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2/3/2016
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Rep. Diaz, World Diabetes Day team raise money for charitable organizations
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 STATE HOUSE — Rep. Grace Diaz (D–Dist. 11, Providence) met with Rhode Island’s World Diabetes Day team today to make check presentations to three charitable organizations. It was the culmination of a fund-raising campaign by the World Diabetes Day organization.
The first group is the Rhode Island Free Clinic, which provides comprehensive health care and wellness services to uninsured, low-income adults through a statewide corps of volunteer medical professionals and health partners.
The second group is Clinica Esperanza, which provides free, high-quality medical care to predominantly Latino uninsured adults living in Rhode Island.
The third group is Camp Surefire, an overnight camp program specifically designed for children and teens with Type 1 diabetes.
The three groups each received a check for $2,556.33 — or one-third of the funds raised.
Representative Diaz, who also serves as a diabetes educator, said it’s important to shed light on the growing number of minority groups affected by the disease. The Department of Health estimates that 109,693, or approximately one in 10 Rhode Islanders has diabetes. Of that number, only 58,084 know they have it.
“As a diabetes educator, I am aware of the struggle many of these patients go through when they are diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes,” the representative said. “I am also aware of the growing problem in our minority communities, where information about the effects of this disease may not be as accessible as it should be. I am hoping this event will change that, and give people an opportunity to learn about support opportunities and prevention.”
World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on Nov. 14 in order to keep the terrible illness in the public spotlight. Representative Diaz organizes the event every year at the Rhode Island State House. This year’s event was coordinated in partnership with Novo Nordisk, Rhode Island Foundation, Healthcentric Advisors, Neighborhood Health Plan of RI, United Health, the city of Providence Healthy Communities, Charter Care Health partners, YMCA of Greater Providence, Sodexo, Chef Frank Terranova of Johnson & wales University, Chef Dana Herbert, the office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Rhode Island Department of Health.
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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