Please allow us to introduce ourselves. We are the Board of Directors for The Let Go… Let Peace Come In Foundation. We are a diverse group. We all come from different places and different backgrounds, but we share a common bond. Each and every one of us has been affected by childhood sexual abuse, unfortunately. Together we are confident that we can create change in terms of prevention, treatment, and in breaking the silence regarding childhood sexual abuse. We are dedicated to putting a stop to this pandemic as well as supporting, bringing awareness, and greatly improving the recovery process for the millions of childhood sexual abuse survivors.
And these are our stories…
Peter S. Pelullo – Chairman & Founder
Peter is the current Founder, President, and CEO of International Corporate Management, Inc., an international investor relations and strategic planning firm. With more than 35 years of international business experience, Peter has raised over $200 million in equity capital for ICM’s clients. In addition to his expertise in the international business arena, Peter has also achieved success in the music industry. Peter was the founder and owner of Alpha International Recording Studios, a premier recording operation in the 70s and 80s where he worked with artists and groups that included the Rolling Stones, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Stevie Wonder, Foreigner, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Grover Washington Jr., and Patti Labelle. He also went on to found Philly World Records, where he signed chart topper Eugene Wilde.
As a philanthropist, Peter is focused on helping adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse through the 501(c)(3) nonprofit he founded called the Let Go… Let Peace Come In Foundation (LGLPCI – www.letgoletpeacecomein.org). Early in his own recovery process Peter realized that there was a lack of support and resources for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and his solution to this need was to establish an organization that could provide them with the same healing opportunities that he experienced. The LGLPCI Foundation focuses on advocacy, awareness, and subsidizing treatment sessions for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and facilitates such in collaboration with an established relationship with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Peter’s self-published memoir, Betrayal and the Beast: A True Story of One Man’s Journey Through Childhood Sexual Abuse, Sexual Addiction, and Recovery, has been critically acclaimed as both impressive and candid. Published under the Only Serenity, LLC label that Peter founded, the book shares intimate details of Peter’s own journey of recovery in hopes that it will encourage men and women to begin their personal recovery process.
Peter and his wife reside in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The couple has two adult children.
Jeff DeHart – Secretary
Jeff DeHart, a licensed clinical pharmacist, graduate of Rutgers University, and a Cum Laude alumnus of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, has practiced as a pharmacist for 13 years and has been involved in clinical pharmaceutical research for more than 12 years. As the current Head of Global Clinical Outsourcing for Actelion Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Switzerland, Jeff is responsible for the development, and implementation of Actelion’s clinical outsourcing strategy and operations. Jeff has been a speaker at industry conferences and has been a radio talk show guest featured as an expert concerning Home Infusion Therapy.
Jeff has been a Board Director for the Let Go… Let Peace Come In Foundation since its inception in March, 2008. For Jeff, making a difference in the lives of millions of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse gives him a reason to hope that they will be able to find a way through the pain, chaos, uncertainty, and at times utter despair that threatens to haunt their lives forever. Jeff believes that attaining a meaningful and happy life is something that all survivors deserve.
Larry Miller
Larry Miller is the President at Edutainment Systems, LLC, a cutting edge software development located in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Edutainment Systems focuses on designing interactive and generative educational game experiences and applications for writing education geared toward kids aged 5-12. Larry received his BS in Marketing from Chestnut Hill College. He currently is a coordinator for the Our Mother of Consolation Forum on Sexual Abuse in Chestnut Hill.
Larry’s passions include: snow sports, fantasy and science fiction, history, the great outdoors, hiking, exploring, golf, fishing, computer games, and technology development. As a son whose mother is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Larry’s life experiences have encouraged him to advocate for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and to help them receive the help they need and deserve, so they can have a fulfilling life. Larry feels blessed to have met Peter, to be part of such an amazing group of people, and to have the opportunity to do this valuable work and make a difference in the life of survivors.
Martha McGeary Snider
Martha McGeary Snider was appointed Policy Advisor on Arts and Culture, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under Governor Edward G. Rendell’s administration, serving for both terms, between 2002 through 2010. She worked directly with the Governor and the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development to advance cultural, heritage, arts and business initiatives throughout the Commonwealth.
