Executive Board
Ted
Friedli
Ted is the founder of Kick Cancer Overboard. He is the owner of Excel Travel in Long Branch, NJ, and has over 30 years of experience in individual and group travel. He is involved with many local organizations and a Paul Harris Fellow with the Greater Long Branch Rotary Club. Ted is a two time recipient of the Spinnaker Award from the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, and a recipient of the Osprey Award from the Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce. After the healthiest people he had ever known (DonnaLyn Giegerich and her husband Tom Zapcic) both got hit by cancer, he saw the same thing happen over and over again, to friends and family, Watching Shark Tank one night, they talked about how in life (and your career) first: you fake it, then: you make it, then: you master it, and then (if you are lucky): you matter - and make a difference. Ted decided it was time to take action and make a difference. He ran his idea by DonnaLyn .... and the rest is history!
In Memory Of
Donnalyn Zapcic
In Memory Of
Donnalyn Zapcic
Donnalyn Zapcic
Donnalyn was a professional speaker,insurance entrepreneur & creator of donnalyn.org, a global advocacy site to empower others. She is a rare sarcoma survivor & caregiver in a Courageous Cancer Couple journey elevating what's possible with "less fear, more fun". Her work has been awarded by National Association of Women Business Owners, Rothman Entrepreneurial Inst, TeamSurvivorTriState and many others. She is a two time Spinnaker winner and Honorary Rotarian for service above self. Her national and local media credits are vast and their story was recently featured in new book The Art of Bouncing Back by Z. Greenberg. She is also a happy 20 year participant in Excel Travel’s “Make Us Happy – Go Away” club. Unfortunately, Donnalyn passed away in 2022 after a 16 year battle with Cancer.
Tom
Zapcic
Tom was the spouse of Kick Cancer Overboard Co-Founder Donnalyn Giegerich, who passed away in 2022 after a 16 year battle with Cancer. He continues to support Donnalyn & Ted Friedli's original goal of KCO....to give people a break from their cancer journey by sending them on a cruise to Bermuda. Tom is an award winning photographer who has shared his talents at many KCO events. When not working, he enjoys music, traveling & playing pickleball.
Ester
Jordan
Ester is a long time resident of Tinton Falls and is retired, from a 29 year career, as a case manager from the Middlesex County Board of Social Services. Ester's introduction to Kick Caner Overboard was as a grandparent to a child affected by cancer. Ester was invited to a luncheon, where her granddaughter, Lucia, along with Lucia's parents and siblings, were awarded a free cruise to Bermuda from Kick Cancer Overboard. Paying her own way to join the cruise, Ester saw many families, affected by caner, getting a well deserved break. To pay it forward, Ester volunteered to help raise funds so that more families affected by cancer can have a cruise experience. Ester's bracelets was conceived, and along with many partners and local small businesses, their efforts have been a huge success in helping to send more families fighting cancer on a free cruise. Ester is excited to continue the Kick Cancer Overboard mission as aboard member.
Jennifer
Slavin-Glass
Jennifer is a mother of two amazing children. She is a Graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University (Madison Campus) with a degree in Psychology, and has been a Healthcare professional, since 1995, currently working for RWJ Barnabas Health Jen was a Cheerleader, starting in 1979, all through grammar school, high school and college. She then coached a total of three different organizations, including competitive cheer, until Oct. 2022. Jen has been supporting Kick Cancer Overboard since 2019, when one of her cheerleaders, 4 year old sister was diagnosed with 2 Leukemia's (ALL and AML). She respected the organization so much that she joined the Board in Dec. 2022. Having her own parents, plus other family members and friends who fought cancer, and her nephew, who unfortunately lost the battle at age 19, she continues to volunteer doing everything she can to help raise money to send families affected by cancer on a free cruise to Bermuda, by selling bracelets, making bracelets, running fundraisers, obtaining donations and awarding as many cruises as possible.
Janine
Bedford Sims
Janine has been a breast cancer survivor since March 2020, an experience that deepened her purpose and passion for giving back. A past recipient of a KCO cruise, she is now honored to serve on the board and lead Team Garden, helping other families find hope and healing. For over 21 years, Janine has dedicated her career to Family Resource Associates, empowering children and adults with disabilities to achieve greater independence and opportunities. She is also a certified Integrated Health Coach and the proud mom of an adult son.
Advisory Board
Bruce
Gallipani
Rockit! Live Foundation
Bruce is an extremely talented musician, who can play several instruments. In 2004, Bruce created The Rockit Live Foundation. Bruce had a goal to give kids a sense of sharing music experiences, together in a band, and encouraging them to learn and have fun together.
Bruce joined the KCO board around 2011, when Ted invited him for breakfast and asked at that time if he would get involved with KCO and Bruce said yes, not only because this was a great organization but because his mom passed away from breast cancer, so he definitely felt connected to the cause.
Rockit! Live Foundation
Bruce is an extremely talented musician, who can play several instruments. In 2004, Bruce created The Rockit Live Foundation. Bruce had a goal to give kids a sense of sharing music experiences, together in a band, and encouraging them to learn and have fun together. Bruce joined the KCO board around 2011, when Ted invited him for breakfast and asked at that time if he would get involved with KCO and Bruce said yes, not only because this was a great organization but because his mom passed away from breast cancer, so he definitely felt connected to the cause.
Karolyn
Wray
Karolyn is a local real estate broker who believes in giving back. She has been serving Kick Cancer Overboard since 2013 and is passionate about sending people who are in need of a break on free cruises. She has actively volunteered for many events and fundraising and have had the opportunity to witness the joy of recipients on a number of cruises.
