Meet the Team

Hope for Heather's mission is to raise funds to support ovarian cancer research, to promote education and awareness, and to help to provide comfort to women and their families devastated by cancer. It's board members listed below work year round spreading awareness on ovarian cancer in Central New York State.

Frieda Weeks - President

Frieda is Heather's mother and one of the original founding members of Hope for Heather. Frieda's gender, sensitivity, empathy, people skills and dedication is the energy that drives and grows Hope for Heather. She is responsible for most of the grant money the organization receives. As a national advocate leader, she travels to Washington DC each year to meet with Congressmen to request financial support for federal research money. Frieda hosts the Sisters in Strength support group, manages H4h social media accounts, and regularly meets with survivors and caregivers to offer emotional support and ideas on how to manage their scary cancer journey. She speaks to large and small groups and regularly provides interviews for the local media.

Gary Weeks - Treasurer

Gary is Heather's father and one of the original founding members of Hope for Heather. Gary provides support services for Hope for Heather creating financial transparency for all transactions: bookkeeping, banking to tax filing. Gary helps various talented designers to create the organizations branding, educational materials, print advertising and booth branding materials. His preferred activity is educating women on the symptoms of ovarian cancer and why it is critical for all women to know these early symptoms. Because of his ability to work a crowd at an event or the NYS Fair, he has been tagged the original Man of Teal.

Jesse Irwin - Board Chairman

Jesse Irwin is a founding member of Hope for Heather. He is often seen in working in the background at events and desperately trying to avoid the limelight, which is very fitting as he works as a stage technician in NYC. Jess has very personal reasons for his involvement with the charity. He lost his mother to gynecological cancer. Additionally, Jess was in a relationship with Heather throughout her last two years. Her death galvanized him to work with Heather's parents to take action...

Jenny Irwin - Secretary

Jenny Irwin is one of the original supporters of Hope for Heather and has helped organize Hope for Heather events since its inception. She was a friend of Heather's from high school and roommates with Heather after college. She holds a B.S. in Magazine Journalism from Syracuse University and a M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), K-12 from Teachers College, Columbia University. Jenny currently works as the Director of Prestigious Awards and Graduate Student Fellowships at Pace University. In her free time, she teaches and trains in aerial arts and pole fitness. Jenny is married to Jesse Irwin and lives in the NYC area.

Scott Lombardo - Board Member - Event MC

Scott Lombardo, Senior Relationship Mgr, and Senior VP of Key Private Bank is a proud advocate and “Man of Teal” for Hope for Heather; raising awareness and promoting education for ovarian cancer. In 2018, Scott initiated the "100 Man of Teal Challenge", a campaign that challenged 100 new Men of Teal from all over the country to join the mission. Each man committing to distribute 100 ovarian cancer symptom cards to educate 10,000 women. Each year, Scott and his wife Tawn honor the strong, inspiring ovarian cancer survivors by donating survivor tables at the annual fashion show and Teal Ribbon Run/Walk. Scott is very active in the community, supporting the arts and fundraising for local charities.

Colleen Richardson - Hope for Heather board member.

Colleen Richardson - Board Member

Colleen is one of the original supporters of Hope for Heather and has helped organize Hope for Heather events since its inception. She met Frieda and Heather at Tawn Maries Dance Center where her daughter Emily was a dancer along with Heather. Colleen is Hope for Heathers Person of the Year for 2024!! Colleen is always working - managing the registration for the Teal Ribbom Run, volunteeeing for numerous days at the State Fair, including set up and tear down, managing the check-in for the fashion show and so much more. You will often find her volunteering at Jazz in the City, heloing organize our annual gift-giving party, load-in for the fashion show and so much more ! Thank you so much Colleen!

Tammy Palmer - Media Spokeswoman

A lifelong Central New Yorker, Tammy was a television reporter and news anchor for more than 20-years, sharing stories about the challenges and triumphs of local families. She shared her own battle with ulcerative colitis, raising awareness about the incurable disease. Frieda and Gary Weeks joined Tammy's team at a fundraising walk, where she learned about Heather's health battles! Now, Tammy is joining the Hope for Heather team!! Currently, she works for the American Red Cross of Eastern New York, connecting volunteers with blood drives, disaster scenes, and other services to families that need help.