Our History
Our History
Six years after losing my mother to a decade-long fight against breast cancer, I resolved to find an aspect of the disease where I could honor my mother’s memory and make a difference for other families fighting their own battles with breast cancer. For eighteen years, brave survivors and those walking in memory or celebration have become models at the Runway fashion show. They have raised funds to help families who are dealing with the impact of this disease. As survivors, the models epitomize heroism and strength. They carry with them the spirits of all those who have lost their battle with breast cancer, and the families and communities that stood by them.
Unlike most nonprofits focused on breast cancer, Runway is not oriented toward a cure. Instead, we seek to improve the lives of those who are currently affected by breast cancer by serving as a platform for them to access the resources, knowledge, and support they need. Our mission is rooted in the understanding that no one experiences breast cancer alone, and that there are ways to ease the burden of this disease on parents, children, caregivers, and loved ones. We seek to celebrate and highlight the lives of those affected by breast cancer by motivating communities to support local families and directing funding towards services that significantly improve the lives of children and caregivers along their family's journey with breast cancer.
Until there is a cure, we will continue the work of honoring the survivors and funding the families of those impacted by breast cancer. Thank you for being an integral part of this organization's history and our future.
Founder, Executive Director of Runway
Our Team
Olivia Boger
Founder and Executive Director
In July of 2019, Olivia Boger started her role as the full-time Executive Director of Runway for Recovery. After fifteen years in education, working as both an educator and an administrator at three different independent schools, Olivia transitioned to this role to pursue her dream of running her non-profit on a full-time basis. In 2007 after earning her Master’s in Education from Harvard Education School, Olivia established Runway for Recovery to honor her mother who passed away from breast cancer in 2001. With the support of a highly-engaged volunteer committee, Olivia ran R4R for the next decade while raising her own children and working in education. Olivia lives in Newburyport, MA with her husband, Andy, their three elementary-aged sons, and their chocolate lab, Harry Potter.
Sue Burke, RN, MSN, CCM
Care Team
Sue Burke has had the honor of volunteering for Runway for the past 2 years. As a member of the Care Team, she has had the privilege of meeting with so many courageous and deserving applicants and to work with the most dynamic and dedicated Runway Team. Sue retired from a forty-year nursing career at Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston where she began as a pediatric staff nurse on the Reconstructive Unit and in later years as a Case Manager. Sue also participated in leadership roles in community education and outreach. She has found purpose in Runway to continue working with families through advocacy and outreach and is so grateful to continue this opportunity for many years to come. Sue lives in Charlestown, MA and treasures spending time with her children and five granddaughters.
Alivia Collette
Graphic Designer
Alivia Collette is the Graphic Designer for Runway for Recovery, bringing exceptional creativity, thoughtfulness, and vision to every piece she creates. In close collaboration with Ann, Alivia designs all of Runway’s graphic materials, helping to visually tell the stories of the families, events, and community that define the organization. Her work plays a vital role in shaping Runway’s brand and ensuring each design reflects the heart and purpose behind the mission. Alivia resides in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Jill DeBenedetto
Care Team
Chris DeFilippi
Strategy and Data Director
Chris DeFilippi has spent the last ten years helping schools, startups, and non-profits create scaleable, repeatable and sustainable processes. His consulting firm, Hazen Consulting Group, helps startup interested in implementing Salesforce, non-profits looking to learn more about your donors, schools who want to understand enrollment trends, and much more. He is a passionate supporter of both breast cancer organizations and female run businesses having served on many boards that dedicate themselves to women's health and equity issues. He lives in Cornwall, NY with his finace, Austin, and their adorable dog, Rocky. He and Austin have also recently founded Rocky Bagels - must try for those in the Hudson Valley.
Charlotte DeLong
Social Media & Content Coordinator
Charlotte DeLong is a graduating senior from Suffield Academy in Connecticut and has been part of the Runway for Recovery community for many years, first modeling alongside her mother in 2012. Charlotte supports the organization’s social media channels and digital storytelling efforts, helping manage content planning, campaign execution, and audience engagement. She works closely with the summer team to develop and maintain Runway for Recovery’s seasonal content calendar.
Max Gutierrez
Care Team
Maximiliano Gutierrez started working with the R4R family in December of 2023. Max is currently an Associate Clinical Social Worker working towards his Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, and has experience working in applied behavioral analysis, with system impacted individuals, and in in-patient psychiatric hospitalization settings. He has always had a passion for working with underrepresented individuals and bridging the gap between mental health and the Latinx community. Max is grateful for the opportunity to be able to work with the members, families, and the supportive team of R4R. He graduated from California State University Fullerton with his BA and MSW and currently lives in Los Angeles County.
