Neil Haskell began his involvement with Hearts of Joy in 2019 and has recently joined the Board of Directors as Treasurer. Neil brings over 15 years of Finance experience, working with his family’s insurance business. Neil and his wife have been married for five wonderful years and Neil is a proud father to their three beautiful and rambunctious children.

“It is my hope and prayer that God may continue to use me through the Hearts of Joy as we fight to uphold, protect and celebrate the beautiful and unrepeatable lives of these children with down-syndrome, who are such an authentic and precious gift to our world.”

Kathryn Grifonetti is a proud graduate of the CUNY school system and started her career in Marketing at Hearst Magazines where she held a position in Corporate Marketing and Sales. Always having a heart for helping the young, she decided to switch careers and become an educator in the New York City Public School system after she completed her Masters’s Degree at Hunter College. The call to motherhood came a few years later, when she and her husband John started a family. Kathryn left her career and joyfully stayed at home to eventually raise their four children. When she was not volunteering in her children’s schools, Kathryn became involved with many grassroots charitable organizations, including Change a Life Uganda, which provides education to children in Uganda. As her children grew and went into the world on their own, Kathryn made the decision to go back to work in the field she loves. She is currently teaching Pre-K in a local school and loves every minute of it. The mission of Hearts of Joy International is one that she loves being a part of.

Myma Albayda is a rheumatologist at Johns Hopkins and is the program director of the Rheumatology fellowship as well as musculoskeletal ultrasound program in the Division of Rheumatology. 

She divides her time between seeing patients, educating trainees and conducting research in the rheumatic diseases.  As a physician and relative of someone with Down syndrome, she feels a personal connection to the mission of Hearts of Joy and has been involved with the organization since 2021.  

Jean Tenaglia is a mother of six children, artist and former teacher.  Upon graduating college with a degree in fine arts and education, Jean served as a missionary volunteer. After serving as a volunteer, Jean married her husband John and began her teaching career. After the birth of their first child, Jean became a stay-at-home mother. 

Her passion for ministry led her to help start a ministry for a Hispanic community in southern New Jersey, which has expanded over the past 18 years. In 2012, Jean co-founded the Ministry of Motherhood (M.O.M.) in Northern New Jersey, which aims to provide support to mothers in their child raising years as well as organize outreach opportunities which help local organizations in need.

Jean enjoys raising her six children with her husband, having an active role in outreach, spending time with family and friends, painting and running.  Jean loves sharing in the mission of Hearts of Joy International, recognizing the gift each child is to the world.  

John Paul Von Arx enjoys entertaining crowds all across the nation.  His love for country music, guitar playing and entertaining audiences of all ages shines through in his dynamic live performances.  His song He’s Different, which he penned about his little brother with Down Syndrome, has been embraced by the special needs communities on a national level. John Paul was a National Finalist for Taste of Country’s Hometown Riser competition in 2018.  When he is not on the road, he also works as Coordinator of Worship and Adjunct Professor of Catechetics at Franciscan University. He and his wife and daughter reside in Steubenville, Ohio.  When John Paul is not performing he enjoys woodworking, house projects, hiking, and kayaking. 

Mia Del Rosario joined the Advisory Board in 2023. Her college career initially centered around journalism, but her path took a different turn when she volunteered at her brother’s school for children with special needs. This experience inspired her to pursue Communicative disorders, and she has since dedicated the past two decades to working in the field of Special Education in various capacities.

Currently, Mia resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and son while providing Speech therapy services. Her brother Joseph, who has Down syndrome, remains a significant source of inspiration for her.

Kayla Kosmalski is a seventeen year old senior in high school. She is in National Honor Society with a 3.8 GPA. Kayla will graduate in June with plans to attend college in the fall. During her time in high school, Kayla has been a Varsity cheerleader, Competitive cheerleader, Varsity swimmer and has been a part of the theatre program. Kayla was 2021 Miss Middletown DE Teen USA, earning Miss Congeniality and Top Model. Kayla has spent years building relationships with legislatures and lobbying in her home state of Delaware and in Washington DC to help improve the lives of those living with Down syndrome. Kayla has helped pass several laws, including the ABLE Act which was renamed Kayla’s Law in Delaware. When she isn’t in school or DC, Kayla enjoys modeling and acting. She appears in the feature film, I Win, set to release on March 21, 2024.

