Our Story

Our Mission

To empower, encourage, and inspire the generation that ends cancer!

To achieve this, SMAC is building a student-led network committed to fundraising for cancer causes and engaging in social, educational, and service activities that promote awareness and provide support for the cancer community.

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 organization 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 $5 million, which has been donated to local hospitals, cancer research initiatives, and nonprofit awareness organizations.

“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

Mike Conte

SMAC Chapter Liaison. Excitable moron. Life enthusiast. Runner. Yogi. Ice cream lover.

Anahita Dua

Vascular Surgeon. Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard. Animal Lover. Cancer Hater. Presidential Leadership Scholar. Mommy to two cuties and wife to another.

Casey Edgar

20yr Leveraged Finance Wall St veteran (UBS/Barclays), entrepreneur and co-founder of Rhone apparel, CPG investor and brand accelerator. UPenn, Wharton School of Business

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.

Alen Amini

Consultant. Former rug merchant. Movie buff. Former teacher and vice principal. Basketball nut.

Mike Baumwoll

Digital marketer and entrepreneur. 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.

Dave Bell

Proud husband and father to two boys. Dog and cat dad. Finance professional. Bad, but passionate surfer. Comic book movie nerd.

Catherine Capo

Internal Medicine physician. Blessed mother to my daughter. A very lucky wife. Motivated to make positive impacts in the lives of all I know. Devoted to my family and friends. Enthusiast of all things Italian.

Barie Miller (née Salmon)

Lafayette SMAC Co-Founder. Physician. Identical twin. World traveler. Former gymnast and aspiring tennis player.

Andrew Pavoni

eCommerce & Marketing Enthusiast. Proud husband and Dad. Yankee Diehard. Middlebury College Alum.

Tracy Svetcov (née Salmon)

SMAC Treasurer. Lafayette SMAC Co-Founder. Doctor. Travel addict. Wannabe tennis pro. Energizer bunny. Twin. Shoe lover.

Meet The Chairman of the Board

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.

Danielle Velona

Rutgers Law, proud wife and mom of four.

Love sports, yoga, beach.

Jennel Zeppieri

Board-certified medical oncologist. Native Canadian now New Yorker. Proud wife and mom of two boys. Avid skier, hockey fan (NY rangers all the way), pilates and travel.

Meet The Executive Director

Danielle Delavaux

Higher ed expat. Novice gardener. Professional soapy period piece viewer. Avid reader, especially of children's books.