Jacob Zalewski
jzalewski@1scf.org
Born February 13, 1983, three months premature Jacob Zalewski was given a 3% chance of survival due to various complications at birth. He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of three, but the onset came at birth. Mr. Zalewski has never considered himself handicapped by this debilitating disease. Rather he has considered it a blessing, looking at it as something God has entrusted him to use positively to inspire others.
“I have always said that if I was ever in a position to do some good in this wonderful world, I would do so without hesitating. I think we were all put here for a reason and that absolutely everything happens for a reason. I am so very passionate about this foundation. I see the potential it has, not just for this year but for the future as well. If all goes well, God willing, sooner rather then later Cerebral Palsy will be a thing of the past.
Jacqueline Zwerner
jzwerner@1scf.org
Jacqueline Zwerner was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV and a recent graduate at the University of Kansas. She is a 24 year old Casino Marketing Executive at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. At the age of 12, her father started teaching her how to play poker and she currently enjoys playing in tournaments and cash games around the US. Jacqueline became enthusiastic about the One Step Closer Foundation when she met Jacob Zalewski at the World Series of Poker. She embraced his passion and his drive to help improve the advancements and treatments that can tremendously assist a person with cerebral palsy.
Joy Miller
jmiller@1scf.org
With over 15 years of service dedicated to non-profit organizations, Joy Miller has earned a reputation for her attentive hands-on approach within less fortunate communities. From volunteering with the Challenger Baseball League while in high school, to directing a community development program for mentally challenged youth during college, Joy discovered early on a calling for reaching out. These rewarding experiences provided an easy transition post-studies in assisting with an organization to help raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and most recently consulting on events for the Urban Health Institute. Her passion for aiding those in need stems from personal trials of growing up with family members and friends with special needs.
“I saw how unkind kids were to my hearing impaired brother and it broke my heart, I’ve always been taught that cruel actions are usually based on ignorance. It’s not a natural reaction to be mean, but something that has to be taught by society and example. I believe that creating safe, respectful environments fosters understanding and allows people to have a chance to see that disabilities aren’t anything to be afraid of.”
“I like that the One Step Closer Foundation is not just about teaching patience, but complete acceptance.”
Joy’s passion for enhancing other’s lives has improved her leadership qualities in the areas of; planning and production of events, securing celebrities, and providing publicity expertise for over ten events in the past year. In addition to her commitment towards donation, Joy has maintained her current position as the Official Photographer of The World Series of Poker for the past three years. Joy is a graduate of Humboldt State University, resides in Los Angeles, and loves her supportive family and amazing friends.
Keith Houk
khouk@1scf.org
Keith Houk is an educator, writer, editor, and artist based in the Houston area. His association with the foundation stems from a deep seated belief that the world will become a better place only through the actions of individuals who put the welfare of others above selfish concerns. The One Step Closer Foundation is about helping others deal and cope with a terrible disease. The foundation is striving to make a better world for thousands.
Mark Nix
mnix@1scf.org
Mark Nix is a businessman with over 26 years experience in the supply chain software industry. He was very fortunate to meet Jacob in 2010 through mutual friends and was so impressed with this young man that he felt compelled to become involved in the One Step Closer Foundation. Mark is a graduate of The University of Tennessee and enjoys living on the coast of Florida with his family.
Mark Croock
mcroock@1scf.org
Mark was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and immigrated to the US with his family in 1985. He grew up in Houston and later attended the University of Texas at Austin where he graduated with a Masters in Accounting. He returned to the Houston area after graduating and worked in the accounting field for a few years before starting his own day trading business, which has grown tremendously over the last year. Mark is passionate about sports and plays basketball and tennis in his free time. He has not forgotten his roots and has been back to Southern Africa several times. He is an avid fan and frequent visitor of Kruger National Park, one of the world’s most famous wildlife parks.
When asked by Jacob to be apart of the One Step Closer Foundation, Mark was thrilled to join and most excited to be able to help Jacob, who he admires and describes as a “hard-working, dedicated and faithful” individual.
Joe Torrance
jtorrance@1scf.org
Joe was born and raised in West Chester, a small town just outside of Philadelphia. He moved to the island of St. Maarten in the Caribbean after high school and later moved to the glamorous city of Las Vegas in 2009. It was in Vegas where Joe was playing in the World Series of Poker and was run over by Jacob’s racing scooter inside the Rio Hotel and Resort.
When asked about his thoughts on Jacob and the Foundation’s future, Joe said:
“It is very important that we continue to carry on the success of the One Step Closer Foundation. Never stop growing, holding events and fundraisers benefiting people diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy all over the world.” He then continued to say, “We are so blessed for all the people in our lives that support our efforts in everything we do. Jacob is my dearest friend and he is now my brother, I just have to buy him some legs, sometimes I forget him in places and he can’t keep up.”
