Western Pennsylvania Chapter SUMMER 2012 20th Annual JDRF Rainbow Gala Raises $1.97 million n Saturday, April 21, more than 700 guests gathered at The 2012 Fund A Cure speaker, Rob German, spoke from The Westin Convention Center to celebrate the 20th the heart during this portion of the program which raised an OAnnual JDRF Rainbow Gala. The evening’s goal was incredible $890,000 for Complications Research. to raise funds to help find a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and “It was a magical night that combined all the efforts of all its complications through the support of research. Additionally, the committees with the generous people in attendance that the evening’s activities paid tribute to past Gala Honorees and culminated in raising a tremendous amount of funds for type 1 Event Chairs. Through the combined efforts and generosity diabetes research.” said Carol Oxenreiter. “Everyone involved of many the Western Pennsylvania Rainbow Gala has raised should be very proud of what we were able to achieve together.” $14 million since 1993…including this year’s total of nearly $2 million. Emcee Alby Oxenreiter fromWPXI-TV kicked off the The event honored Highmark Inc. program along with Carol Oxenreiter, Gala Chair, and Dusty for their longstanding commitment to JDRF. Elias Kirk, President of theWestern Pennsylvania Board of Nan DeTurk, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Directors. Also in attendance at the event were 2012 Co-Chairs and Financial Officer & Treasurer of Highmark Inc., Maria Metro and Cindy Paul, as well as Gala Corporate received the award on behalf of the company. Committee Chair, George Stewart.The gala included cocktails, a In addition to her professional responsibilities, dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions and entertainment by Gary Racan and the studio-e band. Bidding was intense during Nan is President-Elect of the Western Pennsylvania the evening’s live auction that included a Scotland golf package, Board of Directors. which sold for $35,000. Cindy Paul, Maria Metro, Nan DeTurk, Carol Oxenreiter Past Gala Chairs Anne German, Sue Zitelli, Kitty Gleason Dusty Elias Kirk Stanley Marks, M.D., Chuck and Mary Nan DeTurk, Hanley and Jim Rohr Paul and Cathy Gleason 20th Annual Rainbow Gala – Corporate Partners Platinum Presenting Partners Event Underwriters Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. AON Hewitt Celerity Gateway Financial MedExpress Presenting Partners Silver Partners Milliman SDLC Partners L.P. Astorino ANH Refractories Company Visionworks PNC Financial Services Group BNY Mellon Pittsburgh Penguins Booz & Company Inc. Reed Smith LLP Burleson LLP United States Steel Corporation Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy UPMC Cancer Centers and Children’s Computer Aid, Inc. Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC DLA+ Dennis L. Astorino Architects Gold Partners Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Education Management Corporation Berry Metal Company Ernst & Young, LLP Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC Federated Investors, Inc. Century Steel Erectors Co. Fort Pitt Capital Group Deloitte LLP HATCH Dick’s Sporting Goods HealthScape Advisors HealthCare Benefits, Inc. IBM McKamish, Inc. Koppers Mike Hatcher Mullen KPMG LLP OMI Industrial Services, LLC Mascaro PGT Trucking Inc. Oracle Corporation PJ Dick & Trumbull Orbital Engineering, Inc. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Oxford Development Company Robindale Energy Services, Inc. People’s Natural Gas Sherrard German & Kelly P.C. Pomeroy Songer Steel Services PSSI/Heinz Field Tube City IMS Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. Vesuvius SDLC Partners L.P. Technical Solutions, Inc. Technology Solutions Group Inc. The CHT Group VisionIT George Stewart Gala Volunteers—Adults andYouth Ambassadors living with type 1 diabetes 2 The Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes season is in full swing! Registration Now Open for the With twenty walks scheduled in the months of April and May, 2012 Walk to Cure Diabetes JDRF has been busy visiting schools in the Pittsburgh, Saturday, September 22, 2012 Westmoreland, and WestVirginia. The Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes Program teaches students Pittsburgh – Schenley Park, Flagstaff Hill about diabetes and raises money for type 1 diabetes research. Pittsburgh Team Captain Kick-off for family and corporate The program gives students an opportunity to help fellow teams. classmates affected by diabetes AND raise money for their • Wednesday, July 18, 2012 school! The Kids Walk Program is fortunate to partner with • Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh Panera Bread who generously donates bagels and cinch • 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. backpacks to all participants. They also contribute a $50 gift Westmoreland – University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg card to the top fundraiser at each school as well as a trip to Westmoreland Team Captain Kick-off for family and corporate Aruba for four to the overall fundraiser this year! teams. FiscalYear 2012 Stats: • Wednesday, July 11, 2012 24 . Schools