Doylestown Nonprofit Donates $20K To Diabetes Research Institute

DOYLESTOWN, PA — In recognition of World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14, a local Type 1 diabetes nonprofit made a $20,000 donation to the Diabetes Research Institute.

All donations to the institute, based out of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, go directly towards innovative medical research aimed at curing Type 1 diabetes.

“This $20,000 donation is the third consecutive year we have donated to the Diabetes Research Institute," Christine Gunsiorowski, co-founder and president of the TOPP Foundation, or Type One Parent Project, said. "Despite COVID-19 and being unable to fundraise like previous years, TOPP remains dedicated to its partnership with the DRI and its commitment to curing Type 1 Diabetes. Thanks to our generous supporters, we are proud that our total endowment to the DRI since 2019 is now $90,000 and goes directly to curing type 1 diabetes."

Type 1 Diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic and complex autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. There are currently no known prevention methods, and there is also no known cure.

Tom Karlya, the senior vice president of the Diabetes Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and a parent to two children living with type 1 diabetes, expressed gratitude for the funds.

“Our CEO Sean Kramer (and a person with diabetes) has aptly stated on many occasions, Hope is not Quarantined," he said. "He is absolutely correct, and we must continue seeking any help we can get to continue our research even in times such as these. Our Friends at the TOPP Foundation, as our partner, believe the same thing and we are grateful for their continued support."

This donation to the DRI is smaller than in years past, since TOPP canceled both of their annual fundraisers due to COVID-19: Designer Bag Bingo and Cocktails for a Cure. TOPP is hopeful to be able to resume these popular fundraising events in 2022.

Small fundraisers throughout the past year and a Trivia Night fundraiser on Oct. 22 made the donation possible.

The TOPP Foundation is a Furlong-based nonprofit, founded in 2016 by three mothers who each have a son with Type 1 diabetes, that aims to "bring families together to support each other and to raise awareness and funds to accelerate research that leads to a cure."

Learn more about the TOPP Foundation and the Diabetes Research Institute online.

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