Matthew Von Der Ahe is an American actor celebrated for his standout role in the movie Champions. His versatile talent has landed him roles in popular TV shows like Code Black, Weeds, and Yo Gabba Gabba. Additionally, he brings animated characters to life, voicing ‘Jasper’ in Disney’s Team Chocolate and ‘Benny’ in Netflix’s Familia. Beyond his acting career, Matthew is a dynamic member of SUPA, a performing dance troupe and he plays the drums for SPEC band, showcasing his diverse talents. As a passionate public speaker, Matthew inspires others to dream big and advocates for the importance of inclusion.

In his spare time, Matthew channels his creativity into the artwork he designs for his card company, Doing My pART, donating a portion of his proceeds to charitable organizations that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As a heart surgery survivor, Matthew is deeply committed to giving back and is honored to serve as an ambassador for Hearts of Joy International.

Isabella is a model, actress, public speaker and advocate. She was featured in People Magazine, People en Español, USA Today, DEI Kumon, The Acorn, etc. Isabella has been in numerous theatrical productions, is a working model and a paid public speaker. Her passion is to spread awareness for Down syndrome and inclusivity around the world. She is veteran lobbyist in Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. helping to pass laws that will improve the lives of people with disabilities. Isabella is a Sophomore in High School and is fully included. She thrives at the Kumon Institute and was invited to speak at their International Convention. Isabella represented her State of California in the Miss Amazing Pageant and is a cheerleader. She plays tennis, basketball and soccer. In her down time she enjoys the theatre, ballet, the Opera and traveling. Her magnetic personality is unstoppable.

Grace is a young lady with Down syndrome who loves art. After getting her first big girl desk at eight years old, Grace started spending more and more time pursuing this passion. Since then, art has become therapeutic for her – a safe space for self-expression and a technique to help her navigate emotions. In 2020, Grace and her mom, Bonnie, started a small art business online to give Grace a platform to share her work and her story with the world. Her hope is to empower the Down syndrome and special needs communities, inspiring people of all abilities to follow their dreams, no matter how wild.

Grace is very honored and excited to sit on Hearts of Joy International’s Board of Ambassadors. When Grace was born she was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. When she turned 6 months old, she underwent open-heart surgery and at 18 years old she had a heart valve replacement. She looks forward to sharing her story and letting others know that having a heart defect hasn’t stopped her from thriving. She hopes to inspire others along the way!

Arik Ancelin is a pop & rap music artist and motivational speaker born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. Arik has taken the music industry by storm in just a few short years. He began his music career in 2020, which to many was a year filled with bad, but Arik being the bright and creative soul he is, has used these hard times to create. Since beginning his career, he has put out multiple singles, EPs and Albums. He has proudly achieved over 15 million streams across platforms or his music and has over 1.5 million followers on tik tok.

As his career has grown, he has had the opportunity to work with Grammy award winning producer, DJ Nitti Gritti and performed live on stage with Andy Grammer at the Hearts of Joy International Gala as well as on his tour. The traction he has gained from his music career has launched his life trajectory and grown his reach. Through his music and performance, he is impacting all types of people and is changing lives for the better. As an Ambassador for Hearts of Joy International, he continues to use his platform to spread awareness and education and demonstrates that a Down Syndrome diagnosis does not have to stop you from chasing your dreams. Every single day that Arik continues working hard to live out his dreams, he is inspiring others through his music, words and actions.

