Supermodel Izabel Goulart Partners with DRIF

Supermodel Izabel Goulart Partners With Diabetes Research Institute Foundation as International Ambassador

--Brother's type 1 diabetes drives Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and Armani Exchange model to help DRI raise awareness and funds to find a cure

Last update: 11:46 a.m. EDT March 24, 2009 HOLLYWOOD, Fla., March 24, 2009 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Brazilian supermodel Izabel Goulart today announced she will serve as the International Ambassador for the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, the nonprofit organization whose mission is to fund the cure-focused research at the world-renowned Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami. Izabel's brother was diagnosed with type 1 during infancy, and she has been actively involved in charitable work, helping hospitals in her native Brazil raise money to provide free insulin for children with diabetes. Now Izabel has turned her focus toward a cure and recently toured the Institute to meet the researchers and witness firsthand the cutting-edge work underway. (To view a video of Izabel's tour, visit www.DiabetesResearch.org/Izabel.)

"I am so excited and proud to be working with the Diabetes Research Institute. Nothing is more important to me than finding a cure for my brother," said Izabel. "If I can raise awareness in the course of my travels, and bring attention to the Diabetes Research Institute, I will be helping my brother and millions like him who are living with this disease."

In her role as International Ambassador, Izabel will be rallying support and raising awareness for type 1 diabetes and for the DRI's research, which is focused on curing all children and adults living with diabetes. Some of the activities she will be participating in include serving as a spokesperson or honorary chair at DRI Foundation fundraising events and appearing in public service announcements, among others.

"When I first met Izabel, I was immediately taken in by her warmth and her passion for finding a cure. On her recent tour of the Diabetes Research Institute she exhibited a strong desire to understand the work underway to restore insulin production in patients. She wants nothing more than a cure for her brother, and she knows firsthand how diabetes can affect the entire family," said DRI Foundation President and CEO Robert A. Pearlman. "The Diabetes Research Institute is located in Miami, but we collaborate with leading researchers around the globe to ensure that the finest minds are working to cure this disease as quickly as possible. We're honored to have an international figure like Izabel joining in our mission."

Izabel exploded onto the international modeling scene in 2006 appearing as an "Angel" at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. In 2007, she also appeared in the show's CBS television broadcast. She has modeled for A-list designers like Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Valentino, and Chanel. Most recently she has been the Spokesmodel and face of Armani Exchange. Izabel has appeared in and on the covers of top international fashion magazines, has been photographed by the most reputable fashion photographers, has appeared on hit television shows such as "Two and a Half Men" and "Entourage," and has also made guest appearances on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

About the Diabetes Research Institute and Foundation The mission of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation is to provide the Diabetes Research Institute with the funding necessary to cure diabetes now. The Diabetes Research Institute, a center of excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is a recognized world leader in cure-focused research. Since its inception in the early 1970s, the DRI has made significant contributions to the field of diabetes research, pioneering many of the techniques used in islet transplantation. The DRI is now building upon these achievements by bridging cell-based therapies with emerging technologies to restore insulin production. For the millions of families already affected by diabetes, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure.