Celebrating

2020

Men of Teal

Hope for Heather selects 30 men each year to be Men of Teal. Each day in September a different Man of Teal is featured with a photo and a message about their commitment to spread awareness. 30 Community leaders take the pledge to spread ovarian cancer awareness. In celebration of ovarian cancer awareness month. They are equipped with symptom cards and ribbons and will spread awareness to their work and community circles for the whole month. Men of Teal - spreading ovarian cancer awareness to your community.

Take a photo with your man of teal and share it. #MenOfTeal #mymanofteal
Twitter - @Hope4Heather;

Facebook - Hope for Heather

Gary Weeks

This is my 12th year of telling women about the dangers of ovarian cancer. I became a Men of Teal member when it launched in 2014. The symptoms are vague so women with busy family lives often disregard the initial symptoms as growing older or temporary pains. Luckily, ovarian is a relatively rare cancer, 22,000 cases diagnosed each year so vague symptoms are most often benign

Khalid Bey

Khalid Bey is a Councilor at Large and President Pro Temp of the City Council of the City of Syracuse. Khalid is also Team President for the Syracuse Strong football team. He's always volunteering and thinking of his community first. As a Man of Teal, Khalid is dedicated to helping women realize the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer in hopes of saving more lives. Khalid, thank you for your support and being STRONG!

Jesse Irwin

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...

Mike Brookins

Returning as a man of teal for the second year in a row, Mike Brookins is forecasting a teal blue sky for National Wear Teal Day and for that we say, 'thank you!" For his mom, wife and daughters, Mike says raising ovarian cancer awareness is important. Thank you, Mike!

Anthony Brindisi

Anthony Brindisi

Ovarian cancer has taken the lives of too many women across New York state, and raising awareness about signs and symptoms is the first step in fighting this terrible disease. Being a Man of Teal means encouraging women to be on the lookout for the symptoms of ovarian cancer, working to secure research funding to fight ovarian cancer...

Dr. Brian Smith

Dr. Brian Smith

I'm a family practitioner working in Clay for the past 31 years and have known the Weeks family for many years. I'm so proud to be able to support such a wonderful family and raise more awareness about a disease that has affected so many of my friends and patients...

Rick Policastro

Rick Policastro

Always behind the camera for the cause, we love focusing the lens on Rick Policastro! For so many years, Rick has been a loving friend to the Weeks family and an undeniably committed supporter of the H4H mission. You've likely met Rick at the annual fashion show or another event. He's always ready to take your photo, capture a moment and show you how beautiful your support for H4H truly is...

Laurence Segal

I am honored and proud to be part of Men of Teal this year. Sadly, ovarian cancer causes the deaths of 14,000 women every year. I am an advocate for early detection of all cancer, and I think it's important than women know the symptoms of ovarian cancer. It is important for men to stand up for the women in their lives, and let them know they don't have to feel alone in their battle against this cancer...

Jim Teske

On the ninth day of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we say thank you to Jim Teske, chief meteorologist at NewsChannel 9! He returns as a Man of Teal this year. Thank you for raising awareness with us. We always enjoy seeing you race in the Teal Ribbon Run!

Amos Raiti

Amos is the Project Manager for 3D Systems and he is joining us for the first time as a Man of Teal! "I'm a son, husband, and father surrounded by many women in my life that I love and support, with some being cancer survivors. I want to raise awareness of the importance of early detection and screening for ovarian cancer...

Dave Wolever

I have recently joined the charge to heighten awareness for ovarian cancer detection. As a chosen cause for musical events like 'Rock Teal Ya Drop' held last fall and more recently in live streaming performances, I am committed to sharing information regarding its symptoms. As I have heard it said before...telling every wonderful lady we know about the signs and symptoms, makes a difference...

John Hunt

I return as a Man of Teal year after year because Gary and Frieda Weeks are inspiring and passionate about their mission. Every time I hand out a symptom card the “Hope” in Hope for Heather stands for the hope passed with the card. We hope someone sees it. We hope someone recognizes the symptoms in time. We hope to make a new friend of Hope for Heather. Helping this group is the personification of hope.

Chris DelGuercio

Chris DelGuercio

Chris is a devoted father, husband, writer, teacher, and lifelong Syracuse resident. He works with special needs students at Liverpool High School, his alma mater; in the Syracuse City School district as an afterschool coordinator for the YMCA; and as a writing instructor at the Downtown Writers Center. He has also been a local small business owner for the past 22 years. It is his honor and pleasure to be named one of this year’s Men of Teal

John Katko

Congressman John Katko its joining us once again as a Man of Teal! Since taking office, John has always answered the call from Hope for Heather and has brought our message to the floor of the House of Representatives several times over the years. Teal action is needed in all sectors of our community!

George Kilpatrick

George Kilpatrick

George is the men's outreach coordinator at Vera House and a long-time Syracuse broadcaster, currently on the radio waves of Power620! "I want to raise awareness about ovarian cancer because it disproportionately affects African American women due to a variety of circumstances. The more I learn about this deadly disease the more important it is for us to raise funds to continue the important research to help us to raise awareness and to fund continued research.

Niko Tamurian

Niko is best known for his work as sports director on CNYCentral, but he is also very well known for giving back to the Central New York community. His heart is just as big and genuine as his smile. It is a great honor to have him back as a Man of Teal every year! "Raising awareness to help save the lives of women I know and love is important. We can all do our part.

