Meet Intern Team The Crusaders

What’s up everyone! We are so excited to introduce our team- The Curesaders! Our mission is simple: be bold as we fight rare pediatric cancers & never let good in the world go unnoticed. This summer we are poised to spread the message of the Isabella Santos Foundation to every state and beyond! We are made up of 12 driven and passionate individuals scattered around three states. Every single team member is unique in their own way, which has made us the most well rounded and efficient intern team out there! Sure, we will get stuff done… but we guarantee that this summer no one will have more fun than us! We can’t wait to spread Isabella’s message and take this foundation to the next level. Just listen to Kevin…. The Curesaders are where it’s at! 😎

Jack Davis

• Position: Intern Lead
• School: UNC Charlotte
• Graduation Year: Spring 2022

WHY ISF?   In spring of 2019, I was fortunate enough to land my first internship. This internship was with Seacrest Studios at Levine Children’s Hospital. The rest of the interns that spring were either communication majors or broadcast majors. The internship required you to host your own radio show that was broadcasted to to all the children in their rooms at the hospital. I was not a communication or broadcasting major… I was and still am a finance major. So this internship was not meant to help my experience with my major. I applied for the internship because in that hospital, I saw what true bravery wasl. Seeing kids that were just half as old as me go through health conditions that are life altering, was so impactful to see. I wanted to give back in any way I could, and for that spring my mission was to make those kids smile. 

During my time at Seacrest Studios I was informed about the amazing work The Isabella Santos Foundation does and I was fortunate enough to meet the founder Erin Santos, at a networking event. Ever since that night and hearing Isabella’s story, I knew I wanted to get involved.

 I strive to live the most selfless life possible, my role model and father showed me what that looked like. Unfortunately, he passed away when I was 14 years old. However every day I strive to carry out his legacy and his selfless personality. This is why I know two things: 

1. Is that if I am half the man that he was that I will succeed in life.
2. He would be a huge advocate for ISF because of his love for children and drive to make a change.

This is why I wanted to get involved with ISF, and this is why I know this summer will be unforgettable. My team is poised for success and our motivation will be unmatched. We can’t wait to make a difference this summer and support the brave children that battle rare pediatric cancers all over the world!      

Cade Vela

• Position: Ambassador
• School: Davidson College
• Graduation Year: 2020

WHY ISF? The rare disease community holds a special place in my heart. At Davidson College, my football team hosts a chapter of Uplifting Athletes; an organization dedicated to raising awareness and money to support the families and patients who suffer from rare diseases. Likewise to ISF, I am always joyful to support and help out the city of Charlotte and the rare disease community in any fashion I can.

Sammie Spinner

• Position: Ambassador
• School: University of South Carolina 
• Graduation Year: 2022

WHY ISF? I found out about ISF through our lead intern Jack Davis. I knew this was an opportunity I wanted to take advantage of because it was a local philanthropy in my hometown of Charlotte. I am a business student at the University of South Carolina where I participate in a couple of different fundraising events throughout the year. Being apart of The Curesaders and ISF allows me to continue to make a difference during the summer in my hometown!

Luke Grieco

• Position: Development and growth chair
• School: UNCC
• Graduation Year: spring 2021

WHY ISF? ISF is something that I found out about through our teams lead intern Jack Davis. After finding out more information about it, I immediately wanted to get involved. I currently serve as the Vice President of my fraternity at UNCC next to Jack who is our current president. Before our positions we held the positions of philanthropy and service chair, so I have always had a passion to get involved in the community and help where I can. This is another great opportunity to do that and I’m glad to be a part of the ISF Team.

James Bouey

• Position: Fundraising Chair
• School: UNC Charlotte
• Graduation Year: Spring 2021

WHY ISF?  Our Intern lead, Jack Davis, informed me of this wonderful opportunity with ISF. Here I found a place where I knew I could make a difference in the lives of many and be a positive force in the community. We are experiencing unprecedented circumstances with COVID-19 and putting in effort to help the community may be more crucial now than ever. I plan on using every connection and resource I have available to make an impact and contribute to the efforts of ISF.  

