ADVANCING PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH.
Every Child Deserves
a Tomorrow.
100% of your donation directly supports the critically underfunded research for Neuroblastoma and ATRT.
A nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to health innovation.
Our community of supporters
A Special Thanks to Our 2026 Gala Sponsors
In loving memory of John Liberatore and a token of our appreciation to the sponsors below.
No Limit Staffing
TGH Muma Children’s Hospital
Smart Choice
Red M
Centri
Tito’s
Mauro Marketing
MasterMinds
Gatsby Gin
BayFirst
Nightshade Technologies
RHM
Verified Smiles
Our purpose
Our Mission
Save the Kids Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to health innovation for the benefit of children everywhere. We exist to educate, inspire, and connect leading disruptors in healthcare today for the benefit of our children tomorrow.
"Every threat to the status quo is an opportunity in disguise."
Jay Samit, Founding Keynote Speaker
Why We Support
To Innovate
Disrupt the Bay
Safer Cancer Treatments
We know that banded together, we can make a change by funding innovative research into less toxic treatment options for children with cancer. We have witnessed the horror of kids’ cancers firsthand and refuse to allow this to continue. We have banded together to DISRUPT the status quo.
Our key beneficiaries are dedicated to pediatric cancer research and its founding members amongst those impacted; we are a group of people dedicated to taking action, not just one person. Together we are changing the landscape of health and wellness and the future of all children by bringing the most innovative minds in healthcare all to one place to create new partnerships, funding opportunities, and joint ventures on products or services that disrupt the status quo in healthcare.
Stories of impact
In The Press
Celebrating the Disruptor of the Year
Save The Kids Foundation Presents the Disruptor of the Year Award to Dr. Mildred Duncan, Researcher at the University of South Florida.
Pediatric cancer research coverage
Disrupt the Bay
Disrupt the Bay: 2020 event highlights
Disrupt the Bay at Synapse Summit 2020
Come together for the kids
Events
2026 Events
November
19
2026
Upcoming · November 19, 2026
TECHAPALOOZA
Join Disrupt the Bay and Masterminds Tampa Bay for practical AI conversations, networking, and meaningful connections with Tampa Bay’s technology community.
Looking ahead
2027 Events · Coming Soon
More ways to connect, give back, and support a healthier future for children. Dates and details for our 2027 events are coming soon.
Past Events · 2025–2026
May 8, 2026 · Past event
Save The Kids Gatsby Gala
The Orlo · Tampa, Florida
An unforgettable event dedicated to battling pediatric cancer and supporting health innovation for children everywhere.
November 13, 2025 · Past event
Disrupt The Bay Health Tech Conference
Ark Innovation Center
Our community came together around health innovation and a shared commitment to the future of children everywhere.
The people behind the purpose
Board Members
Our amazing team of regulars and part-time volunteers are committed to helping others. We take our convictions and turn them into action.
Stan Liberatore
Chairman
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About
Stan is the recently appointed Programs Chair for the HIMSS Central & North Florida Chapter. He is the founder of the boutique tech firm, No Limit Technology focusing on tech professional services and staffing along with incubating tech talent through the organization of six meetup groups in Tampa. He has a tireless craving to research applications within emerging tech ( ie. Blockchain “Carechain”, Robotics, AI, ML, AR-VR etc.) which have the capability of improving our health care system and overall the world. Stan is a devoted husband and father of 3.
Why STK?
“As a father myself, I grieve just thinking of the devastating losses caused by kids’ cancers. After watching close friends suffer the losses of their own children, I want to do everything in my power to enable cures and increase the odds for future children. Serving STK is my way of giving back.”
Omar Fuentes
Board Member
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About
I am a disrupter in the healthcare space. My purpose is to provide innovative solutions to directly challenge the norm by utilizing intelligent systems and agile strategies to increase efficiency, improve quality of care, promote transparency, and reduce cost. I serve as the CEO for accelEQ (aEQ) and I am responsible for the overall creation, planning, implementation and strategic direction of the company, in addition to business development and marketing initiatives for aEQ.
Why STK?