Sam Simon
ssimon@1scf.org
Sam Simon is the critically-acclaimed television writer, producer, and director of “Taxi”, “Cheers”, “The Tracey Ullman Show”, “The Drew Carey Show”, and “The Simpsons”, which he co-created. He is the recipient of eleven Emmys and a Peabody award. A longtime member of the National Boards of Save the Children and Peta, Sam is the founder of The Sam Simon Foundation, whose mission is to “save the lives of dogs to enrich the lives of people.” The Foundation’s Assistance Dog Program adopts dogs facing death in shelters and trains them to be certified assistance dogs, which are given free to the deaf and veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Foundation also has a highly successful Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic which has performed over 40,000 free surgeries. Once a week, the clinic also provides low income Los Angeles residents with any other free surgery needed by their pets. In 2011, Sam launched Sam Simon Foundation: Feeding Families, a mobile vegan food bank which will feed 150 unemployed families (and their pets) a day. The Sam Simon Foundation does not accept donations and is funded entirely by Sam himself. In 2007, the North Shore Animal League honored Sam with their “Just One Award”, and, in 2009, Peta recognized him for his efforts to improve the conditions of animals used in the entertainment industry.
In 2010, the ASPCA recognized Sam with their “Presidential Merit” Award. Sam managed World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Lamon Brewster, and was named 2004 Manager of the Year by the World Boxing Organization. Sam is a frequent guest on “The Howard Stern Show” and an avid poker player with many tournament wins. I am proud and honored to support my friend, Jacob Zalewski, in his efforts to find a cure for CP.
Alicia Nicole Webb
awebb@1scf.org
Alicia Nicole Webb is a model, actress, wrestler, and former WWE Diva.
In January 1999, Alicia debuted on Monday Night Raw as “Ryan Shamrock”, the younger sister of Ken Shamrock. Since then she has worked for a number of wrestling organizations such as WCW, TNA, and Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) in Mexico City. She has traveled around the globe in her career and even went as far as Okinawa, Japan to entertain the troops. Throughout her travels she has met so many people and made many good friends. One friend that stood out from the rest, is a girl named Danielle Ruffino. Danielle was born in Stonybrook, NY in 1988. She weighed only 2lbs 5oz and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of one. She has been a fan of wrestling since she can remember, and the day she met Alicia was a day that neither of them will soon forget.
Danielle told Alicia that she was one of her favorite divas and had followed her career since day one. Danielle even dressed as “Ryan Shamrock” for Halloween in 1999! Alicia began researching Cerebral Palsy mostly to understand Danielle’s situation but quickly realized that there was a lot more she(and the rest of us) could do. Joining forces with Jacob and the One Step Closer Foundation, she truly hopes to help find a cure for this disease so that one day she can see Danielle, Jacob, and so many others do what most of us take for granted daily…..walk!
Lance T. Funston
ltfunston@1scf.org
Lance T. Funston currently serves as Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee for Ultimark Products, LLC which he founded in 2000. The Personal Care Division manufactures and distributes Prell®, Denorex®, Zincon® and Porcelana®.
In 1993 he founded TelAmerica Media, a media aggregator representing over 90% of the cable television industry. In 2008, the company was sold to Cross MediaWorks, Inc., where Mr. Funston continues to serve as Chairman Emeritus and shareholder.
During the 80’s Mr. Funston founded a Merchant Banking Firm acquiring over $500 million in corporate properties. Mr. Funston’s notable transactions included: Mid-Continent Bottlers, O’Day Sailboats, Kittenger Furniture, Brooklyn Seven-Up, and Larami Toys, which created the Super Soaker.
Mr. Funston attended the University of Houston and received his B.S. degree in 1967. He received the school’s lifetime achievement award in 2010; and in 2011 the University dedicated The Lance T. Funston Communication Center. In 1967 Mr. Funston was appointed Assistant to the Director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation by President Lyndon Johnson, and, subsequently, as special assistant to a governor of the Federal Reserve Board.
Mr. Funston attended Harvard Business School, receiving an MBA in 1970.
During his tenure at Harvard, he founded Portfolio Management Systems Incorporated, which developed investment management systems for major financial institutions including: John Hancock, Fidelity Mutual, American General, Sun Life, and Bank of America. In 1973 Portfolio Management created a private real estate equity fund in Houston, Texas and developed over $300 million in residential and commercial properties during.
Mr. Funston served as Secretary General and first alternate driver for the American Samoan bobsled team at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer. He also served as a board member of the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation from 1992-1996.
Mr. Funston currently serves on the Board of the Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness, Advisory Board of the World Affairs Council and the One Step Closer Foundation. In 2007, Lance and his wife, Christina, founded the Save a Mind Foundation, which provides funding for public schools willing to utilize programs designed to help children achieve their greatest potential. As an avid fan of Texas Hold’ Em he founded the Poker Players With A Heart Foundation in 2008; which supports various charities.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Funston currently lives outside of Philadelphia in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania and Villefranche Sur Mer, France, with his wife Christina, and two daughters, Quinn (13) and Zale (10). He also has three sons and one daughter from previous marriages.
