Matt Peacore - President
Matt has been a supporter of Club 21 for many years and was part of the team that helped arrange for the organization to come to their current location in Pasadena. He has been impressed and inspired by the work Club 21 has done and in particular, its holistic approach of providing education and resources for individuals, their families, school teachers, and doctors to enable individuals with Down syndrome to be fully included. Matt joined the board in the fall of 2016 and brings over 20 years of management and IT experience from a variety of industries including manufacturing, engineering consulting, consumer products, financial services and utilities. He currently works for Southern California Edison as part of their IT group.
Kate Candelora - Vice President
Kate Candelora became involved at Club 21 in 2011, while she was expecting her son, Luca. Since then, she has been trained as a “First Call” mentor, guiding parents who have been given a diagnosis of Down syndrome. Prior to starting her family, Kate was an educator and also has a background in finance. She has previously served on the board of the Spiritual Care Guild at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. Kate and her husband, Ryan, live in Altadena with their 3 children.
Eric Gray - Treasurer
Since the birth of his daughter Estelle, Eric Gray has been focused on improving the opportunities and expectations for individuals with Down syndrome. He is a member of our founding team and helped to construct the vision for Club 21. Eric is committed to providing families with the tools, resources and education to help their children with Down syndrome reach their full potential. He also brings his expertise in the finance world to our Board. He is currently the EVP/CFO, CBS Television Studios & Entertainment at ViacomCBS and has wide financial experience.
Niru Madduri - Secretary
Dr. Nirupama (Niru) Madduri is a pediatrician in Arcadia, California. Niru came to CHLA (Children's Hospital Los Angeles) and Boone Fetter Clinic in 2014. She started working in a private practice in 2016. Niru is passionate about Down syndrome, specifically because, as a medical student and resident, she connected with a few children who have Down syndrome and their families. Niru always felt that the complexities of their medical profile warranted a resource for medical care, social support, and reassurance for families. Niru learned about Club 21 and, after meeting with Nancy Litteken, felt as though she had met a kindred spirit, with a goal of inclusion and promoting the gifts of all individuals. Niru is also very passionate about educating the medical community to reduce terminology that promotes stigmas. She says, “We look to encourage medical professionals to share hope and faith for the best possible future for all children, especially those with Down syndrome.”
Monica Borquez
As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, Monica Borquez is intimately connected to the needs of these children and their parents. She is actively involved as a parent mentor in our First Call program and is one of the First Steps program coordinators for new and expectant parents and their babies. She has served as the community liaison for Children’s Hospital Home Care Executive Board. Monica’s work in “Medical Records” at an Obstetrics/Gynecological office in San Gabriel highlights her analytical and educational skills. Monica is currently working the front desk at a CPA firm. Her focus on details and relationships with families of babies with Down syndrome are invaluable assets to Club 21.
Jeremy Fraser
Jeremy Fraser is a 22-year-old self-advocate and is excited to join the board of Club 21. After graduating from Arnold O. Beckman High School in 2019, Jeremy attended the Life College program at Stanbridge University and worked as an intern at a local luxury automobile dealership in the parts department. He delivered parts to the mechanics at three different dealerships that share the same complex, including BMW, Mini Cooper, and Rolls Royce. His classes included Interpersonal Communication, Finance/Budgeting, Career Development, Self-Advocacy, Time Management, and Independent Living. Jeremy enjoys working out with a trainer as well as various sport like surfing and basketball. He enjoys hanging out with friends, music of all kinds, and going to the beach. Jeremy entered the Self-Determination Program through a local Regional Center at the end of 2021 and is exploring many activities in his community to build HIS future. As a volunteer work with several non-profits in the disability community, he serves as a mentor and coach to others with disabilities where he encourages them to try new things and embrace their lives by being active and having fun! Jeremy lives in Irvine, CA with his parents, Lisa and Tim, and has an older sister, Sarah (and a soon-to-be brother-in-law, Jordan), a younger brother, Matthew, and a Golden Retriever named Harper.
Christian Garcia
Christian Garcia has been involved in Club21 since the birth of his son Emmanuel in 2016. Christian is committed to building a future of possibilities for individuals with Down syndrome. He was born and raised in Honduras, has BA in Economics from UCLA and an MBA from USC. Christian brings over 15 years of alliances and partnerships experience in the software industry. He has also served as an Associate Pastor in his local church for the last 12 years. Christian and his wife Marisol, live in Glendora with their 2 children Chloe and Emmanuel.
Mike Harbert
Mike Harbert grew up in Carmel Valley, CA, along with his 5 siblings. He enjoyed all things outdoors—riding horses, fishing and catching crawdads in the nearby river and enjoying all kinds of sports. Mike attended UCSB, including a year abroad in Israel. He then attended Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, where he earned a Masters of Divinity. After graduation Mike was ordained a Presbyterian pastor and has served churches in Connecticut, Texas and California since 1985. Mike and his wife, Laura, have five grown children and two grandchildren. They moved from the Monterey Peninsula to Pasadena 10 years ago. Since coming to Pasadena Mike has served Presbyterian churches of the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys, providing support and guidance in times of transition and new beginnings. Mike and Laura have been faithful Club 21 supporters since 2010 and Mike joined the board to actively support Club 21's future planning and sustainability.
Paul Ruggeri
Paul Ruggeri has been part of the Club21 community since the birth of his daughter Winter in 2016. He also helps serve the community in other areas by coaching various youth sports teams and serves on committees dedicated to helping people recover from alcohol and drug addiction. Paul graduated from the University of Arizona and spent 10 years working in the advertising industry, and the past 10 years in landscape design. He lives in La Canada with his wife Holly and their three children.
Janet Valenzuela
Janet Valenzuela has been involved with Club 21 since she and her daughter began volunteering through National Charity League in 2021. Janet enjoys working with Club 21’s teenage members as part of Club Connections. A Los Angeles native, Janet has a BA in Psychology from USC, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine, and a JD from Southwestern Law School. Janet has experience as a high school Language Arts teacher in LAUSD, and now is a professor at her alma mater, Southwestern Law school, after 16 years in private practice and public interest work.
Ian West
Ian has been involved and a supporter of Club 21 since its start. Together with Mike Litteken Ian helped start and co-ordinate the Club 21 Dads group. He is a Graphic Designer and has over 30 years experience specializing in textile print design in the swim/sports apparel industry. Ian is an active coach in many Special Olympic sports and volunteers at every opportunity at Club 21. He joined the board in 2019. Ian lives in La Cañada with his wife Terry and son Zachary who has Down syndrome.
