TOPP Donates $10,000 to DRI During World Diabetes Awareness Month

On November 30, 2024, in recognition of World Diabetes Awareness Month, the TOPP Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to type 1 diabetes (T1D), proudly donated $10,000 to the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI).

"We're thrilled to contribute another $10,000 to the DRI, directly supporting their crucial research to cure type 1 diabetes. Thanks to our generous donors and supporters, this marks our sixth consecutive year of donations. Since 2019, we've proudly donated a total of $120,000 to the DRI." - Christine Gunsiorowski, TOPP Foundation Co-Founder & President

"Of the many organizations nationwide with whom we partner to raise funds for our cure-focused research at the Diabetes Research Institute, few are as closely aligned with our mission and historical focus on families touched by type 1 diabetes (T1D) as the TOPP Foundation. We are forever grateful for their generous support, and I know that together we will continue our journey toward a world without diabetes." - Michael Burton, CEO of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation

Founded in 2016, the TOPP Foundation (Type One Parent Project) works to increase awareness of T1D and raise funds for research. Since its inception, TOPP has donated $60,500 to JDRF’s Fund a Cure program and $120,000 to the DRI, totaling $180,500 for cure research. Additionally, the TOPP Foundation supports local families facing the daily challenges of the disease by offering scholarships for specialized diabetes camps and higher education.

In 2018, TOPP launched the Camp Scholarship Program to provide financial assistance for children and teens to attend specialized diabetes camps, awarding 31 scholarships between 2018 and 2024. In 2022, they also introduced the Higher Education Scholarship, recognizing and honoring 12 local high school seniors with T1D who have gone on to pursue higher education.

The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is one of the largest and most comprehensive centers dedicated to curing diabetes. Their strategy integrates medicine and technology to address major challenges in finding a biological cure. They focus on three key areas: engineering a site within the body for transplanted islets, ensuring the survival of insulin-producing cells, and creating a supply of islets for diabetes treatment. For more information about the DRI, please visit www.diabetesresearch.org.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Unlike type 2 diabetes, it is not related to diet or lifestyle. T1D requires constant management, including regular blood sugar monitoring and insulin administration. It can affect people of any age, and currently, there is no cure. Early symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, excessive hunger, weight loss, headaches, blurry vision, and fatigue. If you or your child experience these symptoms, seek medical care immediately, as untreated T1D can be life-threatening.

To donate to TOPP, please visit www.toppfoundation.org or email christine@toppfund.org. Donations by check can be mailed to PO Box 622, Furlong, PA 18925. We also accept donations via Venmo @TOPP-Foundation. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and directly support TOPP's scholarship programs.