Joe Woodworth

We are so grateful to Joe and the team at USA racing! The amazing H4H swag you are fundraising for in this year's Virtual Teal Ribbon Run is thanks to that creative team right there! Joe is fast in road races, but takes his time when working with Hope for Heather. His genuine character and commitment to the mission of raising ovarian cancer awareness is admirable. Joe, we can never thank you for all you do!

Nick Perioli

Nick is head coach of the Syracuse Stallions basketball team, founded in 2018 as a part of The Basketball League (TBL). "We are happy to be a part of the campaign. Seeing that ovarian cancer can go undetected for so long and spread to different areas before it is detected we certainly feel it is important to bring awareness to this!" (You will see one more member of the Stallions as a Man of Teal soon!...

Jess Hafner

In memory of his mom, the owner of Chuck Hafner's Farmers Market and Garden Center is honored to be part of the Men of Teal team. "The fight against ovarian cancer is very near and dear to my heart and I'm dedicated to spreading awareness. Two years ago I experienced the most painful moment of my life when I lost my mother to ovarian cancer. She was a pillar of health all her life and a role model to everyone in it. Sadly, she was diagnosed too late, even though the signs were there months before

Dennis Seeber

Dennis is the manufacturing supervisor at Unimar, Inc. in North Syracuse. "I believe men can be a vital role now and in the future. I want to convince my family and friends to contribute towards this great cause through dialogue, donations and volunteerism." Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa.

Brad Vivacqua

Brad is a familiar face to all as he reports local news to Central New York every morning on spectrum News! "It means a great deal to me to be a Man of Teal during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. If I can help remind one person to get screened it’s well worth the effort. Like so many others, cancer has taken the lives of many people who were close to me in my personal life. I will continue to advocate for awareness.

Scott Lombardo

Scott, Vice President, Financial Consultant at M&T Securities, Inc., is a proud advocate and “Man of Teal” for Hope for Heather, raising awareness and promoting education for ovarian cancer in our community. "We all have an important role in the fight against cancer. We owe it to our community to keep the conversations and the awareness going to help save the lives of the women we love. I'm honored to stand with H4H as a Man of Teal...

Mike Sugamosto

Mike is the Syracuse Stallions basketball team president. He and the team's head coach are joining Men of Teal for the first time - recognizing the importance of raising ovarian cancer awareness for women they know and love. Together, working as a team, we can make a difference. Thank you for being community leaders!

Mike Lombardo

Returning again as a Man of Teal, we thank Mike for taking time be a leader. Sharing a simple photo, awareness information or wearing teal means more to survivors and their families than you may ever know. For your efforts and all your family does to support the mission, we thank you!

Frankie Jupiter

Frankie Jupiter

If you wake up every morning and turn on NBC, you see Frankie and you see his smile and commitment to the Central New York community. As a first time Man of Teal, Frankie says he hopes to raise awareness so that women of all backgrounds receive life-saving information about ovarian cancer symptoms. Thank you, Frankie!

Men of Teal - Wall of Fame

MOT Listing for 2018 does not exist

Sept. 2016 Men of Teal:

1) Mayor Bill Brazill
2) Paul Michael Napoli
3) Noel J. Baker
4) John Hunt
5) Matt Jarchow
6) Rick Roberts
7) Duke W. Epolito
8) Mike Jorgensen
9) Dash Henderson
10) Stephen Wilkinson
11) Wayne Wagner
12) Kevin Morrow
13) Chris Arnold
14) Jeff Yeomans
15) Michael E. Speach

16) Mark Bell, Jr.

17) Rep. Al Stirpe

18) John DeSantis

19) Solon Quinn

20) Allen LaVenture

21) Kevin Holmquist

22) Edgar Pagan

23) Chino Ingram

24) Johnathan Rodriquez

25) Jon Zeidman

27) Bernie Stanzione

28) Duane Crapser

29) Andrew Donovan

Sept. 2017 Men of Teal:
1) Corey Brais

2) Joe Clavelli

3) Josh Cradduck

5) Mark Nicotra

7) Russell Wood

9) Michael Desalvo

10) Dr. Kaushal Nanavati

12) Chad Ramsey

13) Paul Valenti

16) Todd Robertson

17) Matthew Capogreco

18) Sean Martinelli

19) Mayor Billy Barlow

20) Dave Hanlon

22) Jim Stocker

23) Frank Lazarski

24) Shamus Gallagher

25) Michael Weakley

26) Rick Policastro

27) Jeff "JD" Albro

28) Keith Kobland

29) Ben Schechter

30) Jack Hasselaar

Sept. 2019 Men of Teal:
1) Fritz Sherz

3) Niko Tamurian

4) Scott Lombardo

6) Brad Vivacqua

8) Rep. John Katko

9) Michael Benny

10) Samuel Rowser

11) Mike Lombardo

12) Sheriff Gene Conway

13) Wayne Mahar

14) JJ Potrikus

15) Mike Brookins

17) Rep. Anthony Brindisi

21) Hank DelFavero

22) Randy of NYCM

24) Oleg Shapiro

25) Joe Woodworth

26) Chris Arnold

27) Ed Theobald

28) Rich Goodell

31) Bob Tisdell