Sophie Lavallee
Operations & Events Coordinator
Sophie Lavallee is a rising sophomore at the University of Georgia from Newburyport, Massachusetts. As Runway for Recovery’s Operations & Events Coordinator, Sophie supports fundraising operations, event logistics, donor communications, and administrative coordination during one of the organization’s busiest seasons. She also assists with registration systems, website updates, and the organization of model and designer information for Runway Shows.
Ann Marks
Senior Design Consultant
Ann Marks brings over 15 years of graphic design and marketing experience to Runway. After studying Art History and Architecture at Trinity College she continued her education in Graphic Design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She has worked for a variety of companies as both an in-house and freelance designer. She is constantly inspired by the team at Runway, along with the models and families served, to create designs that support the mission of this amazing organization. Ann lives in Newburyport with her husband and children.
Whitney Mohler
Director of Development
Whitney Mohler is the Director of Development at Runway for Recovery, bringing more than 15 years of nonprofit fundraising experience to the organization. She has been part of the Runway team since 2019 and has also served as a development consultant to various nonprofit organizations, providing expertise in grant strategy, corporate and foundation fundraising, and donor stewardship. At Runway for Recovery, Whitney leads all corporate and foundation fundraising efforts, including grant writing and reporting, to support programs serving families impacted by breast cancer. Prior to Runway, she held senior development roles at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in San Francisco and Citizen Schools in Boston, where she managed events, large foundation portfolios and secured sustained philanthropic investment. Whitney holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Colorado and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University, and lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts with her husband, two young children, and their cat.
Caroline O'Donnell
Assistant Director of Program- Family Grants
Caroline O’Donnell has been with Runway since its inception when she was 16-years old. Since then, her role has grown from marketing & social media to the model program and currently, the Assistant Director of Program- overseeing grants to Runway families across the country each month. She considers it the privilege of a lifetime to be trusted by each family to do this work and is deeply grateful to the many organizational partners and exceptional care team that make administering each grant possible. Caroline earned her bachelor’s degree from The College of the Holy Cross and is currently the Director of Client Services at Catalyst Financial Partners in Boston's Seaport and owner/baker of O'Cookie. Caroline lives in the North End in Boston and when not working enjoys baking, golfing and spending time with family.
Jessie Reardon
Social Media Coordinator
Jessie Reardon is passionate about making connections, and that's exactly what she loves to do at Runway. Jessie supports the Rally for Runway programs which network our Runway community with local fitness studios. She also supports the annual Recovery Retreat for Runway Models, a once-a-year opportunity to come together and connect outside of the Runway Show. Jessie is also a fitness instructor at Fuel Training Studio, one of Runway’s favorite Rally partners. She lives in Newburyport with her husband and three children.
MaryLou Seitz
Care Team
MaryLou Seitz joined Runway for Recovery as a volunteer in 2019 and is drawn to Runway’s Mission and the privilege to work with strong and resilient Runway Families and the Runway Care Team. Mary Lou is a licensed Certified Social Worker and has over 40 years of experience as Directorof Resident Services providing supportive services in both private and public affordable mixed income housing. She graduated from Northeastern University and earned a Master of Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work as well as a Master of City Planning. She lives with her husband Charlie and enjoys time with her children and four grandsons.
Josie Silk
Model Program & Production Coordinator
Josie Silk, who lives in Harvard, Massachusetts, is entering her senior year at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. As Model Program & Production Coordinator, Josie supports the overall model experience for Runway for Recovery’s Runway Shows, including storytelling, designer coordination, fittings, production preparation, and backstage logistics. She also assists with content creation, model communications, and outreach efforts focused on inclusive representation across the Runway community.
Model Mentors
Sona Dalal
Model Mentor
Sona Dalal joins Runway for Recovery as a Model Mentor after sharing her powerful survivorship journey as a SoCal Runway Model. Diagnosed in 2018 with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer, Sona faced treatment with remarkable determination while continuing to balance motherhood, a legal career, family life, and advocacy for her own health and wellness. Her journey taught her the importance of resilience, intentional living, and showing up fully even during life’s most difficult moments. As a Model Mentor, Sona will support and connect with new Runway Models across the country, helping ensure women feel welcomed, represented, empowered, and deeply supported as they prepare to join the Runway community.
Jocelyn Lee
Model Mentor
Jocelyn Lee joins Runway for Recovery as a Model Mentor after first participating as a Runway Model in 2019, an experience she describes as both humbling and deeply uplifting. Throughout her own breast cancer journey — and later while supporting her mother through her own diagnosis and illness — Jocelyn leaned heavily on optimism, community, and the small acts of kindness that carried her family forward. Her favorite role within the Runway community has been working backstage at the Runway Shows, where she strives to ensure every model and family member feels welcomed, included, celebrated, and honored. As a Model Mentor, she will support and connect with new Runway Models across the country, helping them feel encouraged, understood, and empowered as they prepare to share their stories and step onto the Runway stage.
