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VISIONARIES OF THE YEAR

Join me as I spend 10 weeks traveling the country raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, competing for the title of the 2023 New York City Visionary of the Year.

Visionaries of the Year: Text

The 2023 New York City Visionaries of the Year Campaign

In October 2014, after months of trying to understand why a lymph node continued to grow in my neck and my symptoms continued to worsen, I heard the three words no one wants to ever hear in their lives: You have cancer. I had to drop out of school at NYU where I was studying Musical Theater at Tisch, move back home to Miami, and do chemotherapy for three months. Because I was 19 at the time, I was treated pediatrically. This meant I was being treated alongside kids who were as young as just a few months old, oftentimes battling diseases significantly worse than my own, with more intense treatment regimens, and lower chances of survival.


Then, on January 25th, 2015, after grueling treatment sessions, debilitating side effects, and months of sleepless nights, pain, and anxiety, I was told that I entered remission. After tears, an “I Survived Cancer” trip to Disney World, and many celebratory glasses of champagne later, I got straight to work. Although the worst was behind me, I knew I couldn’t sit idly by while others continued to fight this horrific disease. 


I began working on an event called “Raise Your Voice: A Cabaret for a Cure,” which sought to bring together the current generation of Broadway performers with the future generation – my classmates at Tisch. The benefit ended up raising over $13,000 its first year, and $40,000 its second year. I continued to work tirelessly with LLS by producing benefits for them, performing at, hosting, and MCing their established events, and speaking at various meetings and engagements around the country at various LLS chapters, including their national office. 


This December, I became the inaugural recipient of the Jay Porter Fellowship -- a new fellowship offered through his job at United Entertainment Group (Daniel J Edelman network) which will give me time off and resources to fully integrate myself into a philanthropic organization of my choosing, to make an impact. I've decided to use that time and those resources to run for a larger competition, and run for the 2023 New York City Visionary of the Year. The Visionary of the Year competition is a 10 week campaign, starting March 1st ending May 12th, where candidates fundraise to take home the coveted title. All funds from all candidates ultimately pool together to create a 7 figure donation for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at the end of the night. 


Why LLS? As the largest nonprofit funder of cutting-edge blood cancer research to advance cures, LLS has invested more than $1.5 billion in cancer research since they started in 1949, leading to breakthroughs in immunotherapy, genomics and personalized medicine that are improving and saving the lives of patients. As a global leader in the fight against blood cancer, LLS also provides free education and support for blood cancer patients and families, including personalized, one-on-one support, assistance with identifying and enrolling in clinical trials, and more, and mobilizes thousands of advocates to drive policy changes that accelerate the development of new cancer treatments and break down barriers to care. Additionally, it is much easier to research, test, and experiment on a blood cell than it is on a tumor, making LLS the pioneer of many drugs that are ultimately cleared to treat other diseases such as pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, and more.

Visionaries of the Year: Welcome

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please see below for the upcoming events. All proceeds will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and their mission to end blood cancers once and for all.

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BARRY'S

For Tickets, please click the photo above!


Join Rob and his team as they sweat for a cause!


Saturday, March 4th, at 4:45 PM, we will be at Barry's Upper West Side for a Total Body Upper Body Focus class taught by Chris Hansell. All proceeds will go directly to benefit the campaign and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Address: 72-74 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023

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COREPOWER YOGA

Join Rob and his team as they sweat for a cause. On Saturday, March 25th, Corepower Instructor Brian Swinney will teach a hot yoga sculpt class at the Bryant Park location in New York City. All proceeds will go directly to benefit the campaign.

Date: Saturday, March 25th, 2023

Time:

Instructor: Brian Swinney

Location: Bryant Park (Mezzanine Level, 24 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018)

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ALL IN GOOD COMPANY

For Tickets, please click the photo above!

From cancer at 19, swine flu at 16,  COVID 4 times, crazy ex-boyfriends, a slight lazy eye, and always a flair for dramatics, there’s never a dull moment when I’m around. 

All in Good Company is a variety cabaret featuring the people, stories, and events that have turned me into the person I am, and I’m bringing friends along to help tell the story!

Date: Monday, April 3rd, 2023

Time: Doors 6:30 PM, Show 7 PM

Venue: The Cutting Room (44 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016)

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SPACE X FIT

For over 20 years Miami's Club Space has been a Mecca for electronic music lovers craving marathon raves curated by acclaimed DJ's and selectors from across the globe. Even in a city known for its after-hours parties, Space has garnered widespread praise among audiences by regularly extending night time parties into mornings, afternoons and subsequent evenings. The club's famous Terrace features a clear ceiling allowing dancers the rare opportunity to watch starlight turn to sunrise as they get lost and fall in love with the music on the dance floor.

Now let's add a twist. Let's start our day with a workout to get the blood flowing, taught by star fitness trainer, Starr Hawkins. That'll turn into a quick yoga flow to make sure our chakras are aligned and vibes are right, before switching gears and partying the day away. Best part? You're sweating and partying for a cause because all proceeds will go to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Date: Saturday, April 8th, 2023

Time: 2:00 PM

Venue: SPACE MIAMI 34 NE 11th St, Miami, FL 33132

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BOSTON GIVES BACK

For Tickets, please click the photo above!


Featuring some of Boston’s biggest stars, “Boston Gives Back” will be a musical theater cabaret featuring songs of hope, perseverance, love, and strength as the city comes together to raise essential funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 


Set at Club Cafe’s Moonshine Room, the evening will feature two back-to-back performances of the cabaret, silent auction opportunities, tiered ticket pricing, and opportunities to donate throughout the evening.

Date: Monday, April 10th, 2023

Time: 8:30 PM

Venue: Club Cafe's The Moonshine Room 209 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

THE PARTY

You don’t have to deny it. Once you walk through those doors and feel the heat from the lights and the shine of the disco ball, you are free to let your true self live without fear of judgment or retaliation. The dance floor is your kingdom and the beat is your pulse.

The evening will featuring a lineup of popular DJs and pop up performances throughout the night featuring aerialists, drag, vocalists, dancers, contortionists, fire dancers, snake charmers, and more.

Date: Friday, April 21st, 2023

Time: Doors at 10 PM

Venue: 3 Dollar Bill 260 Meserole St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

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SOUL CYCLE

Join Rob and his team as they sweat for a cause. Soul Cycle Instructor Maddison Rotner will teach a 2:45 PM class on Sunday, May 7th at the NoMad Studio. All proceeds will go directly to benefit the campaign.

Date: Sunday, May 7th, 2023

Time: 2:45 PM

Location: Soul Cycle NoMad 12 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001

Contact Me
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