Fletcher Primis

• Position: Content creator 
• School: Myers Park high school
• Graduation Year: 2022

WHY ISF?  I decided to apply to be an ISF intern because like everyone else I wanted to help the community, but I also had a personal relationship with Erin Santos and after I heard her story and her struggle I knew I wanted everything I could to help! I learned how much of an impact the foundation has had on kids in Charlotte and I knew I wanted to be a part of it! 

Lucas Scheer

• Position: Goal Seeking Chair
• School: Myers Park High School
• Graduation Year: 2021

WHY ISF? I decided to apply for the internship with ISF because I had heard of the foundation from my girlfriend. She told me all about it and I became very interested in it and researched it. Once I had learned about it I knew this would be a great way for me to start making a difference in my community, and a great chance to work for an amazing cause!

Jordan Schrader 

• Position: Co Lead 
• School: Clemson University
• Graduation Year: December 2020

WHY ISF?  One of the greatest joys in life is finding community. I have found this time and time again through many nonprofits, which has provided me with leadership skills and connections that last a lifetime. Because of this, my career aspirations are to work alongside nonprofits, especially those related to economic development. One of the communities I belong to are individuals affected by their loved one’s cancer. As a young girl, I saw my mother go through thyroid cancer. Years later, I saw a close family-friend battle breast cancer. In college, I saw a friend from home battle leukemia. While these circumstances are something no one would want, I use it as a way to be empathetic towards others who have had similar situations. In college, I have been a counselor for Camp Kesem which provides free camp to children affected by their parent’s cancer. This experience helped me grow into the person I am today, and is something I hold very close to my heart. When a friend showed me the ISF internship opportunity, I knew it would be an experience I would love. During COVID-19, a sense of community can be hard to find, so the promise of being connected to others who also want to fight for those affected by cancer brought comfort and excitement. I am looking forward to what the summer will bring and all the connections I will make through the Isabella Santos Foundation. 

Riley Holleran 

• Position: Social Media Director
• School: Miami University
• Graduation Year: Spring 2021

WHY ISF? Helping children impacted by cancer or life altering illness has always been a huge passion of mine. I have done a lot of work with Levine Children’s Hospital, Levine Cancer Institute, Dance Marathon (CMNH), and Ronald McDonald House Charities, so applying for and joining the ISF Intern Team sounded like a perfect fit! I believe that no child should have to fight alone and I want to do anything in my power to make sure of that. When I first read ISF’s mission about 2 years ago, I knew it was something I had to be a part of one day. I hope to continue serving my community and those children suffering from illness by becoming a healthcare attorney at a children’s hospital or for a nonprofit such as ISF! I cannot wait to share the amazing story behind this remarkable foundation! 

Briana Morris

• Position: Marketing Chairman
• School: UNC Charlotte (second-year graduate student)
• Graduation Year: 2021

WHY ISF? I joined the ISF Internship Team because I have the desire to help contribute to cancer research, funds, programs, and organizations. My mother and maternal grandmother were both diagnosed with breast cancer, and they’re now cancer free. Therefore, learning about cancer, finding innovative ways to aid cancer-based organizations, and raising funds for treatments has become a top priority for me. Although I do not know children with rare forms of pediatric cancer, cancer has always resonated with me and my family. Ultimately, I wanted to become part of an organization that would allow me to complete my mission of contributing to the cancer community. ISF was amazingly the perfect fit for me to do so! 

Gavin McDermott

• Position: Sponsorship Director 
• School: Myers Park High School
• Graduation Year: 2022

WHY ISF? I applied to the ISF Internship Team because I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. I wanted to help a great cause in the Charlotte community. I heard about the ISF Internship opportunity through my family friend Woody Wilcox. I read through ISF’s website and I felt like this is something I wanted to be a part of. I am happy to be on the Curesaders, as we are having a fun time while fundraising money that will help people in need. 

Bella White 

• Position: Ambassador 
• School: UNC Charlotte 
• Graduation Year: Spring 2021

WHY ISF?  As someone who works closely with the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte, I love being able to spend my time helping those in need. Through Jack Davis, I discovered the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) and the focus it has on children in need.  ISF has inspired me to utilize my voice to bring attention to children with cancer. To see that ISF has donated almost $2 million dollars to Levine’s Children’s Hospital and over $1 million dollars to trials and research shows me that with a lot of love and hard work, our community does make a difference. There is more to be done which is why I’m excited to support ISF.