To learn more about each team member, click on their photo.
Little Miss Hannah’s Mom
Carrie Ostrea the Executive Director and co-founder of the Little Miss Hannah Foundation which was created to honor her 3-year-old daughter, Hannah, who lost her battle to Gaucher Type 2/3, an ultra-rare genetic disorder. She worked with Global Genes, a national rare disease organization, for five years where she helped develop their advocacy and patient engagement programs along with the creation of their Foundation Alliance. She is now the principal in Ostrea Consulting LLC, is also rare disease advocacy strategist working with nonprofit and industry organizations in the rare disease space.
Little Miss Hannah’s Dad
Robert Ostrea is a co-founder of the Little Miss Hannah Foundation. Robert is Dad to Ethan (20), Abigail (16) and Hannah, who lost her battle to Neuronopathic Gaucher’s Disease at the age of 3. Robert has been involved in business development and promoting higher education for over fifteen years, working primarily with adult professionals in business, teacher education, information technology and healthcare. Influenced by his personal experience caring for Hannah coupled with his desire to be more effective in advancing the mission of the Little Miss Hannah Foundation, Robert pursued and completed an MBA with an emphasis in Healthcare Management and an MPA with an emphasis in Government in Policy. Robert lives with his wife Carrie and their children in Henderson, NV and continues to be a parent advocate of childhood rare disease and special needs issues.
My journey in the rare disease world started started in 2013 when my son was born. I strive everyday to make this world a better place for my son and kids like him. I am the voice of my child and I will never give up hope! I know the feeling of being isolated and helpless. I want to connect with other families to show them that they’re not alone. Navigating through the special needs world alone is tremendously hard; having the support and friendship of other families who “get it” is priceless. Advocating for the special needs community has truly become my passion in life. I thank my son everyday for the lessons that I’ve learned being a special needs mother.
Nicole was born and raised in Las Vegas and came back home after earning a BA in Psychology up at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is currently employed at the State of Nevada – Desert Regional Center as a Case Manager for over fifty families in the valley. She has worked in the disability community for over eight years with individuals of all ages and abilities, passionately advocating for their quality of life through nonprofits, government agencies, and organizations. In her spare time, you can find Nicole running, reading, baking a chocolate dessert, or practicing her flute named Lola.
A child must know that they are a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will never be, another child like them. This is a saying that hangs on the wall in my office and it is something I think about every day. Working with the Little Miss Hannah Foundation allows me a chance to make all the children involved in this wonderful organization feel this way!
Carrie has been in the sales and banking market for over 20 years in Las Vegas. Originally from Ohio, she is a die-hard Ohio State fan. As a parent of 5 children she stays extremely active in the community. One of her biggest life passions is making sure that all children are given opportunities to thrive. Having a special needs child herself she understands first hand that it takes a village. Little Miss Hannah Foundation has pulled at her heartstrings because of what they stand for as well as the love and the passion that the foundation shows towards their children. Giving back to the Southern Nevada Community is her top priority.
Beth Aselage has been a life-long advocate for the rare disease community, personally growing up with three family members affected by a rare genetic disease. Witnessing firsthand the struggles faced by many rare families, Beth has volunteered and collaborated with dozens of different rare disease organizations over just the past few years. First introduced to the LMHF and Carrie Ostrea, Little Miss Hannah Foundation’s Executive Director & Co-Founder, Beth was immediately inspired by the mission of the organization and the dedication of its leadership to supporting the rare disease community. A Senior Patient Advocacy & Alliance Management Specialist at Retrophin, Inc., a small biotech company focused on developing new therapies for patients suffering from rare diseases, Beth remains committed to helping support rare families and joins the LMHF as a proud rare disease advocate and Board Member.
Leah Abbs has over 20 years of Event Planning experience and has used those skills along with her passion for helping others, in volunteering for numerous nonprofit organizations between Las Vegas and SoCal. LMHF is very near and dear to her heart because her daughter, who is one of the LMHF kiddos. Leah first became involved with LMHF as a volunteer back in 2014 for the Rainbows in the Wind Event. From that point on, it’s been her mission to bring awareness of the organization to the community, organizing fundraisers as well as leading fundraisers within the Hotels on the Strip that she has been employed with.
Ann Schleppi is one of the original board members of the Little Miss Hannah Foundation. A passion for children with complex chronic and life-threatening conditions brought Ann, a pediatric end-of-life social worker, to the door of Hannah and her family to provide supportive counseling to Hannah’s parents and siblings as the family turned from life saving measures to end of life comfort measures and support. Now living in Phoenix Arizona, Ann remains committed to the mission of the Little Miss Hannah Foundation through active participation in quarterly board meetings, and making trips back to Las Vegas to participate in the annual Vegas Cares about Rare 5K and other special meetings.