HELP A DIABETIC CHILD (HADC) RECEIVES $25,000 GRANT

HELP A DIABETIC CHILD (HADC) RECEIVES $25,000 GRANT
FROM THE UNITED WAY OF COLLIER AND THE KEYS

Help A Diabetic Child (HADC), a not-for-profit public charity that is dedicated to helping local families and individuals who are dealing with diabetes, has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the United Way of Collier and the Keys.

These funds will be used to support underserved children and young adults in our community who have Type 1 diabetes and cannot afford their lifesaving insulin and diabetes medical supplies. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to naturally regulate the body’s blood sugar, leaving diagnosed individuals with a life-long dependency on costly medical insulin.

“Even for individuals who have sufficient insurance, access to health care, and stable employment, the costs of managing Type 1 Diabetes can put a significant dent in a family’s monthly budget, choosing between life-sustaining insulin for their child or food for their family” said Tami Balavage, Founder/President for Help A Diabetic Child. “We are extremely grateful to the United Way for their generous support.”

The United Way of Collier and the Keys is committed to investing in and working to create a community where all individuals and families in Collier and Monroe Counties have an opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential. UWCK will accomplish this through improving education, economic stability and health, as well as by providing access to food and safety-net services. United Way plays a unique role in convening businesses, nonprofits and government to work together to address community needs.

Founded in Naples in 2010, Help A Diabetic Child was started by Balavage after her 16-year-old son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It quickly became evident that there was a significant number of children who were unable to get adequate medical supplies for blood glucose testing and insulin injections, which must be done multiple times daily. Without the adequate insulin, a child can only survive a few days.

Statistics show that the number of Americans being diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise at alarming rates. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports that almost 10% of the population has diabetes, while another 8 million are undiagnosed. In addition, the ADA reports that 86 million Americans over the age of 20 years have pre-diabetes.

To learn more about Help A Diabetic Child (HADC) or to support its mission of providing life-saving medical supplies and services, visit online at www.helpadiabeticchild.org.