2026 Thanksgiving Ball Gala Honorees
Suzann & Edwin Goldstein, Founders
For dedicating their lives to improving the quality of life for children with cancer and blood disorders and their families in memory of their daughter Valerie
Sue and Ed Goldstein are distinguished New Jersey philanthropists whose visionary leadership transformed the landscape of pediatric and oncology care in the tri-state area. In the early 1970s, their young daughter Valerie was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. At that time, New Jersey families were forced to endure long commutes to New York City or Philadelphia for specialized treatment. For six years, the Goldstein’s navigated the physical and emotional toll of these long journeys, parking hardships, and the disruption of family life.
Following Valerie’s passing in 1976 at the age of nine, Sue and Ed were determined that no other family should suffer the same geographic barriers to quality care. Alongside a circle of dedicated friends, they launched a fundraising campaign from their own living room. Their tireless advocacy led to the opening in 1977 of the first Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey.
The Goldstein’s pioneered the concept of treating and healing the whole child and family. Although not yet recognized by the medical community, they intuitively understood that integrating medical and psychosocial services would better help families navigate the painful journey from diagnosis to treatment to follow-up. Today, their legacy and Valerie Goldstein’s memory live on through eight non-profit Valerie Fund Children’s Centers and a dedicated program in pediatric pain and palliative care across New Jersey, New York, and metropolitan Philadelphia. These centers provide a "blanket of care" for thousands of children annually, staffed by interdisciplinary care teams of social workers, psychologists, educational liaisons, child life specialists, and more.
Beyond the Children’s Centers, Ed and Sue’s commitment to the whole child and family is reflected in a robust network of supportive programming. This includes the Valerie and Stacy Goldstein Emergency Fund to help families bridge financial gaps during treatment, as well as a dedicated Scholarship Program for survivors pursuing higher education. Camp Happy Times, founded in 1983, provides a therapeutic, inclusive, week-long overnight camp for children who have or have had cancer – all at no cost to the patients or families.
Ed and Sue’s commitment was tested once more in 1989 when their daughter Stacy was diagnosed with breast cancer at age twenty-five. Following Stacy’s passing twelve years later, Sue and Ed again channeled their grief into action, establishing the Stacy Goldstein Breast Cancer Center at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and founding research fellowships in her name.
Sue and Ed were inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame as 2016 Unsung Heroes and received the 2013 Governor’s Jefferson Award. Their work remains a testament to the power of turning personal loss into a universal legacy of hope and healing.
Ralph Andretta and Bread Financial
For making The Valerie Fund children a priority
Ralph Andretta joined Bread Financial as President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2020 and is responsible for the company’s growth, long-term strategy development and financial performance. With more than 30 years of experience in global financial services, Ralph’s executive leadership approach has focused on transformation through empowering teams and leading organizations to deliver strong, sustainable growth.
Ralph successfully led Bread Financial through a multi-year business transformation, solidifying its position as a leading tech-forward financial services company. During this time, he streamlined the company’s business model and oversaw a number of large-scale initiatives that included rebranding the business, modernizing its technology, paying down parent company debt and strengthening its balance sheet, acquiring a fintech and expanding its product offerings, among others. In addition to championing the company’s brand promise of empowering customers and leading with transparency and empathy, Ralph has also fostered an award-winning culture focused on operational excellence, corporate responsibility and associate experience.
Prior to joining Bread Financial, Ralph held various executive positions responsible for loyalty, co-brand and product development at Citi, most recently as Managing Director and Head of U.S. Cards, where he oversaw significant partnerships and product launches. His also served as a Global Affinity Products and International Card Executive with Bank of America after spending nearly two decades with American Express in a number of operational and financial positions, both domestically and internationally.
Ralph is an executive committee member of the American Bankers Association’s Card Policy Council, a member of the Ohio Business Roundtable and on the board of advisors for the Columbus Partnership. In the community, he is passionate about the advancement and support of women, children and veterans, serving on the board of trustees at the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, serving on the Finance and Audit Committee, and as a member of the board of directors at The Bob Woodruff Foundation. Ralph earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Siena College. Outside of the office, he enjoys golf and tennis, and spending time with his wife and their two daughters.