Peter
Hough
Peter is a successful sales representative for Builders General Supply. He graduated from Monmouth University and raised 4 children in Monmouth county. He was introduced to Kick Cancer Overboard by his wife, Karolyn Wray. After assisting in many fundraising events he became a board member. Like so many others, he was touched by cancer and believe these cruise giveaways are a meaningful way of giving back.
Pattie
Tucker
Pattie came to Kick Cancer Overboard through personal experience. In 2010, her not-yet-four-year-old grandson, Logan Parker, was diagnosed with a rare form of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. A friend recommended Logan and his family for a KCO cruise. To fund that cruise, Pattie, along with more than 70 other friends, family members and supporters staffed three fluid stations at the NJ Marathon to benefit KCO. Logan, his parents, and older brother enjoyed a five-day cruise to Bermuda in 2012. Pattie continued to lead and staff two fluid stations each year at the marathon to benefit KCO and pay forward the gift given to her family. Sadly, Logan passed away in March 2016, but he will be remembered always and was honored each year at the "Love for Logan" fluid stations at Mile 13.2 and Mile 23.3 along the marathon route. Pattie, who also lost her mother and other relatives and friends to cancer, is a retired public relations, communication, and marketing professional who has worked in the acute healthcare and long term care sectors for over 40 years and is a staunch advocate for childhood cancer awareness.
Caycee
Duncan
Caycee is the owner and stylist at Hair Hut Studio, Brick NJ (Est. 2012). She brings with her twenty years’ experience in the Hair Industry. Caycee is a proud recipient of the Ocean County 2020 Business Woman of the Year Award. She is passionate about serving the community, as well as giving back those in need. Caycee was introduced to Kick Cancer Overboard through Ester Jordan, and has awarded multiple cruises to well deserving families over the years. Caycee and her team at Hair Hut Studio strive to support the KCO cause, and continue to do so through selling handmade bracelets, raffles, giveaways, and events. It brings great joy to Caycee and her team, to surprise families experiencing hard times, a dream vacation. In her off time, Caycee enjoys volunteering, as well as fishing, spending time at the beach, boating, sports, and cherishing time with loved ones, especially her husband and three children.
Joan
Dalton
Joan is a hair stylist by trade. She worked at Mane Street Hair Designers from 1989-2021 and Hair Hut Studios from 2019 to Present. Joan was introduced to Kick Cancer Overboard through Ester Jordan. Volunteering for a caner organization means a lot to Joan, since her brother, Chuck Wolf, passed away from stomach cancer on 12/23/12 and he mother passed away from breast cancer on 5/6/13. Working with this organization makes Joan feel like she is giving memorable gifts to families that have gone through tough times, since memories last forever.
Elaine
Maitland
Elaine has a passion for hair, and as a hairstylist, she feels it's a gift to help make others feel good about themselves. By joining Kick Cancer Overboard, she contributes by creating good feelings and lasting memories. She feels that it is a true gift that she gets to share with her team and all the other teams of KCO.
Kristin
Clayton
Kristin Clayton is a dedicated educator, community supporter, and long-time resident of Brick Township, New Jersey. With over 25 years of experience as an elementary school teacher in Toms River, Kristin has touched the lives of countless students and families through her commitment to education. Outside the classroom, Kristin is a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Her journey with the Kick Cancer Overboard Organization (KCO) began in 2023 when she was gifted a cruise. Deeply moved by the experience, Kristin began selling bracelets to help send other families, ultimately leading her to join the KCO Board . She continues her mission to give back and make a positive impact in the lives of others.
Shellee
Carchio
Shellee is a mom of 4 wonderful children as well as a grandmother of 4 beautiful grandchildren. In the early 2000’s she found herself involved with the Brick Football and Cheer organization while her children participated in the program. Even though her children have aged out several years ago she has remained very involved as the Vice President and fundraising coordinator. Shellee first came to KCO as a cruise recipient after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Since receiving the amazing cruise, and kicking cancers butt, she pledged to pay it forward by being a breast cancer advocate in her community and awarding cruises along with her team “ShelleeStrong” and KCO. Through various efforts and fundraisers “Team ShelleeStrong “ has had the privilege of sending multiple families on cruises and hopes to continue to do so.
Ginny
Woodruff
Ginny was born and raised in Brick, NJ. After spending nearly 10 years in the Philadelphia area, she moved back to Brick in 2021 with her husband, Rich and two kids, Bruce and Ellie. Soon after moving back, the couple found out they were going to be adding another beautiful baby girl to the family in March 2021
In January of 2022, Ginny and Rich got the devastaing news that their son, 4 year old Bruce, had T-Cell ALL. One year into his aggressive treatment, Bruce was gifted a cruise from Kick Cancer Overboard. While on the cruise Ginny and Rich realized how amazing this experience was and wanted to pay it forward. Ever since, Ginny has been working with KCO to send other deserving families on this uplifting cruise. She recently joined the board and is very excited to continue her work with KCO.
Wendy
Bonello
Wendy has been on the Kick Cancer Advisory Board since 2018! Giving back to the community has always been important to her, and volunteering for the Kick Cancer Overboard events not only is personally rewarding but uplifting to those affected by cancer. She is a graduate of Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School and Princeton University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. Wendy won the Bill Bradley Young Citizen Award in High School for helping rebuild houses for the needy. She has lived in Oceanport for 26 years and am proud to be a Branch Manager with First Bank. She is beyond excited to be opening First Bank’s new branch on Riverwalk in Fort Monmouth.
Carol
Tipling
Carol Tipling was honored to be asked to be a member of the KCO board. During her career she volunteered doing Meals on Wheels for many years, she made Teddy Bears for the police to give to children who were distraught, and worked on Toys for Tots with the Marine Corps. Her love for KCO came when in May 2017 her sister-in-law was awarded a free cruise to Bermuda and she joined her. She was amazed at what this organization does for so many people and knew she wanted to a part of this amazing organization.