holding events (FY ’12) • Ramada Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center, 7,722 . Number of students participating (FY ’12) 100 Ramada Inn Drive, Greensburg $50,327 . Money raised (to date) • 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Corporate Chair Calvin S. McCutcheon, President McCutcheon Enterprises, Inc. To RSVP to either Team Captain Kick-off, call Jennifer Zgurich at 412-471-1414 x4 or [email protected]. For more information on corporate sponsorships, walk teams, family teams or to volunteer please call the JDRF office at 412-471-1414 or visit www.jdrf.org/westernpa. Thank you to the Walk to Cure Diabetes Chairs: Mike Blehar, Calvin McCutcheon, Julie McCutcheon and Jim McVay. Visit www.walk.jdrf.org and register your team today! SUPPORTS Calvin McCutcheon (far right), Westmoreland Walk Corporate Chair, starts the JDRF Sneakers walking withYouth Ambassadors, Paige Watson, Jack Krueger, Blaine Dulkis and David Pomarico. A big thanks to Independence Middle School who clearly spelled out their support during their Walk held on April 25, 2012. They raised over $5,000 for type 1 diabetes research. 3 West Virginia Walk to Cure Diabetes The WestVirginia Branch Walk to Cure Diabetes, “Soaring for a Cure,” took place on May 20, 2012 at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston. More than 600 walkers enjoyed watching a helicopter land and take off, a mini C130 plane brought by the National Guard, and two hang gliders shared with the crowd by an adult with type 1 diabetes. Jay Haapala, an avid aviation enthusiast, served as this year’s Walk Chair and completed his Eagle Scout Service Project helping to coordinate this year’s event. “Soaring for a Cure” raised approximately $84,000 to help fund research to find a cure. A Walk Kick-off Party and Mentor Matching Event was held at the Capitol Clay Arts Company. One of the new families, The Wolfinbargers are hard at work on their mugs. Denise and Jordan Chaber are busy cutting out feet for their “Walking” mugs. Erie’s 15th Annual Beach Ball Gala The Erie community had a bounty on a cure for their support at the recent March 24, 2012 Northwest Pennsylvania JDRF Beach Ball Gala. This year’s theme, “Pirates of the Cure-ibbean” was a huge success raising $137,000, an increase of $33,000 from last year’s event. Much of this success is attributed to the generosity of the donors, the 375 attendees, the 2012 Honorees Dennis and Tara Prischak from the Plastek Group, and to the dedication of our many volunteers and committee members. This year’s gala, held at the Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center included a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, and a gourmet dinner – all with a beachy, Caribbean feel. In addition Mr. Michael Bova of Erie Insurance Group was presented with the Dr. PhilipTrapolsi Award that is given annually at the event to recognize the outstanding commitment of our supporters to both JDRF and the Erie community. UPCOMING ERIE EVENTS: Saturday, June 9th Third Party Event – Star Touring & Riding Chapter #187 to benefit JDRF 2012 Beach Ball Gala Honorees Dennis and Tuesday, June 19 Annual Meeting – 5:30 PM, The Avalon Hotel Tara Prischak Thursday, July 26 Team Captain Kick-Off Luncheon – Noon – Location TBD Sunday, August 5 Family Outreach Picnic – Waldameer Park Sunday, September 16 Walk to Cure Diabetes – Johnsonburg, PA Sunday, October 7 Walk to Cure Diabetes – Erie, PA – Rainbow Gardens/ Presque Isle State Park For additional events and contact details, visit the Northwest Pennsylvania Branch website at www.jdrf.org/northwestpa 4 JDRF Welcomes Dr. Ted Willke to Its Lay Review Committee Dr. Ted Willke of Sewickley, PUMPERS for the 200 trial participants. In two years, the Pennsylvania returned to his role on newsletter had developed into a magazine with 20,000 the JDRF Lay Review Committee quarterly subscribers. “When I became T1D in 1972, JDRF was (LRC), a volunteer group whose the one organization that gave me hope that this terrible disease members contribute to JDRF’s might someday be cured,” Willke said. “Much of my life has research priorities, and serve as been spent learning to cope with diabetes. I am thrilled to be patient advocates and JDRF a part of the LRC where I can make a contribution to a cure.” ambassadors to funders of diabetes Willke’s career grew from research scientist of nuclear and research. solar energy, to vice president of research and development at Dr. Willke who was diagnosed the Gas Research Institute, to CEO of the Carnegie Mellon with T1D in 1972, at the age of 28, Research Institute and professor at Carnegie Mellon Dr. Ted Willke served on the LRC from 2004 to University. He retired as Associate Administrator of the 2006, but reluctantly took a hiatus Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in while heading a safety regulatory Washington. In addition to an impressive list of professional agency in the U.S. Department of Transportation. Now retired achievements, Willke was granted a medical waiver in 1997 to from that role, he is committed to helping JDRF through his fly a single engine aircraft, after petitioning the Federal Aviation service on LRC team focused on glucose control.