LEADERSHIP
Board of Directors
Meet the individuals who help guide the work and mission of the Slutzker Family Foundation.
OUR BOARD
Guided by Experience and Commitment
The Foundation’s Board of Directors brings together a range of experience and perspectives in support of its mission and grantmaking.
The Honorable Ava S. Raphael
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She was the surrogate court judge for Onondaga from January 2009 until her retirement in December 2017. She was also an acting Supreme court justice for Onondaga county. She is currently a judicial hearing officer for the fifth judicial district of New York state. She began her law career as an associate with Mackenzie Hughes LLP, where she concentrated in Appellate practice and Medical litigation.
Judge Raphael earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts from Syracuse University and a J.D. Magna cum Laude from Syracuse University college of law.
Brooke Raphael
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She is Vice President of Commercialization of Phosplatin. She is, responsible for oversight and development of their strategic commercialization plan. She previously worked at intercept pharmaceuticals where she was the chief of staff to the president of us commercial, and was a member of the strategic marketing team.
Prior to joining intercept, she spent 8 years at Celgene in a variety of roles, including project management for early development projects across both hematology and solid tumor oncology indications, she was a member of the Revlimid® marketing team, and also led the strategic marketing efforts at celgene cellular therapeutics.
She graduated Summa cum Laude from Tufts university with a dual major in Civil and Biomedical Engineering, received her M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University, and also earned her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
Cora A. Alsante
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Cora Alsante is a senior partner in the law firm of Hancock Estabrook LLP. She is a member of the firm’s Tax and Trusts & Estates Department and the Leader of its Elder Law and Special Needs Practice Group. She is also a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee. Ms. Alsante focuses her practice on estate and trust planning, planning for the elderly and disabled, estate and trust administration and charitable giving. She represents individuals and families as well as assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
Ms. Alsante is a Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (“ACTEC”). She frequently lectures for organizations such as the New York State Bar Association and the Special Needs Alliance on topics including guardianships, supplemental needs trusts, estate planning for the elderly and disabled, and estate and trust administration.
Ms. Alsante was named one of the “Top 25 Female Upstate New York Super Lawyers” for 2011, 2013, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and was selected as a Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of “Litigation – Trusts and Estates”, in Syracuse, NY for 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024 and 2026.
Joseph Chirco
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Joe Chirco brings more than 40 years of corporate leadership, community advocacy, and educational experience to the Board of Directors. Following a distinguished executive career at Carrier Corporation, culminating having responsibility for Global Strategic Marketing & Communications, Joe transitioned his talents to public education. He currently serves as a NYS Certified Level III Teacher’s Assistant in the Jamesville-Dewitt School District, providing vital individualized support to special education students.
Joe’s lifelong dedication to the Central New York community includes past leadership roles as the Ex-Officio Chair for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of CNY and Chair for the Carrier Corporation United Way campaign. He holds an MBA from Syracuse University, a BS in Engineering from RIT, and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse. Joe uses his deep expertise in strategic planning, operations, and community service to help shape and drive the foundation's philanthropic goals.
Dr. Irving Raphael
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Dr. Irving Raphael,as the Director of Sports Medicine and Head Team Physician for Syracuse University was a fixture at Syracuse University football, basketball games and lacrosse for 27 years. He also served as Head Team Physician at Cazenovia College. He is an Orthopedic consultant to the NCAA, NBA, NFL, and PGA.
Dr. Raphael specializes in arthroscopic and ligament reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle. He is, also, extensively trained in cosmetic dermatology procedures.
He is a graduate of Yale University School of Medicine and completed his orthopedic residency at Upstate Medical School, where he is now a clinical assistant professor of orthopedics. Dr. Raphael frequently lectures on sports medicine and student athlete related issues. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, the International Arthroscopy Association, and is a board certified in orthopedic surgery.
He resides in Fayetteville with his wife, Judge Ava Raphael.
Francesca Chirco
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Francesca Chirco is a dedicated advocate for social change and community development, bringing a strong background in social impact strategy and legal operations to the foundation's board.
Francesca graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Honors in Sociology, alongside a specialized minor in Managing for Social Impact and the Public Good. During her time at Boston College, her passion for philanthropy and global welfare was clear as she served as co-president of the university's chapter of Charity: Water, a global non-profit dedicated to bringing clean, safe drinking water to developing nations. Her academic and leadership excellence also included serving as an undergraduate sociology research fellow and working with civic-minded organizations to build community-driven programming.
Professionally, Francesca works as a paralegal at the international law firm Morrison & Foerster in Boston, where she applies her sharp analytical skills and dedication to organizational excellence.
Working Together to Support the Community
The Board of Directors helps guide the Foundation’s work and stewardship in support of organizations and causes aligned with its mission.
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