Diagnosis
Our Mission
weSpark is a special place dedicated to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and their families and friends. weSPARK provides, free of charge, a center where one can join with others to share their experience, strength, and hope. weSpark offers multiple services designed to heal the mind, body and spirit of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
Our Founder
Wendie Jo Sperber was an actress, mother and breast cancer warrior. When she was diagnosed in 1997, she was devastated, yet determined to live. She soon realized that although the physical treatment was difficult, the hardest battle was to be fought on the emotional front.
Our Staff
Nancy Allen
Executive Director
nancy@wespark.org
Pam Rivera
Operations and Finance Director
pam@wespark.org
Bonnie Franklin, MS, MFT
Guest Services Manager
bonnie@wespark.org
Lea Salvatore
Program Coordinator
lea@wespark.org
Alexandra Schoch
Office Coordinator
alexandra@wespark.org
Breanna Hoisington
Outreach Coordinator
breanna@wespark.org
Lilliane Ballesteros
Development Coordinator
lilliane@wespark.org
Wren Claire
Special Events Coordinator
specialevents@wespark.org
Tara Shore, MA
Santa Clarita Coordinator / Facilitator
tara@wespark.org
Our Facilitators
Sharon Earle, MA, LMFT
Bonnie Franklin, MS, MFT
Barbara Joseph, RN, MFT
Bonnie Moore, LCSW
Suzanne Shayne-Mandler, MA, MFT
Tara Shore, MA
Pamela Stephan, MFT
Lynne Sullivan, MFT
Kim Tortorici, MS, MFT
Courtney Davis, MSW
Our Medical and Counseling Advisory Board
Rachel S. Beller, MS, R.D.
Director, Nutritional Oncology Research Center, Brander Nutritional Oncology Counseling Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute
Lesley Botnick, M.D.
Radiologist Oncologist / Valley Radiation Oncology Center
Sharon Burnett, Ph.D
William Isacoff, M.D.
Oncologist, UCLA
Karen Morin, R.N., O.C.N.
Marie Ritz, L.C.S.W.
Clinical Advisor
Christy A. Russell, M.D.
USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Michael Topp, MFT
Jay Udani, M.D.
Medical Director, Northridge Hospital Integrative Medicine Program and Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA/Geffen School of Medicine
Our Board
David Green
President, weSPARK, CPA, Managing Partner, Green, Hasson & Janks LLC
Moe Abourched
Re/Max on the Boulevard
Eileen Bryson
Director of Special Projects, Lawry's Restaurants Inc.
Richard Centolella
EDSA
Claudia DeCea
Manager, United Government Services, LLC
Russ Diamond
President, Snyder Diamond
Allan Dietrich
California Bank and Trust
Elaine Donley
Assisted Healthcare Services
Matt Epstein
Director of New Homes & Estates, Re/Max on the Boulevard
Patrick Fraioli
Attorney At Law, Moldo Davidson Fraioli Seror & Sestanovich LLP
Jo-Ann Geffen
President, CEO, JAG Entertainment
Bruce Gendein
CLU, ChFC / President, The Senex Group
Missy Halperin
Senior Vice President, Talent Relations, Fox Television
Michael Hand
TBG Danco, Inc.
Michael Kanigher
UBS
David Kohan
Executive Producer, Creator “Will & Grace”
Dana Pearl
Executive Director-Investments, Oppenheimer & Co.
Anita Rich
Coldwell Bank
Bob Sanseverino
National Account Manager, Ford Motor Company
Richard Sperber
President, ValleyCrest Companies
Arthur Toretzky
Talent Agent, Paradigm
Our Founders
Founders Circle
Wendie Jo Sperber
The Feintech Family Foundation
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
David Kohan
Shawn and Richard Sperber
Charlene and Burton Sperber
Steven Spielberg
Kate Capshaw
weSpark is a special place dedicated to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients and their families and friends. weSPARK provides, free of charge, a center where one can join with others to share their experience, strength, and hope. weSpark offers multiple services designed to heal the mind, body and spirit of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
Our Founder
Wendie Jo Sperber was an actress, mother and breast cancer warrior. When she was diagnosed in 1997, she was devastated, yet determined to live. She soon realized that although the physical treatment was difficult, the hardest battle was to be fought on the emotional front.
Our Staff
Nancy Allen
Executive Director
nancy@wespark.org
Pam Rivera
Operations and Finance Director
pam@wespark.org
Bonnie Franklin, MS, MFT
Guest Services Manager
bonnie@wespark.org
Lea Salvatore
Program Coordinator
lea@wespark.org
Alexandra Schoch
Office Coordinator
alexandra@wespark.org
Breanna Hoisington
Outreach Coordinator
breanna@wespark.org
Lilliane Ballesteros
Development Coordinator
lilliane@wespark.org
Wren Claire
Special Events Coordinator
specialevents@wespark.org
Tara Shore, MA
Santa Clarita Coordinator / Facilitator
tara@wespark.org
Our Facilitators
Sharon Earle, MA, LMFT
Bonnie Franklin, MS, MFT
Barbara Joseph, RN, MFT
Bonnie Moore, LCSW
Suzanne Shayne-Mandler, MA, MFT
Tara Shore, MA
Pamela Stephan, MFT
Lynne Sullivan, MFT
Kim Tortorici, MS, MFT
Courtney Davis, MSW
Our Medical and Counseling Advisory Board
Rachel S. Beller, MS, R.D.
Director, Nutritional Oncology Research Center, Brander Nutritional Oncology Counseling Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute
Lesley Botnick, M.D.
Radiologist Oncologist / Valley Radiation Oncology Center
Sharon Burnett, Ph.D
William Isacoff, M.D.
Oncologist, UCLA
Karen Morin, R.N., O.C.N.
Marie Ritz, L.C.S.W.
Clinical Advisor
Christy A. Russell, M.D.
USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
Michael Topp, MFT
Jay Udani, M.D.
Medical Director, Northridge Hospital Integrative Medicine Program and Assistant Clinical Professor, UCLA/Geffen School of Medicine
Our Board
David Green
President, weSPARK, CPA, Managing Partner, Green, Hasson & Janks LLC
Moe Abourched
Re/Max on the Boulevard
Eileen Bryson
Director of Special Projects, Lawry's Restaurants Inc.
Richard Centolella
EDSA
Claudia DeCea
Manager, United Government Services, LLC
Russ Diamond
President, Snyder Diamond
Allan Dietrich
California Bank and Trust
Elaine Donley
Assisted Healthcare Services
Matt Epstein
Director of New Homes & Estates, Re/Max on the Boulevard
Patrick Fraioli
Attorney At Law, Moldo Davidson Fraioli Seror & Sestanovich LLP
Jo-Ann Geffen
President, CEO, JAG Entertainment
Bruce Gendein
CLU, ChFC / President, The Senex Group
Missy Halperin
Senior Vice President, Talent Relations, Fox Television
Michael Hand
TBG Danco, Inc.
Michael Kanigher
UBS
David Kohan
Executive Producer, Creator “Will & Grace”
Dana Pearl
Executive Director-Investments, Oppenheimer & Co.
Anita Rich
Coldwell Bank
Bob Sanseverino
National Account Manager, Ford Motor Company
Richard Sperber
President, ValleyCrest Companies
Arthur Toretzky
Talent Agent, Paradigm
Our Founders
Founders Circle
Wendie Jo Sperber
The Feintech Family Foundation
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
David Kohan
Shawn and Richard Sperber
Charlene and Burton Sperber
Steven Spielberg
Kate Capshaw