About NF Forward
Who We Are
Dan and Jennifer Gilbert have been passionate advocates in the fight to end NF since their oldest son, Nicolas, was born with NF1. They have been long-time supporters of NF research initiatives at the Children’s Tumor Foundation, Children’s National Health System and the University of Alabama Birmingham. They established the Gilbert Family Foundation in 2015 to further advance their NF research efforts.
In 2017, the Gilberts established NF Forward, a nonprofit 501c3 organization. It shares a vision with the Gilbert Family Foundation to eradicate NF by funding groundbreaking, cutting-edge NF research. NF Forward strives to raise awareness about NF among a wide range of individuals and invite their support of this innovative vision.
NF Forward’s signature event is the beNeFit, a major gala held at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit every November. Since 2013, beNeFits I-XI raised over $65 million for NF research and attracted more than 1,700 supporters annually to join the fight to end NF.
Today, we mourn the loss of Nicolas “Nick” Gilbert. Nick was an optimist, and his bright outlook and humor touched all those who had the privilege to know him. We will continue to work tirelessly toward finding a cure for NF with the same passion that Nick approached every day of his life. To honor the memory of Nick Gilbert, visit our tribute page.
What We Do
NF Forward funds NF research with audacious, high-reaching goals to bring us closer to a cure for NF. NF Forward focuses on three major areas:
- Co-funding pioneering research alongside the Gilbert Family Foundation. Projects include:
- Vision Restoration Initiative – Inspired by Nick’s loss of vision as a result of an optic nerve tumor caused by his NF, a consortium of twelve top researchers works to regenerate the optic nerve and develop first-in-kind vision restoration therapies.
- Gene Therapy Initiative – Since NF is a genetic disease, the search for a ‘cure’ will focus on replacing, repairing or otherwise addressing the mutated gene. A network of nine outstanding researchers pursues the most promising strategies.
- Supporting innovative work of NF organizations such as the Children’s Tumor Foundation, a national organization funding broad-based NF research and advocating for the NF community.
- Fostering the creation of critical research tools needed to advance breakthrough science.
NF Forward accepts applications for support by invitation only.
Board of Directors & Officers
Jennifer Gilbert
President and Board Member
Matt Rizik
Secretary, Treasurer, and Board Member
Jeff Morganroth
General Counsel, Rock Family of Companies
Jennifer Gilbert
President and Board Member
With more than 20 years of experience in interior design, Jennifer Gilbert has evolved her expertise to serve as the Founder and Creative Director of Detroit-based POPHOUSE, a commercial design firm specializing in utilizing data and industry research to provide cutting-edge workplaces for clients across a broad spectrum of industries.
In 2015, Jennifer founded Amber Engine, a home furnishings services and solutions technology company. Amber Engine’s mission is to provide the most accurate, complete and timely record of product data for the $275B industry through its easy-to-use, flexible and affordable cloud-based SaaS solutions.
Prior to Amber Engine, Jennifer founded Doodle Home, a digital platform for residential interior designers. Doodle Home was sold to Dering Hall in 2015.
Jennifer is active with a number of nonprofits focused on the arts, Jewish causes and finding a cure for neurofibromatosis (NF). She is President of NF Forward, Chair of the Cranbrook Academy of Art Board of Governors and serves on the board of the Detroit Institute of Art. Jennifer founded the Detroit Art Collection to beautify and inspire public spaces and structures in downtown Detroit with sculptural and mixed media works from local, as well as national artists, galleries and dealers.
Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design at Michigan State University. She resides in the Detroit area with her husband, Dan, and their family.
Matt Rizik
Secretary, Treasurer, and Board Member
Matthew J. Rizik is the Chief Tax Officer at Rock Ventures LLC, the for-more-than profit organization formed to strategically vet and pursue opportunities, align interests and provide key services to Dan Gilbert’s Family of Companies and other investments. Matt has responsibility for Gilbert’s Family of Companies tax method and compliance efforts as well as providing his expertise in the areas of financial planning, philanthropic giving, legal structure and tax compliance. Matt is also a Board Member for Rocket Companies.
Matt came to Rock Ventures after a successful career with PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC). In his 31 years with the firm, he worked with high wealth individuals and established a professional sports and entertainment practice. He developed a specialization in major automotive corporate work and served as the General Motors Global Relationship Partner, the Ford Motor Company Global Tax Partner and the Ford Estates Lead Tax Partner. Prior to PwC, Matt served in various tax positions with Coopers & Lybrand.
He is active in the Detroit community and serves on the boards of Motown Museum Legacy Council, City Year, Gilbert Family Foundation, and NF Forward.
Matt earned both a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University. He is an active business professional in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.
Matt was born in Flint, and currently resides in Birmingham, Michigan with his three children.
Jeff Morganroth
General Counsel, Rock Family of Companies
Jeff is the General Counsel of Rock Ventures LLC and General Counsel of Rock Holdings Inc. Jeff also is chief outside litigation counsel for Dan Gilbert and the FOC through his law firm, Morganroth & Morganroth, PLLC, which he formed in January 1989 with his father, Mayer Morganroth.
Jeff earned his bachelor’s degree in English Literature from The University of Michigan with Distinction, and his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center, Cum Laude, where he also was a member of Law Review as an Associate Editor for The Tax Lawyer. Jeff has been successfully representing Dan Gilbert and many companies within the FOC as chief outside litigation counsel for the past 15 years. Jeff started the additional role as General Counsel of Rock Ventures in September 2019 and the additional role as General Counsel of Rock Holdings in March 2020. Jeff’s approach to his representation of Dan and the FOC is to fight for what is right, protect their interests and win.
When Jeff is not practicing law, he enjoys golf, tennis, skiing, watching sports, music and traveling with his wife and two daughters.
Meet The Team
Kayleigh Roy
Director
Alexis Weisbrod
Program Manager, beNeFit
Justin Burkett
Program Manager, The Gilly Project
Hanna Anderson
Associate Operations Manager
Kayleigh Roy
Director
Kayleigh has been with the NF Forward Team for the past four beNeFits wearing a number of different hats from revenue management to database architecture. These days she’s captain of the NF Forward ship steering towards what is sure to be the most successful fundraiser yet! In addition to being able to cite almost any piece of donor information by memory, she also has a strong working knowledge of Detroit’s restaurant scene and can be found out and about as soon as the day’s work is done. Her favorite NFF moment each year is the joy of entering the full transformed ballroom for the first time on beNeFit day and seeing a year’s worth of work come to life!
Alexis Weisbrod
Program Manager, beNeFit
Alexis joined NF Forward with extensive event management and fundraising experience. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Alexis prides herself on ethical approaches to fundraising and prioritizes donor relationships. She has dedicated herself to the Metro Detroit philanthropic community, which inspires her year-after-year as it lifts Detroit and its surrounding communities. Alexis holds a certificate in Non-Profit Management and a credential in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Fundraising.
Justin Burkett
Program Manager, The Gilly Project
Hanna Anderson
Associate Operations Manager
Hanna interned with NF Forward in 2022 as a do it all team member. She now manages our technology platforms, data integrity, payments, and supports our live and silent auctions as well as day to day operations. Her close attention to detail, adaptability, and eagerness to learn provide a sounding board and a support for various workstreams. In high school and college, Hanna was heavily involved in her mom’s non-profit and could always be found producing and implementing more efficient and effective processes. Hanna has an Elementary Education degree from the University of Michigan with concentrations in Math and Social Studies as well as a certificate in Trauma Informed Practice. In her free time, Hanna loves to go to the beach and read a good book while she pursues her yearly reading goals.