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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TALAYA FRAZIER
Founder
Talaya founded CC4C after the long journey with her daughter Cheyanna.
While navigating through the unknown odyssey of trying to find diagnosis and healing, she turned to running to cope with the emotional turmoil. Talaya intended to run one marathon in Cheyanna’s honor symbolizing the hope of a finish line of healing. However, it sparked a new passion, and she became a competitive marathoner with over 30 marathons, ten of those being consecutive Boston Marathons in honor of children. In 2012, she completed the Boston Marathon on a broken femur inspiring Power Bars’ “Stronger than You Think” campaign. As the May 2012 Runner’s World Cover model, she ran in honor of Skylar, CC4C’s first child. In 2014, Talaya’s Boston Marathon medal was presented to Governor Rick Perry in honor of all CC4C children.
Talaya dedicated 12 years of leadership to CC4C ensuring its stability before strictly transitioning to the board. In 2023, she rebranded her jewelry business founded in 1997 which she had paused while establishing CC4C. Genesis Fine Jewelry spreads the Word of hope, healing and promise through timeless pieces. Talaya married Kenny Frazier while at Texas A&M University. They have two daughters and attend Austin Ridge Bible Church. Talaya cherishes quality family time, is a wellness connoisseur, and enjoys all activities in the outdoors.
JOEY BeRGER
Board Chair
Joey is a partner with Rigby Slack, currently handling real estate transactions in Texas and throughout the United States. He has substantial experience representing clients in the acquisition, disposition, construction, development, financing, leasing and management of various property types, including student housing, multi-family, hospitality, office, industrial, retail, restaurant and mixed-use. Joey also represents clients in transactions involving condominiums, residential subdivisions and farm and ranch properties. He was previously with Dickinson Wright PLLC and Egan Nelson LLP in Austin, as well as Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Dallas. Joey also serves on the Board of the Rise School since 2013 and attends Tarrytown United Methodist Church. He and his wife Shelley are parents to two children (including CC4C Sustaining Child Mila). Joey enjoys playing golf, fishing, reading and following college and professional sports, with a special affinity for the Houston Astros.
DAVID DESTEFANO
Board Treasurer
I am a Texan since 1993 when I arrived in Austin to finish my college degree from St. Edwards University in 1996. After playing golf as a collegiate and professional, I began my banking career with American Bank of Commerce from 1999 to 2005, then to First National Bank until 2012, on to Pioneer Bank until 2017, then to my current position at Texas Regional Bank as Sr. Vice President/Bee Cave Market President where I manage the growth regarding deposit and loans. We are a Texas based bank with locations throughout the Hill Country, Rio Grande Valley, Houston, and Dallas with total assets of $2.7 billion and pride ourselves in remaining a community bank where we bank one customer at a time. Our motto is “The People You Know”. Over my 23-year banking career I have forged many solid relationships and built a great network of customers and friends. These relationships have helped in other ventures such as the Lake Travis Education Foundation where I served for 4 years with 3 of those years as President Elect, President, Past President, now serving on the Past President’s Advisory Board. I also devote time to the CavsLounge a nonprofit that helps underprivileged kids at the High School; a Kind Hart Foundation which supports the Lake Travis Crisis Ministries and other community members in need in the greater Lake Travis area; Engage & Heal that focuses on youth & young adults and their mental health. CC4C has a huge place in my families’ hearts since my 9-year-old daughter Ashlynn was accepted and we are forever grateful. For me a huge way to say thank you is to help get behind the cause and help it grow.
Dr. Susan Rao
As a child of immigrant parents, Dr. Susan Rao was very lucky to be raised by certain values: working hard, being fully intentional about living a life of high integrity as well as the concept of SEWA, which means “selfless service” in her family’s Indian language. As a child, she knew whatever she was going to do with her life would be geared towards helping others live a better life. It is the reason she became a Doctor of Chiropractic. In high school, she came across a quote by the famous psychologist, Leo F. Buscaglia that spoke directly to her, as if the words were plucked from her own brain…“It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of mankind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely.” Her goal and purpose is to live life through a servant’s heart and be able to model that for her children as they develop their understanding of what is important in life.
She first experienced CC4C as a VIP Advocate for a Champion Child which her husband, Dr. Madan Rao and two daughters were able to become involved. She learned so much about how CC4C truly fulfills its mission. As a part of the CC4C team, she is very proud to represent the true heart of helping and honoring all the families and CC4C community.
Susan lives and serves families alongside her husband in their practice, Rao Family Chiropractic & Wellness Center, in Bee Cave. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma; then went on to the prestigious Parker University in Dallas, Texas where she earned her Doctorate of Chiropractic and became a Certified Chiropractic Clinical Neurologist. In turn, she trained to work with all types of brain injuries and neurological conditions, including ADD/ADHD, vertigo, migraines and MS. It’s extremely rewarding for her to be able to bring hope and healing into the lives of these patients. In her “downtime”, Susan likes to stay active through activities like soccer, hiking, weight training and yoga. She also loves reading, meditation and traveling with her family.
casey mcpherson
Casey McPherson is the Founder and President of To Cure a Rose Foundation, and Founder of Everlum Bio. Casey spent his career as a musician; touring the world and releasing two #10 hits in the US. Everything changed when his daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease: HNRNPH2. Casey started To Cure a Rose Foundation to save his daughter Rose, and scale a better model for rare drug development. He then co-founded Everlum Bio, a personalized medicine company and proof of concept drug discovery lab to serve family foundations. Casey is on a mission to save his daughter and change the way we treat children across the rare disease spectrum. He and his two daughters live in Austin, TX.
ADVISORY BOARD
ADRIENNE RYHOLT
Adrienne Ryholt is Government & Payor Relationship Manager at Apple Homecare Medical Supply and mother of a blended family of five, including CC4C child, Hayden. Adrienne has been an outspoken advocate for breaking down barriers for those who care for and live with disability. Since 2016, she has worked tirelessly to advocate for patients' rights and bi-partisan policy changes needed for Medicaid passing new legislation. In 2022 she was the recipient of The Yellow Rose of Texas presented from Governor Abbott. Her volunteer work focuses on Board service for non-profit organizations that service the rare and medically complex pediatric community.
