Mario & Gisele DiNatale, are Co-founders of the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation (ARVF), a 501(c)(3), non-profit charitable organization. Inspired by their daughter Alicia, who passed away at the age of 17, ARVF honors her legacy by supporting the health and well-being of children battling cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses.
The mission of ARVF is to provide innovative and unique adolescent programming through its
Victorious 4 Teens programs. Since 2003, ARVF has raised more than $2.5 million to support 66
Teen Lounges, 30
Alicia’s Art Carts, and shipped 22,500
Teen Kits & Bandana Pillows to hospitalized children across the country. These programs improve the health and well-being of critically-ill children, as well as aid in their emotional recovery.
Through the creation and legislation of Teen Cancer Awareness Week, ARVF has raised awareness for hospitalized teens. ‘Bandana Days’ are presented in school assemblies throughout NJ, to engage community service and volunteerism among teen-age students.
Gisele is the Executive Director, ARVF. She received her graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling, from Rosemont College, PA, and worked for the Center for Family Services as an Individual & Family Counselor. Gisele currently serves on the Patient-Family Advisory Council at Virtua Hospital, Voorhees, NJ, and co-facilitates Helping Hand Bereavement Group, Medford, NJ. In 2010, Gisele received the ‘Inspiring Woman Award’, Make-A-Wish Foundation, NJ; and was a Philadelphia Phillies ‘All-Stars Among Us’ finalist sponsored by
People Magazine & Major League Baseball. In 2008, she received the ‘Mission in Action’ Service Award, Rosemont College of Graduate Studies.
Mario is Chairman, of the Board of Trustees, ARVF. He received his graduate degree in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State University, and undergraduate degree in Marketing from Rutgers University, 1978. Mario is the Director of Economic & Community Development, Voorhees Township, NJ, and currently serves on the Voorhees Planning Board Committee, and is a member of the Voorhees Citizens Foundation. He has served as an elected official for Voorhees Township Committee from 2004-2006, and as Deputy Mayor from 2006-2015.
The DiNatale’s have lived in Voorhees, NJ for over 35 years. They have two sons; Sebastian, Producer, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah; and Gabriel, M.D. candidate, Cooper Medical School at Rowen University.
For more information about ARVF and to find out how you can help hospitalized teens, visit:
www.victoriousfoundation.org.
