About Us
Caruso Family Charities is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to assisting families who have a child, adolescent or young adult being treated in Colorado for a life-threatening disease or life-altering event. Through our Funding Families program, our mission is to relieve some financial pressures, such as rent, insurance payments, energy bills, co-pays or gas, so the family may focus on caring for their sick child.
Why We're Different
There are organizations that help kids and families on a long-term basis, but they require more processing time. Some families need help now. Caruso Family Charities helps bridge the gap. We pull families back from the brink by helping with the immediate need immediately. We personally visit each family to assess the situation and then we help solve the problem, whether it's keeping a family in a home for a 3-month span until other resources can be enacted, or helping a stranded mother get her child to chemo treatments. Our help is personal and it's as real as it gets.
How Money is Spent
- Rent/mortgage
- Medical bills
- Transportation
- Utilities
- Other
- Rent/mortgage
- Medical bills
- Transportation
- Utilities
- Other
Jillian Steinberg
When you’re thinking about making a donation to a charity, your biggest question is where the money goes. I can tell you it's actually being used the way it’s intended.
Our Board of Directors

Jerry Caruso
Founder and Chair
A trip to Children's Hospital more than 20 years ago inspired Jerry and his wife Karen to help terminally ill children. After meeting with doctors and nurses, they learned that the best way they could contribute was to help the families, so they formed Caruso Family Charities in 2007. Jerry is also the owner of Caruso Kitchens, in Lakewood, CO, is active in his community and is a dedicated father and grandfather.

Barb Goodman
Barb is the Associate Lab Director for Mechanical and Thermal Systems Engineering at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. She has served as the Board President for Community Shares of Colorado, the Lakewood High School Foundation and was a member of the Executive Committee and Board for Community Health Charities of Colorado. Barb is passionate about helping in the local community and is especially honored to be working with Caruso Family Charities to help families at such a difficult time in their lives.

Frank DeAngelis
Frank DeAngelis worked at Columbine High School in Littleton Colorado beginning in 1979 as a Social Studies teacher. He filled the roles of Head Baseball Coach, Assistant Football Coach, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal before becoming the Principal in 1996. He retired in June of 2014 after 35 years at Columbine High School. He is presently serving as a consultant for safety and emergency management for the Jeffco School District and continues to deliver speeches around the country.

Pat Keelan
A Denver native who grew up on the “north Side” close to the Caruso family, Pat spent his career in public safety as a Firefighter/Engineer with the Denver Fire Department. He currently works for JVCKenwood USA as the Western Regional Sales Manager. His passions include serving on the board of Caruso Family Charities, his wife of 38 years Bonnie and his 3 kids, Patrick, Kellie and Chris.

Dr. Tom Smith
Dr. Tom Smith is a pediatric oncologist at the Childrens Hospital of Colorado. He has worked with the families of children with cancer for over 25 years and served with Caruso Family Charities (CFC) since its inception. He is passionate about Caruso Family Charities because it is simply good people helping local families with cancer, in such a meaningful way, at such a difficult time in their lives.

Andrea Caruso
Andrea is the Corporate Giving Manager at Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation and also serves on the board of directors for Caruso Family Charities. As the daughter of Jerry and Karen Caruso, giving back is in her blood. After seeing the positive impact Caruso Family Charities was making in the lives of so many deserving families, she knew a career in the non-profit sector was her calling. Andrea plans all of Caruso Family Charities events and is proud to serve on the board of this incredible organization.

Jo Ann Morgan-Charles
A marketing and advertising strategist, Jo Ann is owner of Morgan-Charles Advertising. Previously she was VP of Advertising for Richmond Homes. Jo Ann has worked with national clients, including the Colorado divisions of U.S. Home, Lennar Homes, Heritage Communities and D.R. Horton and was the recipient of both local and national awards for her work. Jo Ann is active in her community and resides in Littleton with her husband Rich and their two sons. She is committed to helping Caruso Family Charities continue its mission to help families in need.

John Mcwilliams
John is the Managing Director for LWT in Denver after merging his firm, Colorado Brokerage Group with the 87-year-old company in January 2015. With nearly 2 decades of experience in the financial services industry, John provides his clients with unmatched insurance knowledge and support. John is a native of Colorado along with his wife Theresa and their 2 daughters. He enjoys golf and skiing. Becoming part of Caruso Family Charities has been rewarding, as he is passionate about helping Jerry and the organization exceed their goals.

Julie Busch
Julie is a former elementary school teacher who taught both in California and in Littleton, Colorado. She's also been an active volunteer with the Littleton Public Schools, where her two sons attended. As an experienced grant writer, Julie brings this skill to her role at Caruso Family Charities. In 2014, she helped CFC win $27,000 from NAILBA (The National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies) and $25,000 from Rocky Mountain Children's Health Foundation.

John Allen
John has been the Director of Sales Creative Services at KUSA-TV since 1999. He now brings his professional skills and compassion to Caruso Family Charities as a member of the board. He filmed and produced a set of videos for the 2015 Gala, where the charity raised $160,000, in large part due to his skill in showing the plight of 4 families being helped by CFC.

Ray Baker
Ray Baker is a partner at Gold Crown Management Company, a real estate management firm established in 1977 in Greenwood Village. He is also the co-founder and president of the Gold Crown Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides opportunities and education for youth through sports and enrichment programs.

Kent Waryan
Kent’s first career spanned 36 years in public education as a teacher, coach, counselor and administrator (35 years in JEFFCO Public Schools and 1 year at Denver West High School). In addition to serving on the board of Caruso Family Charities, he now works with the U.S. Tennis Association as a full-time adult league coordinator.