The Board of Directors supports the mission and vision of Fourth and Gold. Much of the team consists of oncological professionals on the First Coast helping children and their families battle cancer every day.
Erin has been a full time registered nurse since 2013 and founded Fourth and Gold in 2020 when she realized the harsh, outdated treatments being used for childhood cancer treatment. Since 2020, Fourth and Gold has funded $526,000 in alternative to chemotherapy treatment options. In her spare time, Erin enjoys being outdoors, running half marathons, the Jacksonville Jaguars and if you want to make any plans with her- you’ll have to ask her dog, Fynn, first!
“Fourth and Gold means everything to me because I’ve recognized the need for updated treatment for childhood cancer and I’ve fought like crazy to change it. Much like in football, going for it on fourth down is a big deal- you get the first down or you turn the ball over. Turning the ball over isn’t an option for us, we’re going for it every single time until we find the cure”
Originally from Queens, NY, James is a lifelong sports enthusiast who is living his dream of working in the world of pro sports. Carr has held a multitude of roles for the Temple Owls, Jacksonville Jaguars, Fanatics, the Orlando Magic, and now the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL. James has even been a contestant on Sports Jeopardy! James thoroughly enjoys traveling to see new places, standup comedy and game shows. Having relocated to San Antonio, TX in 2021, James uses his platform of working in sports to partner with and volunteer for a multitude of nonprofits and support community initiatives in both the Alamo City and back in Jacksonville.
“Fourth and Gold means a ton to me because it’s given me direction on a tangible way I can use my platform and presence to make life better for others. Childhood cancer is an incredibly cruel illness that deserves our best efforts towards finding ways to eradicate it. I plan to do what I can to amplify the voice of Fourth and Gold in the world of sports and garner as much support as I can.”
Avery is an expert in the oncology and bone marrow transplant nursing world. Avery has 13 years of experience and has witnessed families going through childhood cancer treatment at their worst. Avery has a heart for children with cancer and makes every child’s hospital stay better than the last.
“Working in the pediatric oncology community for many years has given me a first hand view of the devastation that not only cancer causes, but the outdated treatment used to treat the cancer. Fourth and Gold is crucial because we’re going to explore every unique avenue in finding a more humane cure for childhood cancer.”
Linda has spent nearly a decade in public accounting working on everything from tax returns, reviews and compilations to bookkeeping, payrolls and sales & use taxes. She has worked with clients from various industries including construction, manufacturing, food/bar service, retail and more. Linda is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor and has taught client and community classes to improve QB efficiency and effectiveness. Linda is a member of the AICPA and the FICPA.
“Having the ability to support research in childhood cancer is life changing. Research, in the right hands, saved my son’s life. It is heartbreaking to watch the same treatment that is saving your child’s life, tear it apart too. If I can prevent even one parent from experiencing this heartbreak, my time and effort will be well spent. Fourth and Gold will bring this much needed childhood cancer research funding to the forefront of the childhood cancer battle.”
Michael served 7 years in the US Army prior to going to Nursing School and then Medical School. Dr. Tracy is Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician, practicing in Jacksonville for nearly 30 years. Michael is a proud father and husband, enjoys traveling the world and watching sports.
“Fourth and Gold is important to me because it’s my daughter’s passion. I do occasionally diagnose pediatric cancer and would like to see more research for cures. Because of Erin I am also passionate about childhood cancers.”
Dr. Rivera is a pediatric oncologist who not only treats and cares for children with cancer, but focuses on research to improve outcomes. Dr. Rivera joined Dr. Hong Qin’s lab in 2023 at Mayo Clinic, Florida where she worked on preclinical models using CAR T-cell therapy on high-grade pediatric brain tumors. She currently is working in Puerto Rico as a clinician and researcher. Her long-term goal is to not only care for patients with pediatric cancer, but also discover new therapeutic options to improve survival while minimizing long term side effects.
Rivera, a native to Puerto Rico, enjoys the beaches and traveling, is a proud mom to Norah, wife to Pablo, and has 2 fur babies, Kiwi and Lilac.
“Pediatric Oncology clinical research has increased the cure rate for childhood cancer for the past 60 years. Support for clinical research in pediatric oncology is necessary for us to move the field forward. Having a strong clinical research program allows us to be able to offer patients the best therapy for their disease.”
Heather is an Atlanta native and has worked for the past 12 years for Target Corporation. She most recently worked as part of the Community Impact Team for Target HQ where she assisted coordinating grants and charitable gifts to international, national and local non-profits out of Target’s charitable giving fund. She is the mother of three beautiful children, the youngest of which was recently diagnosed with pediatric cancer. She brings with her years of experience in philanthropy, as well as a new passion for finding alternative treatments for pediatric cancer that could eliminate the life-changing side effects that current treatments bring with them.
The McHenry Management Group as Civilian Contractor for the US Navy
Mark and his wife Anne have been married for 24 years, and have 3 children, Alison, Gracie, and Jake. A grandson Grayson. Mark is a retired Naval Officer with 26 years of service. He enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, riding his Harley.
“Fourth and Gold is important to me because my son Jake was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in July of 2018 and was doing well. His Leukemia suddenly relapsed in March of 2020, unfortunately the leukemia was resistant to the treatments that were available and although Jake put up a valiant fight he passed away on Easter Sunday 2020. I want to be involved in helping raise funding for childhood cancer research as no child should run out of options for treatment.”
Hillary is a Jacksonville native and has done multiple works for charities throughout her life. Always the girl with the camera in her hand, Hillary is known around the city for capturing life as it happens. Even though she’s taken photos her entire life, becoming a mother made her expand her love of photos into a business. Upon starting a business, this led her to use her gift for local families of special needs children and children suffering from cancer.
“When Erin reached out to my photography business to take Fourth and Gold photos, I was all in from the start. Because I knew of and lost children to cancer prior to learning of Fourth and Gold’s mission, there was no question that I wanted to be a part of changing the future.”
Nicholas J. Furris is a three-time Emmy Award winning producer and director. He is the founder and Senior Producer/Director of Spectrum Films, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida. He also is an owner of the Jacksonville Sharks, one of the sixteen teams playing in the Indoor Football League, a franchise which has won four national arena football titles. Originally from West Orange, NJ and a graduate of Rutgers University, he has made Jacksonville, Florida his home since 1988. His professional life has offered him the opportunity to literally travel the world filming and coordinating many historic broadcast events worldwide. Nick and his wife Maria have two sons, Stefan and Andrew, a daughter-in-law Grayson and recently became grandparents to a beautiful boy, Spiridon (Sam) Furris.
Every donation helps us funds the most promising childhood cancer research. Together, we will save and improve the lives of children and families that need a team like us to truly compete in the battle against childhood cancer.
