A Promise Made in
a Hospital Hallway

More than a decade ago in a cold hospital room heavy with fear and peace all at once Dan lost his first-born son to Adrenal Carcinoma. In the aftermath of that unimaginable loss, Dan made a vow that he would become a source of light for families walking the same dark path. From grief, he forged purpose. From heartbreak, he built hope. That vow became Parker Project. Guided by the belief that no family should face pediatric cancer alone, Dan’s quiet strength and steadfast compassion ignited a national mission that now fuels hope for families across the country. His vision created not just an organization, but a lifeline; one built from love, resilience, and the legacy of a brave 10-year-old boy.

Raised in Los Angeles, the City of Angels, Dan grew up surrounded by the values his immigrant parents instilled: hard work, generosity, and the importance of leaving a legacy that lifts others. Those values shaped him into a respected entrepreneur with multiple international businesses and a leader admired by clients, staff, and communities around the world. Dan carries a simple but powerful philosophy; to leave every person and every place better than he found it.

A man who has endured profound tragedy, Dan is deeply committed to being a pillar of strength for those around him. He enjoys baseball, mentoring young entrepreneurs, personal development, and inspiring others to pursue healthier, more intentional lives. His encouragement has motivated countless people to complete the 75 Hard Challenge and transform their wellbeing.

Dan is known as a successful businessman, a trusted mentor, a telecommunications and human resources expert, and a financial strategist; but his most cherished title is “Dada.” His sons, the little Diaz kings, will one day walk in the footsteps of a man who turned grief into a legacy of impact and spread light across the nation for families battling pediatric cancer. For now, they have the pleasure and privilege of being raised properly by an honorable father and phenomenal mother. One father’s devotion is illuminating hundreds of lives. As the foundation’s impact grows, Parker’s Legacy glows more vibrantly.

Gabrielle Castillo serves as Board Chair of Parker Project. She works for the State of Michigan in administration and organizational services, with a focus on health, safety, and training. Throughout her professional career and volunteer work, Gabrielle has spent more than 15 years supporting vulnerable populations.

Gabrielle is passionate about providing meaningful support to families and values the opportunity to assist them each week. Her favorite part of being involved with Parker Project is speaking directly with families, learning about their incredible children, and witnessing the strength and resilience they demonstrate throughout their journey. She believes families should be able to focus on their child’s treatment without fearing that they may lose their home or be unable to provide food and other basic necessities for their family.

Attorney and business development leader in the title insurance industry. She currently serves as Regional Manager at Title Resource Group, where she focuses on building strong relationships, supporting independent title agents, and driving growth throughout her region.

Jalila earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Michigan State University and her Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School, with a concentration in dispute resolution. She has been involved in the title insurance industry since 2016 and is passionate about leadership, professional development, and giving back to her community.

Jalila is honored to serve on the Board of The Parker Project. She is deeply passionate about the organization’s mission to support children and families navigating childhood cancer and believes strongly in the power of community, compassion, and helping families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Outside of her professional and philanthropic work, Jalila enjoys spending time with her husband, Derek, and their two young children. She is grateful for the opportunity to contribute her time, experience, and heart to an organization that makes such a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families.

Jacqueline Diaz is a founding member of Parker Project and served as the organization’s first Executive Director, guiding its mission through the formative first three and a half years. Her leadership, systems development, and operational vision laid the foundation for a charity that now brings life-changing support to families facing childhood cancer. The processes she built and the compassion she modeled continue to shape Parker Project’s impact today.

A proud Michigan native, Jacqueline is deeply energized by the organization’s relocation to her home state. She earned her degree in psychology from Arizona State University and has spent her career in roles centered around people; ranging from client management and multi-family housing to her philanthropic work with Parker Project. Known for her analytical mind, talent for efficient systems, creative eye for design, and passion for humanity, Jacqueline brings a rare blend of precision and heart to every endeavor.

While she remains an exceptional administrator, strategic thinker, and impeccable advisor, Jacqueline’s most cherished role these days is being “super mom” to her two young kings. She is raising them with positivity, a love for literature, and an appreciation for nature. Her children have the privilege of witnessing their parents dedicate themselves to work born from profound loss, the passing of their brother, Parker; and fueled by a commitment to bring hope, stability, and dignity to families walking a dark path.

