Meet the Morizzo Foundation

Carolynn Morizzo is the founder of The Morizzo Foundation, Inc. She’s been on the insurer’s side of the healthcare industry for 30 years, working for several start-ups during this time, all with a common mission of lower healthcare costs.

 

She is currently VP of Diversified Growth Markets with UnitedHealthcare and has been actively involved with the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation. The UHCCF provides medical grants to enhance the quality of life for children whose medical expenses aren’t fully covered by their family’s healthcare insurance.

 

In 2023, Carolynn unexpectedly became a caregiver of her husband, Pete Morris, when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Through her experiences, she was inspired to establish The Morizzo Foundation to fund crucial research efforts and provide vital support to glioblastoma patients and their families, ensuring equitable access to life-saving treatments.

Pete Morris was diagnosed with GBM in 2023 and will be the first to tell you that he feels blessed to have the support of a vast network of positivity and an army of prayers. Despite his diagnosis, Pete continues to work full-time as the president of a company that manufactures advanced analytical instrumentation for hydrocarbon testing. Alongside his wife, Carolynn Morizzo, he also actively supports the fundraising efforts of The Morizzo Foundation.

 

Pete is proof that access to the world’s finest medical professionals and cutting-edge treatments can significantly extend the life expectancy of those diagnosed with GBM, surpassing traditional survival estimates.

He is currently under the care of Dr. Henry Friedman and his world-class team at the Duke Brain Cancer Center, as well as the neuro-oncology team at MD Anderson in Houston, and the CeGat team in Tubingen, Germany, where he is receiving immunotherapy treatments. Pete is passionately committed to helping extend access to life-changing treatments for all those impacted by GBM, regardless of their financial means.

Ariana Conway was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2022 at 25 years old. She was told that without surgery, there was no way to definitively rule out glioblastoma – that there was a one in four chance it was GBM. With the expected arrogance of youth, she rolled the dice on the chance that “it’d probably fine”, knowing she’d still need a job if it wasn’t GBM. She soon found herself working with Pete, and soon after, she had the surgery.

 

Fortunately, Ariana's tumor was benign, but when less than a year later Pete was diagnosed with GBM, it just so happened that he already knew someone with first-hand experience with the pressures of telling loved ones about glioblastoma and the anxiety of an uncertain diagnosis. Better yet, Ariana had a valid driver’s license, and thanks to a recent seizure, Pete needed a ride to work.

 

Intracranial masses affect 0.02% of people, but GBM affects just 0.004% of the global population. Ariana believes meeting Pete when she did was no coincidence, and her alignment with The Morizzo Foundation was a natural fit. She’s proud to advocate for equitable access to healthcare and is honored to represent the foundation.

Bobby Rowan has known Pete and Carolynn since the mid-90s, when he and Pete worked together in Maryland.

 

Over the years, he has watched with admiration as the Morris family has grown in their careers and faith while raising a beautiful and loving family, even as they moved across the globe.

 

When Pete was diagnosed with GBM, Bobby, like all of Pete’s many friends and family, wasn’t at all surprised by Pete and Carolynn’s response: 'Control what we can and trust in God.'

 

Watching them face this challenge head on with unwavering joy and determination has been truly inspiring. When Pete and Carolynn founded The Morizzo Foundation to support other families facing this illness, Bobby was honored to be asked to join the board and to contribute in any way he could.

 

Nunc Coepi.

Jon Howland, a United States Navy veteran, was raised on the Eastside of Cincinnati, where his parents instilled in him, his brothers, and his sister the importance of selfless service from an early age and continued throughout their formative years.

 

In 1996, Jon’s father, Denny Howland, was diagnosed with glioblastoma and placed under the care of Dr. John M. Tew at the University of Cincinnati’s Mayfield Clinic. In the summer of 1997, Denny lost his battle with glioblastoma, but his lessons of selfless service continue to inspire Jon in his work and community contributions.

 

Jon, who is also Pete’s Godfather, proudly serves as a board member of The Morizzo Foundation. Grateful for the opportunity, Jon vows to 'look for the stars, the flickers of light,' and to 'never ring the bell.'"

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AMDG

Tracy Beauchamp’s unique training as a neuro ICU nurse placed her in the ideal position to advocate and care for her late husband, Marc, during his 20-month battle with GBM from October 2022 to June 2024.

 

When Tracy and Marc met Carolyn and Pete, despite their respective challenges, the group quickly bonded over shared values: an attitude of positivity, the power of prayer, the motto “Take action where we can and leave the results to God”, and their collective passion for making a difference.

 

Although Marc lost the GBM battle in June 2024, Tracy is honored to serve the Morizzo Foundation board with her executive leadership experience, neuromedical expertise, and dedication to helping families access treatments like the ones Marc was fortunate to receive — treatments that can be life-changing and hold the potential to be life-saving.