I have over 18 years of experience in the healthcare industry working for some of the largest insurance and administrative companies with responsibilities ranging from business development, organizational process improvement and healthcare fraud. I combine innovative thinking, process improvement, and business development skills to provide exceptional solutions for my clients.
Jon Tavarez
Board Member
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About
Jon Tavarez is an entrepreneur, investor, and community builder based in Tampa Bay. He is the founder of Pro Housekeepers, a nationally recognized company featured by outlets including Forbes, The Today Show, and Martha Stewart. He also co-founded Masterminds Tampa Bay, a nonprofit organization supporting entrepreneurs through education, networking, and community leadership initiatives.
A graduate of the University of South Florida, Jon began his entrepreneurial journey by launching his own e-commerce stores and running a boutique digital marketing agency, helping other businesses grow their online presence. He later focused on scaling Pro Housekeepers into a leading brand and building Masterminds Tampa Bay to strengthen the startup ecosystem. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Jon is a partner (LP) in TampaBay.Ventures, a local venture capital firm investing in early-stage tech companies.
Why STK?
After losing one grandmother to cancer in 2012 and his other grandmother to COVID-19 in 2021, Jon developed a deeply personal commitment to supporting life-enhancing and life-extending initiatives — particularly those focused on preventing, treating, and curing diseases like cancer. His passion for building a healthier future led him to join the Board of Save The Kids, where he helps support efforts to fund pediatric cancer research and accelerate new treatments.
Outside of his professional work, Jon is a devoted husband and father who enjoys building new relationships and nurturing existing ones through social activities like lunches, dinners, and sports. Recently, he’s taken up golf and joined a pickleball team as new ways to stay active and connect with others. He’s also on a mission to find the best pizza spots wherever he goes — because he believes good pizza has a way of bringing people together.
Mike Delucia
Board Member
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About
Mike is a long-time Tampa resident, USF grad, husband, father and grandfather. He has owned and operated PF1 Professional Services, an IT Staffing company since 1991. He enjoys meeting new people and values long term relationships and loves the challenge keeping up with the latest technology.
Mike is a long-time Tampa resident, USF grad, husband, father and grandfather. He has owned and operated PF1 Professional Services, an IT Staffing company since 1991. He enjoys meeting new people and values long term relationships and loves the challenge keeping up with the latest technology.
Why STK?
“The mission of STK aligns well with my personal desire to help in the fight against pediatric cancer. I lost my seven year old brother after a two year battle with brain cancer. STK is focused and has a team of dedicated , energetic volunteers to keep it lean and maximize the difference it can make toward the cause.”
“The mission of STK aligns well with my personal desire to help in the fight against pediatric cancer. I lost my seven year old brother after a two year battle with brain cancer. STK is focused and has a team of dedicated , energetic volunteers to keep it lean and maximize the difference it can make toward the cause.”
Holly Liberatore
Board Member
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About
Holly is a former “military brat”, FSU graduate, wife, and mother. She is a Technology Recruitment Specialist at Accenture and has been involved in Tech Staffing for the last five years, and in Hospitality Management for ten years prior. Holly thrives off building relationships and making an impact in her community.
Why STK?
“As a young teen I experienced my small town rally behind a family close to mine fighting for their youngest son, Tommy who was battling a brain tumor. I can still hear his infectious laugh while being tickled and remember how he was always smiling. Sadly he lost his battle and the effects of that loss extended to the entire community of school teachers, classmates, neighbors, and everyone in contact with him and his family. Unfortunately, we live in an age where everyone has a story of how pediatric cancer has left its mark on them and STK strives to make efforts in not continuing this in our future.”
Richard Leichty
Board Advisor
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About
Rich as an entrepreneur, a leader in Research and Innovation, and Cybersecurity Specialist, is determined on disrupting how industry looks at cyber resiliency through employment of offensive security engagements to give our partners the tools necessary to actively operate both safely and securely. A disabled veteran with 10 years of service in the United States Army, Rich has over 25 years of experience in the industries of information analysis and cybersecurity with a focus on digital forensics and systems engineering for the last 10 years. As a husband and father of 3, Rich has a passion for ensuring that we continue to advance our capabilities in all facets of our society to support the health and wellbeing of our loved ones and protect and nurture the future generations.