Joey Agostino aka DJ Joe lives in Norwalk, CT and ever since he could remember, he has always loved music and dancing. His dream was  to become a Professional DJ which came true after winning the NDSS Ethan Saylor Memorial Scholarship; Pursue Your Passion! He used the scholarship to begin DJ lessons and his first official gig was the amazing Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine Prom. Since then, Joe has had the opportunity to perform at some amazing events like the iHeartRadio Z100 Down for Laughs, a Gym Opening with Special Guest; The Champ -Mike Tyson, National Down Syndrome Society Annual Gala, Maryland Step Up for Down Syndrome, South Carolina Buddy Walk, Down Syndrome Association of CT, (DS-ACT) -21 Strong, Hearts of Joy International, The Mayors Masquerade Ball, PALS Programs. Joe has performed all over the nation and was even flown out to California to perform in front of 1,800 people for a company’s annual Gala and attended a private Katy Perry concert.

In June of 2019, Joe was chosen to be a part of the Innovative Employment Opportunity Pilot Program  which helped him officially start his own DJ Company –  DJ Joe LLC. During Covid, Joe hosted a number of “DJ Joe Share the LOVE Virtual Dance Parties” – free events that were streamed on Facebook Live, helping to bring some “happy” to folks in lock down. He was then chosen to receive the STAR Inc Lightening the Way Jeannette Shivers Award for his efforts to bring joy to others during Covid and throughout 2020. Joe loves being a DJ and making people happy through his music.

Parth Bhatt is an actor and Comedian. His passion for the performing arts began in his teenage years. Inspired to become an actor, Parth began his formal training at TVI Actor’s Studio, a respected center for dramatic education. He soon began acting in short films such as Orson’s Last Dance, The Plummer, and Dance I Can. His television appearances include Shameless, Tae-Kwon-Do Family, Born This Way, and Legit, during which he became a proud member of SAG-AFTRA.

Parth later discovered a love for stand-up comedy, inspired by Corey Martin Craig through the Cool Beans Comedy Workshop at the Ice House in Pasadena, CA. His debut performance in 2024, titled I Have Down Syndrome, earned him two Webby Awards for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He continues to perform regularly with Cool Beans Comedy. Parth was invited to perform at the “Down for Laughs” Times Square event organized by iHeartRadio and Hearts of Joy International in 2024.  Outside of performing, Parth leads a full and active life. He attends weekly Drama Therapy, Art, and Communication and Critical Thinking classes at Coastline Community College. He is also deeply involved in both local and national Down syndrome community events, advocating for inclusion and representation. Parth enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, family and friends. He loves dancing, gourmet dining, and traveling, always embracing life with joy, confidence and creativity.

Collette Divitto is a pioneering entrepreneur, disability rights activist, and thought leader to anyone who has ever been told they are not good enough nor intelligent enough to pursue their dreams. After being rejected from many job opportunities, likely due to her disability (Down syndrome), Collette decided to launch her own cookie company. Before she knew it, the company, and her story, blew up to national status. Today, Collettey’s has sold over 900,000 cookies, and stays true to her mission of creating employment for people with disabilities!

Though Collettey’s (Collette’s nickname) began with selling cookies exclusively online, Collette has recently developed a shelf-stable cookie that is taking her business to the next level via retail stores and markets. Collette’s story was developed into documentary which was given an Academy Award this year for short film! This documentary is called 17 Percent, representing only 17% of people with disabilities have employment. Her story has been in the media over 16 countries and brings hope and inspiration to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

On top of running a successful national company, Collettey’s Cookie Corp., Collette also operates a nonprofit organization, called Collettey’s Leadership. This nonprofit offers workshops, webinars, and mentoring for the neurodiverse community. The leadership organization has built a coalition this year 2025, with tan advisory board of many leaders in the City of Boston. This coalition is focused on neurodiversity and employment and creating a filmed project program to help other companies hire this community. Collettey’s Cookies donates a % of profits each year to this goal. Collette has been a magnet for media attention. To date, she has been in People and Forbes Magazine, appeared on shows like Fox and Friends, CNBC Make It, NBC First Look, David Muir, News Nation, and many more including a Ted Talk. She stars in Shopify Studio’s reality show, “Born for Business,” which is available to stream on Peacock and Crave Canada. Recently, Collette deployed a new web series on YouTube entitled “Underestimated.” And started a podcast.

Collette Divitto is a mogul in the making, has a heart of gold, and wants to spread her message far and wide. She hopes her journey and successes can affect great change for people with neurodiversity, especially for employment opportunities.