In addition to her involvement with the Let Go…Let Peace Come In Foundation, Martha serves on numerous philanthropic boards including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Susquehanna Art Museum and the Museum of the American Revolution. She has also served as a trustee at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Moore College of Art and the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Gettysburg Festival, the International Visitors Council, the Please Touch Children’s Museum and Rosemont College, where she established the Martha Snider Scholarship for Italian Study Abroad. Martha has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Medici Archive Project in Florence, Italy, since 2001. She served as Board Chair between 2005 and 2010. Martha holds a Fine Arts Degree and a Teaching Certification from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1980 and later received the Distinguished Graduate Award from Temple University. In 2008 President George W. Bush recognized Martha’s commitment to philanthropy by presenting her with The President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Michael Gillum
Michael Gillum is a licensed psychologist who has established an excellent reputation providing a variety of services in Central Pennsylvania. Services include psychological evaluations, psychotherapy, and various types of consultation to both the public and private sector. Michael has provided services to law enforcement agencies, Children and Youth Services agencies, school districts, Juvenile Probation, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, private business organizations, and a variety of human services agencies.
Michael Gillum has had extensive experience in terms of working with the media contributing a great deal of psychological information to the public. These experiences have included interviews, articles, national and local televisions spots, as well as other media concerning child abuse, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Critical Incident Debriefing, and many other mental health topics.
Michael Gillum has become very well known in the media per his involvement in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. He was instrumental in ensuring the case was prosecuted and provided psychotherapy services to victims in the case.
Michael Gillum was recognized by his colleagues at the Pennsylvania Psychological Association being the recipient of the 2012 Pennsylvania Psychological Associations Psychology in the Media Award. The association noted that Michael exemplified an excellent professional presence in the media and his essential and important role with victims and their families. The scandal that has garnered national media attention, Michael presented just how we want a psychologist to come across: Ethical, Intelligent, Articulate, and Compassionate. His efforts in the past year with the victims and the press have further educated the public about the insidious nature of child sexual abuse. Michael Gillum has truly helped to “make psychology a household word”.
Michael Gillum’s private practice is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard was born May 17, 1956 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and is an American retired professional boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother’s favorite singer, Ray Charles. He won the gold medal in light-welterweight boxing at the 1976 Olympic Games, and went pro the following year. Leonard was the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses, won world titles in five weight divisions and defeated future fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Wilfred Benítez, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Durán, and Marvin Hagler., Leonard was named “Boxer of the Decade” for the 1980s.
For many years, Leonard has been the International Chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk for a Cure and is actively involved in raising both awareness and funds. Mr. Leonard and his wife, Bernadette, founded the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and its annual Walk for a Cure. In 2009, the foundation expanded to support programs that help people rebuild their communities in ten cities across the United States. It supports accessible housing, healthcare services, and educational services and job training. In 2007 he was awarded The Ambassador Award of Excellence by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission at the Riviera Country Club for his continued community involvement
In his New York Times bestselling memoir; The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring, Ray speaks of his journey of being sexually abused as a child. By joining the Let Go…Let Peace Come In Foundation, Mr. Leonard intends to help our board change humanity and educate people throughout the globe on how this life altering event impacts an adult’s life.
Gretchen Paules, Executive Director
Since 2008, Gretchen has been a human connection for so many survivors at the Let Go… Let Peace Come In Foundation. Bringing a diverse skill set to the table, her previous experience in Human Resource Management, Operational Management, and Marketing has allowed her to connect with individuals at every level to gain perspective as the Executive Director of LGLPCI.
Gretchen is personally invested in raising awareness about childhood sexual because she realizes that its effects reach even the most unsuspecting people—even those in her own circle. In addition to serving on the LGLPCI Foundation’s Board of Directors and as the foundation’s Executive Director, Gretchen is currently employed by Avail Technologies, Inc. as their Marketing Strategist. A Graduate of Drexel University’s Bachelor of Science in Communications and Applied Technology program, she is also completing the last quarter of her Master of Science in Information Technology at Capella University with a 4.0 GPA.
Gretchen, her husband Jon, and their two teenage children have recently re-established roots in Jon’s hometown of State College, Pennsylvania, where they enjoy biking, local sports activities, farmer’s markets, blue skies, and country living.