Why STK
As we look at the threat landscape, we see a continued shift in motivations and ethics among threat actors that puts our critical health industry at great risk along with all of our critical infrastructure. This shift in ethics has had a dramatic impact on our healthcare industry over the recent years resulting in several institutions failure limiting the availability of healthcare, even further, the threats to our academic institutions cause great risk to the advancement of medical research and development. This threat to our healthcare systems needs to be a key priority in the cybersecurity community, and should never impact our children let alone those in greatest need of care. Rich and his business are highly focused on working with their partners to bring a redefined perspective on cyber resiliency to ensure our kids have the best possible care because our hospitals, schools, and the institutes conducting research are prepared to identify, engage, and overcome their cyber threats.
Gabe Higgins
Board Advisor
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About
Gabe is the father of two young boys, a musician and tech entrepreneur focusing in the blockchain industry. He’s the Co-founder and Managing Director of BlockSpaces helping companies of all sizes understand and use new technology to make their businesses smarter.
Why STK?
“Since having kids, I understand how much you want to enable them and prepare them for the future. Having good health is at the top of the list when you want children who are our future to succeed. It deeply pains me to have friends share their heart wrenching stories of children who have been diagnosed with pediatric cancer and have to fight for their life so early on. I’m honored to help STK and their mission to bring more awareness to this cause.”
Chris Mauro
Board Advisor
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Chris is the owner of Mauro Marketing, a digital marketing agency that helps small and mid-sized businesses grow through strategic SEO, web development, and data-driven marketing. He partners with companies across industries to improve their online presence, generate leads, and build scalable growth. Chris also works for Fintech as a digital marketing manager promoting B2B AP & AR solutions for retail, hospitality, distributor and supplier buisnesses across the nation.
Why STK:
I’m passionate about supporting Save The Kids because every child deserves the chance to live a full and healthy life. Pediatric cancer is a devastating reality that affects families far too early, and I want to be part of the effort to fund research, advance treatments, and give these kids a real fighting chance.
Alex Demarco
Board Advisor
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Alex is the owner of Red M, a real estate marketing agency in Tampa, FL. Alex previously spent time in various marketing leadership roles including managing the roll-out of modern restaurant technologies for McDonalds corporate which included the Uber EATS partnership and touch-screen kiosks.
Why STK?
“I & my company prioritize giving back to the community. STK is an incredible cause with a truly moving story. We are proud of everything we have accomplished & will continue to accomplish in the battle against pediatric cancer.”
Ashley Gerchikov
Marketing Chair
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About
Ashley is the owner of Marketing Health Inc., a marketing strategy and consulting company that teams up with healthcare practices, HealthTech startups, and SaaS companies to strengthen their brands, reach their target audiences, and accelerate growth. With 12+ years of experience across healthcare, HealthTech and B2B technology, Ashley specializes in developing customized marketing strategies, generating high-quality leads, optimizing digital experiences, and connecting businesses with the right marketing tech solutions to improve performance.
Through Marketing Health Inc., Ashley offers strategic consulting and hands-on marketing execution tailored to each organization's needs, helping fill gaps in strategy, technology, and implementation. Her expertise includes growth marketing, product marketing, lead generation, CRM and marketing automation, content creation, social media, SEO, email marketing, website optimization, public relations, and customer acquisition. She is passionate about helping organizations build meaningful connections with their audiences and creating strategies that turn ideas into measurable impact.
Why STK?
I’m passionate about supporting Save The Kids because every child deserves the opportunity to live a full, healthy life and have access to safer, less toxic medical treatments. With a heart for children, I’m actively involved in children’s ministry at my local church and am part of the Junior League, a philanthropic organization that supports community initiatives and nonprofits dedicated to improving children’s lives. These experiences, combined with my professional background in healthcare marketing, have strengthened my commitment to causes that prioritize the well-being of children and families. I’m excited to serve as a board member, contribute my marketing expertise and strategic perspective, and help advance STK’s mission to raise awareness, support research, and promote safer treatment options for children and their families.
Be part of a healthier tomorrow.
100% of your donation directly supports the critically underfunded research for Neuroblastoma and ATRT.