Jacqueline’s legacy within Parker Project is one of vision, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Her influence continues to shape the organization’s growth, culture, and mission-driven purpose.

Tina Jump serves as Finance Manager for Parker Project, where she oversees the organization's financial operations with a strong commitment to integrity, accountability, and stewardship. Tina leverages more than 20 years of accounting and bookkeeping experience which she uses in her role with us. Tina is passionate about ensuring every donation is managed responsibly so families battling childhood cancer receive the support they need when they need it most.

Based in Louisiana, Tina has built her career around serving others through financial leadership and believes that behind every transaction is a family whose life can be impacted. She finds great purpose in combining her professional expertise with Parker Project's mission, knowing that the work happening behind the scenes helps provide hope and stability during some of life's most difficult moments.

Outside of work, Tina's greatest joy is spending time with her husband and children. She enjoys growing in her faith through Bible study, connecting with her community, and encouraging other women through professional networking and leadership opportunities.

For Tina, Parker Project is more than an organization—it's a calling to serve with both heart and purpose, helping ensure families can focus on what matters most: their child's fight against cancer.

If you ask Natalie what she loves most about being part of Parker Project, she’ll probably tell you it’s the people.

As a Program Coordinator, Natalie gets to be part of the behind-the-scenes work that helps make a meaningful difference for families navigating childhood cancer. Whether she’s connecting families with support, helping make a difficult process feel a little easier, or simply listening, she believes that sometimes the smallest acts of care can mean the most.

Natalie has always been drawn to people, their stories, and the little things that make each person unique. She believes everyone deserves to feel seen, supported, and reminded that they don’t have to navigate difficult seasons alone. She brings a lot of heart, enthusiasm, and a little bit of sparkle to everything she does—and loves being part of a team that turns compassion into action.

Outside of Parker Project, Natalie is usually off on some kind of side quest. She loves staying active, trying new things, spending time with the people she loves, and, of course, keeping up with her pets, who she considers very important members of the household (and occasionally her personal supervisors).

At the end of the day, Natalie believes life is all about the little moments: finding reasons to laugh, showing up for the people you love, celebrating small victories, and bringing a little more kindness wherever you go. She’s grateful to be part of a team that helps bring hope to families when they need it most—and even more grateful for the opportunity to play a small part in that journey.

You are seen. You are cared for. And you are never alone.

Though new to the role of Executive Director, Anzhelika is no stranger to the fight against cancer. By her twenties, she had already lost 5 friends and family to the disease, losses that shaped her worldview and ignited her lifelong vow to fight back.

Anzhelika spent her early college years working as an Emergency Medical Technician. She soon realized medicine was not the path for her. She went on to earn degrees in Human Rights, African American History, Statistical Research, and The Scientific Study of War, building a multidisciplinary foundation that sharpened her understanding of systems, and human resilience. For Anzhelika, the most meaningful work has always centered on people, their struggles, and hope.

An immigrant and lifelong problem-solver, Anzhelika grew up as her family’s translator and advocate. Her commitment to service began early: she volunteered at a big cat sanctuary, funded and hosted two proms for special education students, orchestrated Cupcakes for a Cure, a national mental health fundraiser, and led a mission to teach convalescent-home patients to use technology to reconnect with loved ones. Her professional path has spanned medicine, laboratory coordination, medical research, education, sales, customer service, and management, giving her a rare breadth of experience across people-focused and operationally complex environments.

In her early thirties, Anzhelika beat cancer herself. That victory, combined with personal losses, fuels her work. Even before joining the staff, she was deeply moved by the foundation’s mission and Parker’s legacy. She is a polyglot fluent in three languages and conversational in two more.

Anzhelika is an avid reader, traveler, writer, and devoted dog mom to a 7-year-old rescue pup. She believes wholeheartedly that even a small drop of financial relief can keep hope alive for families battling pediatric cancer. Anzhelika’s leadership is defined by empathy, intellect, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that no family faces childhood cancer alone.