HELP A DIABETIC CHILD RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION

HELP A DIABETIC CHILD RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH DIABETES

Help A Diabetic Child (HADC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting children and families who struggle to afford life-sustaining medical services and supplies, has been awarded a $5,000 grant from The Luzerne Foundation.

This first-time grant will be utilized by HADC to purchase insulin, diabetes medical supplies and medical services, including doctor visits and endocrinology and emotional support, for underserved, underinsured and uninsured children and young adults in the community who live with Type 1 diabetes and struggle to afford their diabetes care.

“We are grateful to The Luzerne Foundation for their dedication and efforts toward improving the lives of those in Luzerne County,” said Tami Balavage, Founder/President for Help A Diabetic Child. “This grant allocation will help that ensure every child and young adult receives the diabetes care they deserve without financial obstacles.”

The Luzerne Foundation is a Community Non-Profit that has established itself as the center of philanthropic giving in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The foundation works to enhance the lives of local residents by evaluating and addressing community needs through strategic grantmaking, promoting responsible philanthropy and connecting donors to causes that matter to them. Since its inception in 1994, the foundation has awarded more than $185 million to community organizations, individuals and nonprofits.

Help A Diabetic Child supports underserved children and families in Pennsylvania and Florida who have Type 1 diabetes and cannot afford life-saving insulin, diabetes medical supplies and medical services. 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.

Help A Diabetic Child was founded in Naples, Florida, in 2010 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.

Statistics show that the number of Americans being diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise at alarming rates. The American Diabetes Association reports that almost 10 percent 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.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a nearly 30 percent increase in Type 1 diabetes diagnoses in the United States, with youth cases growing most sharply among diverse populations.

Diagnosed cases of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are surging among youth in the United States. From 2001 to 2017, the number of people under age 20 living with Type 1 diabetes rose 45 percent and the number living with Type 2 diabetes grew by 95 percent.

For additional information or to support HADC’s mission of providing life-saving supplies and services, please call 239-821-5051 or visit www.helpadiabeticchild.org.