I'm Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation :: The Voice Of Young Adults

MANAGEMENT

Matthew Zachary, Founder/CEO

Matthew Zachary was a 21-year old college senior and aspiring concert pianist and composer en route to film school to become a Hollywood film composer when he slowly lost use of his left hand, was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer (medulloblastona) and told he'd likely never perform again. Twelve years, four albums and scores of concerts later, Matthew's struggle to get busy living has inspired countless thousands. Today, Matthew is an award-winning musician and composer, accredited thought-leader in public health, a leading authority on the youth cancer culture, a highly credentialed and coveted motivational speaker, and a burgeoning social entrepreneur with the founding of the I'm Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation in 2007, a pioneering nonprofit organization in the Web2.0/Health2.0 space that was recently ranked a TIME Magazine Best 50 Website for 2007. A member of the prestigious Google Health Advisory Council, Matthew has 15 years of experience in advertising, youth culture marketing, information technology and visual communications for print and web in addition to strategic expertise public relations, consumer healthcare, nonprofit management and social media. Matthew has won several industry awards and has been recognized internationally for his innovations as a visionary trend influencer and change agent who has always been ahead of his time. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Matthew holds an interdisciplinary BA from the State University of New York at Binghamton that combined the music, theater, computer science, and sociology disciplines. For more information about Matthew, please visit his official website at http://MatthewZachary.com

Erica Goldberg, VP, Development

Erica Goldberg is a passionate advocate for the young adult cancer movement. She spent two years working in development and fundraising at Fertile Hope, which introduced her to i[2]y where she was impressed and inspired by the organizaton and its membership. During a (long, lonely) period of unemployment Erica spent time volunteering for i[2]y and is now excited to join the talented team. Erica's background in nonprofit organizational development as well as fundraising and event planning are integral to implementing i[2]y's development initiatives and organizational goals. Additionally employed by the Alzheimer's Association, Erica works as a liaison between the organization and their young professional volunteer base. In 2005, Erica earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Delaware, where she graduated with honors. She lives in Manhattan's Upper East Side.

INTERNS

Anna Brower, Operations Associate

Anna Brower was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 12 during the 6th grade. After undergoing intensive chemotherapy, she resumed life as a teenage girl in Ann Arbor, MI. During treatment, she was involved in fundraising and volunteer efforts for the University of Michigan Cancer Center and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Now a senior at Barnard College, Anna became involved with i[2]y in June of 2009, where she is currently serving an internship supporting the organization's operational growth and relationship management in social media.

Amanda Freeman, Broadcast Production Assistant

Amanda Freeman graduated with a B.M. in bassoon performance from the Eastman School of Music in 2008. Shortly after moving to Manhattan in the winter of 2008 to start work on post baccalaureate studies at Columbia University, she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the mandible. After seven months of treatment, which included radical surgery and intensive chemotherapy, she was declared cancer free in June 2009. During her treatment, she became passionate about patient advocacy and how diet can impact health. Amanda has since returned to her studies at Columbia University in preparation for medical school. Hoping to get involved and aid more young adults in their fight against cancer, she approached i[2]y in January 2010 about volunteer opportunities and accepted the position of broadcast production assistant.

VOLUNTEERS

Jack Bouffard, Chief Cancer Anarchist

Jack Bouffard was a 32 year old Licensed Massage Therapist when he was diagnosed out of the blue with Stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma. Giving up his practice to focus on his treatment, he began to experience peripheral neuropathy (a numbing pain and tingling sensation in his fingers and toes) as a result of his chemotherapy and was told it would take a long time to be well enough to practice massage therapy again. While looking into support options near his treatment center, he found a prostate and breast cancer group, both populated solely by patients in their 50s and 60s. Seeking the support of his peers, Jack was referred to i[2]y per a friend and attended the 1st Annual OMG! Cancer Summit For Young Adults in NYC during the Spring of 2008. It was there he found himself surrounded by hundreds of other young adult survivors in their 20s and 30s and realized he had found his calling, regardless of whether the long-term side effects of his chemo meant the end of his career in massage. Since joining i[2]y, he has contributed as an executive volunteer donating his time and talent to the organization's many advocacy projects. His commitment to the cause led him to accept a leadership position as "Chief Cancer Anarchist" which affords him the opportunity to speak on behalf of the foundation at numerous engagements around the country, including cancer conferences, college campuses, high school classrooms and via his permanent spot as Senior Contributor to The Stupid Cancer Show, i[2]y's syndicated talk radio broadcast. Jack is also a regular on SIRIUS/XM Doctor Radio's Oncology Show and has emerged as a national spokesperson for the young adult cancer movement. He currently lives and practices massage in Danbury, CT and received his certification from the Connecticut Center For Massage Therapy.

Alan Swann, Development Coordinator

Alan is a young veteran of the corporatocracy who spent too many a day pining for something beyond the status quo that could take him away–calgon-style–from his cube farm. He attributes his perspective on life and the universe to the grounding reality that, according to his metaphysical dogma, everything is an illusion, we can't see past the choices we do not understand and "there is no spoon." He is passionate about giving back to an underserved community that reflects his "me-generation" persona. A native of Punxsutawney, PA who now lives in New York City, Alan has a BA in English from the University of the United States. (it is a very small university.)

Feeling isolated? The channels below will connect you with hundreds of age-appropriate resources and open the door to socially network with countless thousands of young adult survivors and caregivers.

young adult support

general cancer support

scholarships & financial aid

excursions & retreats

forums & chat rooms

social networking

young adult blogosphere

coping literature

books, mags, films and media

advocacy tools

cancer creative

HEY NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS AND PROVIDERS!

i[2]y literature and promotional materials currently provide inpatient support to AYA patients at 600+ cancer centers around the world. Are we at your clinic yet? If not, please ask us to ship you our gear!