unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.

In 2015, Meredith took her philanthropic endeavors to the next level by co-founding the non-profit organization, Concert4Peace. Through this platform, she has produced benefit concerts that have raised essential funds for causes close to her heart, including Futures Without Violence and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Meredith is a proud graduate of New York University (NYU), and holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. 

Beyond her numerous achievements, Meredith's ultimate aspiration is to inspire young people to harness their passion and talents to create a positive impact. Her journey is a testament to the transformative power of music and philanthropy, demonstrating that every individual has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.


Isabell von Alvensleben

Isabell serves as the treasurer of C2C. She joined the Chords2Cure Board in 2015 once her daughter Mafalda had finished her chemotherapy treatment. Originally from Germany, she has an MBA from ESCP, Paris. Isabell loves the idea of giving back to Dr. Federman and UCLA and is proud to support his clinical trials.

Lori Furie

Lori joined the Chords2Cure team in 2016 when her daughter, Charlotte, started high school and became good friends with Jaxon and Juliette.  Charlotte has always loved performing at C2C events and is regularly one of the top student fundraisers.  Lori is an Executive Vice President at Sony Pictures Entertainment where she has been for 30+ years. She oversees divisions of Columbia, TriStar and Sony 3000 Films. She draws on her extensive production experience to co-produce C2C events. Lori is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and serves on the Executive Committee of the Production and Technology Branch.  She graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Political Science and is on the Board of Councilors of the School of Dramatic Arts at the University of Southern California.  Prior to working in the film business, Lori spent 5 years in the music business working at a talent agency and in artist management.  

 Even though Charlotte is now a senior at Northwestern University, the entire Furie Family is committed to raising critical funds for Pediatric Cancer research and raising awareness about Chords2Cure’s mission.


Kim Levin

Kim Levin is the founder of a media company that specializes in productions documenting milestone life events and draws on her expertise and creativity for Chords2Cure. Kim joined the Chords2Cure Board in 2020 to complement the team with her incredible organizational skills. She started as the event chair in 2019 after her daughter, Sophie, had been volunteering for several years and her son, Alex participated as a musician. Kim and her family are part of the Crossroads community and are passionate about increasing awareness and funding for pediatric cancer research.

Suzanne Landis

Suzanne Landis is a Los Angeles based event, portrait and lifestyle photographer. Suzanne was asked to photograph Chords2Cure by the team four years ago and she jumped at the chance to donate her creativity to the cause. She recently joined the board and is so proud of her involvement in Chords2Cure, both behind the camera and out in the world raising awareness and generating support for pediatric cancer.

David Weinrot

David is a Los Angeles, CA native and uncle to a pediatric cancer survivor. He is also the Chief Marketing Officer of Prodege where he leads the growth and product marketing functions for Prodege’s consumer-facing rewards properties. He joined the Board to support Chords2Cure's digital and lifecycle marketing efforts.

Ana Kahan

Ana, a 22-year-old graduate of the Frost School of Music with a specialization in vocal performance, has been an integral part of Chords2Cure since 2017. Her journey took an unexpected turn when, at the tender age of 20, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer within her thymus gland amidst the throes of the pandemic. In an astonishingly compressed timeframe of just two years, Ana braved not one, but two intricate surgeries, and endured a grueling seven weeks of proton radiation therapy. 

Driven by her deeply personal connection to the cause, and fueled by her unwavering passion for music, Ana made the profound decision to become a member of the Board of Directors. Her aim is to leverage her experiences to raise awareness and effect positive change for the young warriors who find themselves navigating a journey similar to her own. 

Executive Committee

Alicia Celmer

Alicia has been the stage manager and involved in the production of Chords2Cure since its inception. Alicia is an entrepreneur, a musician, a producer and a Mom of a 18 year old son. Alicia holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and is a dedicated activist for the rights of young artists, LGBTQ, women, animals and the environment.