Our Story
Our Mission
To empower students across America to be the next generation of cancer fighters!
It's a lofty goal, we know, but we are dreamers and we are doers. We believe our small group can make a large impact if we band together for a common cause. To reach this end, our goal is to expand SMAC to every school throughout the country.
We need you to help make that happen! Together, we can raise funds for cancer research and awareness and support individuals battling the disease at a local level.
Our Beginning
SMAC was started by a group of high school students supporting a friend.
Our first chapter was founded at Scotch Plains - Fanwood High School (SPFHS) in New Jersey in 2001 when Rob Mattar, a high school junior, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Rob's friends rallied around him by shaving their heads, raising funds, and ultimately launching a solely student-run foundation called Student Movement Against Cancer (SMAC). Our goal was to make sure that no one would ever have to fight cancer again.
Since its inception, SMAC has remained the largest club at SPFHS and now has chapters in schools across New Jersey and beyond. Students have collectively raised more than $2 million, which has been donated to local hospitals, national cancer research and awareness organizations, as well as the Rob Mattar Scholarship Fund.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
Meet The Board
Barie Miller (née Salmon)
Lafayette SMAC Co-Founder. Physician. Identical twin. World traveler. Former gymnast and aspiring tennis player.
Andrew Pavoni
eCommerce & Marketing Enthusiast. Commerce @ Facebook. Proud husband and Dad. Yankee Diehard. Middlebury College Alum.
Tracy Svetcov (née Salmon)
Lafayette SMAC Co-Founder. Doctor. Travel addict. Wannabe tennis pro. Energizer bunny. Twin. Shoe lover.
Mike Baumwoll
Digital marketer and entrepreneur. Brand Partnerships @Twitter. Co-founder of Minque. Big fan of chocolate chip cookies and movie nights. Bigger fan of my wonderful wife. Constantly looking to learn and connect.
Mike Conte
SMAC Chapter Liaison. Excitable moron. Life enthusiast. Runner. Yogi. Ice cream lover.
Rob Mattar
Co-founder of SMAC. Cancer survivor. Proud husband and father of two exceptionally wacky kiddos. Dog lover. Finance Professional. Denver Broncos loyalist. UPenn alum. Aspiring amateur chef.
Meet The Executive Director
Dave Baumwoll
SMAC Co-founder. Lawyer. Entrepreneur.
Movie buff. Former teacher. Political junkie. Criminal justice reformer. Sports lover.
Proud husband and Daddy.
Seeker of dance and karaoke opportunities.
Meet The Executive Coordinator
Danielle Delavaux
Higher ed expat. Novice gardener. Professional soapy period piece viewer. Avid reader, especially of children's books.