Board of Directors
Paula DuPre’ Pesmen, Executive Director
Film Producer
In 2005, Paula DuPre’ Pesmen took a sabbatical from a successful film career to found There With Care. During her time as the Associate Producer on the first three Harry Potter films, she was inspired by over 65 families of critically ill children through a program she started with film director Chris Columbus welcoming them to the Potter sets for their wish-for-a-day.
Paula also learned firsthand what it meant to be in a family facing medical crisis when her husband, Curt, was diagnosed with and successfully treated for advanced colon cancer.
As founder of There With Care and as a non-voting member of its Board of Directors, Paula oversees the daily operations of the organization. The overwhelming support Paula has received from her personal and professional communities is a testament to her passion for helping families in need.
Peggy Larson Fuller, Board Chairperson
Casting Director, C.S.A
After spending 20 years as a casting director, Peggy has devoted considerable energy to the non-profit, Project Education Sudan. She assisted the NGO in 2004 to help reunify and rebuild Southern Sudan by building, supplying, and staffing primary and secondary schools in that part of the country. Peggy is also a trained hospice worker actively volunteering with Hospice of Metro Denver.
Her involvement in There With Care stems from her genuine interest in helping ease the burdens of those who face daily struggles.
Michael Barnathan, Board Director
President, 1492 Pictures
Michael is an Emmy-nominated producer whose work has been seen on both the big and small screens. His most notable works include the first three Harry Potter films, Jingle All The Way, Stepmom, Cheaper by the Dozen and the film version of the Tony award- and Pulitzer Prize musical Rent.
Michael has produced dozens of movies and mini-series for television including the highly acclaimed mini-series, The Kennedys of Massachusetts.
Michael’s dedication to There With Care stems from his own experience coping with the serious illness of a loved one. He is committed to easing the burdens of families facing similar hardship.
Chris Columbus, Board Director
Director, Producer, and Screenwriter
Chris Columbus is one of the most successful directors in Hollywood history.
From his screenwriting work with Steven Spielberg in the 1980s on Gremlins and Goonies, to his directorial successes, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Stepmom in the 1990s, Chris has entertained and thrilled audiences around the world.
More recently, Chris directed and/or produced the first three Harry Potter films, adapted from the famous J.K. Rowling novels. The films have brought in over $2.6 billion in box office receipts.
Chris’ heartfelt storytelling and ability to connect with families through his films provides a natural extension for his work with There With Care. He is a member of the San Francisco Foundation, assists with NYU Tisch School of the Arts in fundraising efforts and is a long-time supporter of MS Foundation of Los Angeles.
John Frew, Board Director
Businessman and Attorney
Denver businessman and attorney John Frew is the owner of Frew Management Group (FMG), Inc., a Denver-based company offering management, real estate development and legal services specializing in public/private transactions, land use and regulatory law. In 1987-88, Mr. Frew chaired a public-private coalition in the Denver area to resolve a myriad of contentious and litigious issues related to airport development which ultimately resulted in the development of Denver International Airport – the first new American airport in over 40 years.
Mr. Frew has extensive experience with a variety of real estate development projects including co-developer of the Broomfield Event Center (a $45 million, 6,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena and home of FMG co-owned The Rocky Mountain Rage, a professional hockey team in the Central Hockey League and the Colorado 14ers, a professional basketball team in the National Basketball Association Development League) and the Cedar Park Event Center in Texas (a $55 million, 6,800 seat multi-purpose indoor event center and home to the Stars’ American Hockey League affiliate opening in September 2009). Mr. Frew has also provided a mix of management and legal services to Kroenke Sports Entertainment and Clear Channel Entertainment in their joint venture to build City Lights Amphitheater, a 5,500 seat outdoor concert venue at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. In addition, Mr. Frew has represented a broad variety of clients including the Denver Nuggets, Kroenke Sports, the Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District, Vail Resorts, Park City Resort, the Colorado Community College System, Booth Creek Management, Dover Motorsports and Bombardier-Learjet.
Mr. Frew played a key role in bringing major league baseball to Colorado Rockies then serving as co-counsel to the public authority that constructed Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. Additionally, after having served as its outside counsel to the Grand Prix of Denver, Mr. Frew assumed the duties of general manager from the inaugural race in 2002 for its first three years. Mr. Frew also served as general counsel to Sutton Motorsports which fielded teams in NASCAR, open wheel racing and the Baja 1000. From 1995 – 2000, Mr. Frew also served as the President of Colorado Ski Country USA, the trade association representing the Colorado ski industry.
William Fuller, M.D., Board Director
Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, Denver, CO
Bill is a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He has been practicing and teaching medicine for nearly 40 years. Bill has contributed his time each year to the Health Fair providing free screenings to low-income women as well as free medical care for parents of ill children without medical insurance. As the chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, Bill is keenly aware of the need for the services There With Care provides.
Bill’s passion for There With Care has inspired him to connect others to the organization and personally treat patients in need.
Geoffrey Hansen, Board Director
Producer, 1st Assistant Director
Geoff Hansen is a notable Hollywood Assistant Director who began his career producing television commercials in New York in the 1980s.
Since then, he has found himself working closely on Hollywood movie sets alongside such actors as Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Nicolas Cage, Susan Sarandon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, John Cusack, Robert Conrad, MacCauly Culkin, Sally Field, Sandra Bullock, John Candy, and Robin Williams.
Geoff met There With Care co-directors Columbus and Barnathan at New York University film school, where they first collaborated professionally.
Caroline Langley, Board Director
Attorney at Law
Caroline has been practicing law for more than sixteen years on three continents. With a specialty in medical malpractice, Caroline is a member of the Colorado and Boulder Bar Associations. She is also an accredited mediator in both Hong Kong and Boulder, Colorado. Her years of courtroom experience with families facing medical crisis has led Caroline to seek practical solutions for the hardships these families face.
Caroline has provided pro-bono legal services for low-income families in Boulder County through the Bar Association.
Diane Nelson, Board Director
President, Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Entertainment
Diane Nelson is President of Warner Premiere, a new division of Warner Bros. Entertainment, where she has also served as Executive Vice President, Global Brand Management. Since 2000, Diane has overseen management of the Harry Potter franchise.
Prior to her work with Warner Premiere, Diane served as Senior Vice President, Family Entertainment, Warner Bros. and Director of National Promotions, Walt Disney Records.
Mimi Roberson, Board Director
President/CEO, Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center
Mimi is president and CEO of Denver’s largest hospital, Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, which is part of the HealthOne system. She is an active member of the Denver non-profit and business communities. In addition to her work with There With Care, Mimi serves on the board of directors of the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, the state board of the March of Dimes, and the board of the Federation of American Hospitals, among others.
Mimi believes that There With Care is an organization that transcends what is minimally important to families and rises to provide services that go to the core dignity of families in need, creating comfort and value for families so that they can focus on their loved ones.
Jacqueline Van Someren, Board Director
Venture Capitalist/Philanthropist
Jackie was in the venture capital business for thirteen years, most recently as a partner overseeing the activities of an international venture capital firm with offices in the US, Canada and Europe.
Jackie’s true passion lies in philanthropic endeavors. While living in the Bay Area, she volunteered for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and experienced the powerful and magical impact a small wish can have on an entire family. She went on to serve as director and secretary of the board of the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation, raised funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and volunteered as a coach and mentor for San Francisco-based Girls on the Run, a non-profit established to educate and prepare young girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.