Champions for Children

Jodie Sweetin is an actress, producer, host, author and activist who garnered the love of millions in her role as Stephanie Tanner on ABC’s long-running, hugely popular sitcom Full House and the widely popular Netflix spinoff Fuller House. Beginning her career at a young age, she quickly became a fan favorite, growing up on screen as part of one of television’s most beloved casts.

Jodie most recently starred in and executive produced The Jane Mysteries: Inheritance Lost for the Hallmark Channel. Previously, she starred in two holiday films — Christmas in Switzerland (formerly Merry Swissmas) on Lifetime and A Cozy Christmas Inn on the Hallmark Channel. She also pulled double duty as co-executive producer and star in the rom-coms Just Swipe and Craft Me a Romance. She was seen toughing it out in the jungles of Panama on the celebrity-driven CBS reality series Beyond the Edge and competing in Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America Celebrity Edition: That’s So 90s.

In addition to her on-screen work, Jodie has built a dynamic career as a host and performer. She co-hosts the popular rewatch podcast How Rude, Tanneritos! alongside Andrea Barber, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and fan-favorite moments from Full House. She previously co-hosted the parenting podcast Never Thought I’d Say This for five seasons and is a frequent guest across major talk platforms, including SiriusXM’s Jeff Lewis Live, The Talk, and E!’s Daily Pop. She also performs stand-up comedy at top Los Angeles venues and hosts Smoke Show w/ Sweetin: A Comedy Pageant at The Comedy Store, bringing together comedians for a high-energy, irreverent live experience.

She is also the author of the memoir unSweetined, which offers a candid look at her life in and beyond Hollywood, including her personal journey and long-standing commitment to recovery. That perspective continues to inform her work today, including as host of Awkward Conversations with Jodie Sweetin, where she leads honest, accessible discussions for parents navigating the challenges of raising kids in today’s world. A mother of two teenage girls, Jodie also brings that same authenticity to her advocacy across a range of issues, including women’s rights, BIPOC support, AAPI violence prevention and awareness, climate change, support for unhoused populations, LGBTQ+ equality, and progressive financial policies.

The Cigna Group is a global health company committed to a better future built on the vitality of every individual and every community. We relentlessly challenge ourselves to partner and innovate solutions for better health. Through our two divisions, Cigna Healthcare® and Evernorth Health Services®, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers, and patients. In order to fulfill this goal, we continually challenge ourselves to strengthen and evolve our capabilities. We’re taking on the health care system as a whole to affect positive change. To achieve our goals, we’re conducting studies with leading experts in critical areas like health equity and partnering with dynamic entrepreneurs and programs who share our vision. Through the volunteer efforts of our dedicated workforce and our philanthropic commitments, we’re making a difference in the health of communities worldwide.

Jean Heflin Kane, Esq. is a lawyer who throughout her career has had a deep and sustained commitment to service. She has worked across the private sector and nonprofit community as senior staff, counsel, chair, board member, consultant, and volunteer.

Working with Eluna for over 11 years, she organized multiple successful Capitol Hill Days and built meaningful relationships with Members of Congress, helping secure legislation and funding to support Eluna’s programs and elevated national awareness of childhood bereavement and the impact of family addiction on children. She has also worked to strengthen Eluna’s human resource policies, refine program protocols, supported corporate partnerships and contributed to strategic planning.

Jean is a passionate advocate for the nonprofit sector and its unique power to create lasting, positive changes in communities.

Her commitment to service extends beyond Eluna. She currently serves on the boards of the Gesu School and GIVE TE, a women’s giving circle, and previously devoted nine years of board service to Breastcancer.org; she has also held many leadership roles in community organizations.

Earlier in her career, Jean litigated environmental enforcement matters in private practice and later with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

She and her husband Greg are the proud parents of four children and are eagerly anticipating the arrival of their first grandchild.

Alex Pinson is a Senior Policy Advisor with DLA Piper. For over a decade, Alex has helped shape and execute federal policy within Congress, the Executive Branch, and on behalf of clients in the private sector. He has extensive experience helping clients in the national security, life sciences, and higher education sectors to strategically advance their priorities; particularly those leveraging the federal appropriations process. Alex has been recognized by his peers as a “Top Lobbyist” by the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE).

Before joining DLA Piper in 2021, Alex helped lead congressional relations at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), ultimately as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. There, he managed departmental engagement with 84 bipartisan, bicameral congressional Appropriators, and advised agency leadership on federal funding matters. Previously, Alex served as a senior aide to former House Appropriations Chairman and current Dean of the House, Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY), where he managed many of the Chairman’s priorities.

Jennifer Joyce joined the FOX 29 News team in September of 2013.  She is a general assignment reporter for the FOX 92 News.

Jenni is thrilled to work in her hometown of Philadelphia.  Prior to moving back “home,” she worked as the Lancaster County Bureau Reporter for CBS-21 News based in Harrisburg, PA.  While she was there, Jenni broke multiple stories, reported on the presidential election of 2008 with visits from Barack Obama, John McCain and Sarah Palin and was LIVE at Penn State University the night it was announced that legendary football coach, Joe Paterno, was fired.  Jenni got her on-air start at News 12 The Bronx in New York City.  She also worked as a reporter at WPVI-TV.

Jenni holds an undergraduate degree from Temple University,  She currently teaches journalism as an adjunct professor at Saint Joseph’s University, where she received a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a focus on Homeland Security in 2015.  In her free time, she loves cooking, hanging out with her family and friends and spending summers at the Jersey Shore.

Christopher Hanke is a professional actor, comedy host, and celebrity auctioneer.

Seeing the need to make fundraising both an entertaining and impactful concept, he formed The Bidding Group. Along with his team of goodwill bandits — he thinks of himself as a modern-day Robin Hood, inspiring donors to share their wealth with organizations who do good deeds for those in need — Hanke brings this vision to life by creating memorable and successful fundraising experiences. The Bidding Group understands the needs of charities, the role of the auctioneer, and the balance that’s required to create a successful partnership between the two.

Through exciting and very engaging live and silent auctions, Hanke has proven to help nonprofits raise more money than their previous events. How does he do it? He charms the room with comedy and works the tables with his signature “improv with rich people.” His motto: the more they laugh, the more money they’ll give. He is not your fast-talking cattle auctioneer of yore.  Although he is from the South.

You might recognize Hanke from the last two seasons of The Resident on Fox and A Million Little Things on ABC — he shot both series at the same time traveling back and forth from Atlanta to Canada — or the HBO miniseries I Know This Much Is True opposite Mark Ruffalo or one of the 4 musicals he starred in on Broadway.    But if you don’t recognize him, and most don’t, Hanke wants you to know he auditioned for the role of Robin Hood in his high school play but wasn’t cast. This is his comeback tour.

Brit Green and Rob Stern
Thea and Henry Miller
Karen Phelps Moyer
Espy and David Neu
Debbie and Charles O’Donnell
Heather and Brian Samelson
Pearl Servat and Koti Vadlamudi

Alexa Colletti, Bittenbender Construction
Angela Vacante, Bittenbender Construction
Courtney Loftus, NY Langone Medical Center
Fred Taffer, Tonbo Promotions
Heather McPartland, Volunteer Ambassador
Katrina Keating Ernst, Camino Farms
Sarah Gibson, Petal and Bloom Custom Florals
Sheila Turner-Hilliard, From The Top Studio of Dance
Sylvia A. Krainin, QPWB