Our Story
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The Angels’ Voices Foundation was born from lived experience. When cofounder Seiji’s late wife, Cristina (“Cris”), was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with their son, Oliver, the Shiraishi family faced unimaginable hardship. Yet, in those darkest moments, the love and support of friends, community, nonprofits, and even strangers lifted them up.
Though Cris passed away in 2016 at just 39, the generosity shown to Seiji, Oliver and his sister Karina inspired a lifelong commitment to “pay it forward.”
Together with his new wife, Cigdem - who herself grew up facing her father’s serious illness - Seiji created The Angels’ Voices Foundation to ensure that children enduring sudden hardship don’t lose their chance to dream.
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Through scholarships, partnerships, and programs, we give children hope, opportunity, and a voice for the future.
​​​​Founders
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Seiji Shiraishi - Co‑Founder, Interim Treasurer & Executive Director. Seiji’s commitment to supporting children stems from his work in business and philanthropy. He oversees strategic direction and partnerships to maximize the Foundation’s impact. He has corporate executive leadership experience in finance and accounting​ and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Master of Business Administration with Honors Distinction from Rutgers Business School.
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Cigdem Karadag - Co‑Founder & Director of Impact. Cigdem is constantly advocating for children’s right to pursue her dreams. She leads our program development and collaborates with partners to ensure our services meet children’s needs. She earned her degree in Occupational Safety from Kocaeli University in Turkey, and earned her Associate's of Arts degree from Valencia College with Honors. She is currently enrolled full-time at the University of Central Florida where she is studying towards Bachelor of Elementary Education degree.
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Founding Board Members
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Renée Bergeron - Vice President. Renée Bergeron was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, a city that she still considers home. Her professional journey led her to New Jersey where she’s spent the last 30 years in pharmaceutical R&D as a toxicologist. As a widow and mother to 2 teenaged girls, Renée values the significance of supporting children through traumatic experiences. Eager to reciprocate the support she once received, Renée is honored and excited to join the Board of The Angels’ Voices.
Joseph J. De Bona - President and Treasurer. Joe is an experienced educational leader and consultant with a strong record of guiding schools through growth and transition. He currently teaches writing at SUNY Orange, helping both traditional and non-traditional students develop essential communication skills. Previously, he served as a consultant for FACTS Management and Cathedral High School in New York, supporting instructional improvement and leadership transitions. As a former principal, Joseph led schools through the challenges of the pandemic, strengthened academic outcomes, and built mission-driven, inclusive learning communities.
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Jodi Duke, Ed.D. - Secretary. Jodi is an Associate Professor of Special Education in the College of Education and Human Development in the School of Education at George Mason University and serves as the Academic Program Coordinator for the Autism Spectrum Disorders Graduate Program and the General Curriculum Program. In these roles she teaches graduate level courses in Special Education and Autism, mentors doctoral students and coordinates the graduate programs. Her research focuses on postsecondary transition for autistic individuals with an emphasis on mental health supports.
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Together, we work with a dedicated team of advisors, partners and volunteers to build a network of hope for children in sudden hardship.
Our Partners