Liz Mover
Model Mentor
Liz Mover joins Runway for Recovery as a Model Mentor after walking all three Runway for Recovery stages and becoming a beloved source of strength, honesty, and compassion within the community. Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34 while working as an ICU nurse and raising two young sons, Liz faced treatment with resilience and vulnerability, leaning on the support of her family, friends, and fellow survivors while learning to ask for help herself. Since her initial diagnosis in 2018, Liz has faced breast cancer twice and is now living with metastatic breast cancer, experiences that have deepened her empathy and commitment to supporting others navigating similar journeys. As a Model Mentor, Liz will connect with and support new Runway Models across the country, helping ensure every woman feels welcomed, understood, celebrated, and never alone as she enters the Runway community.
Mariah Powell
Model Mentor
Mariah Powell joins Runway for Recovery as a Model Mentor after participating as a NYC Runway Model following her own breast cancer diagnosis at age 33. After completing chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and radiation, Mariah found strength through the survivor community she now lovingly calls her “breasties,” an experience that inspired her passion for advocacy and connection. As a Model Mentor, she will support and connect with new Runway Models across the country, helping ensure they feel seen, supported, and empowered throughout their Runway journey. Mariah brings compassion, honesty, and firsthand understanding to the role, reminding others that no one should face breast cancer alone.
Jennie Vargas
Model Mentor
Jennie Vargas joins Runway for Recovery as a Model Mentor after first walking in the 2019 Runway Show just months after completing breast cancer treatment. Following her diagnosis, Jennie navigated treatment while carrying the weight of motherhood and the fear of what the future could hold for her children as a single mother. Through her journey, she discovered a renewed commitment to happiness, healing, and living fully, sharing that cancer gave her “a fresh new body” and a new outlook on life. As a Model Mentor, Jennie will support and connect with new Runway Models across the country, helping women feel welcomed, encouraged, and empowered as they prepare to share their stories and become part of the Runway community.
Avamarie Warden
Model Mentor
Avamarie Warden serves as a Model Mentor for Runway for Recovery, bringing her experience as a NYC Runway Model living with metastatic breast cancer. Throughout her journey, Avamarie has become a passionate advocate for representation, community, and honest conversations around survivorship, particularly as a Black woman navigating breast cancer. As a Model Mentor, she will connect with and support new Runway Models across the country, helping create a safe and encouraging space for women preparing to share their stories and take the Runway stage. Her belief that “healing isn’t just physical — it’s emotional, communal, and transformative” reflects the empathy and strength she brings to the Runway community.
Board of Directors
Maggie DeMont - Chair, Governance and Finance Committees
Vice President of Strategic Decision Support, Shields Health
Suzanne Lowell - Vice Chair, Events & Fundraising Committee
President and Lead Designer for Suzanne B. Lowell Lighting Design, Inc.
Lauren Sullivan – Treasurer & Chair of Finance
Chief Financial Officer, Greatland Realty Partners
Rachael Asselin - Chair of Family Grants
Partner, Blue Matter Consulting
Tim Llewellyn - Chair of Marketing & PR
Founder, Copper Hound Pictures
Linda Matzkin - Chair of Events & Fundraising Committee
Event Planner, Two Eight Four Weddings and Events
Michelle Usitalo - Chair of Governance
Partner, BakerHostetler
Lillian Noreen Beck, Family Grants Committee
Employment Recruiter, Capital Markets, CBRE
Dorothy Kelly Burnham, Finance Committee
Vice President, Verisk
Jennifer Lubrano Clayton, Events & Fundraising Committee
Volunteer and Board Member
Crystal Davis, Marketing & PR Committee
Registered Nurse, Beth Israel Hospital
Karen Elizaga
Executive Coach, Forward Options
Kristin Ferrari, Events & Fundraising Committee
Volunteer and Board Member
Peter Ferrari
President of Shield’s Health
Abby Gordon, Events & Fundraising Committee
Principal and Owner, Two Eight Four Weddings & Events
Ami Mehr, Marketing & PR Committee
Chief Operating Officer, Evinova
Rebecca Muse-Orlinoff, CFA, Finance and Governance Committees
Head of Marketing for Harbor Capital Advisors
Max Pinto, Finance Committee
Director, Parthenon Capital Partners
Melissa Rudolph
Emergency Department Medical Director and Chief of Staff at Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange
Erica Tremblay, Finance and Governance Committees
Dell Technologies, APEX Transformation Leader
Frank Miranda, Events & Fundraising Committee
Owner, A Better Resolution
Thank you to our generous sponsors
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