The JDRF Greater Delaware Valley Chapter is proud to announce that we will be honoring The Suzanne and Norman Cohn Family with the JDRF Living and Giving award at the 2024 One Dream Gala on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Suzanne and Norman Cohn, Lea and Matthew Cohn, Sydney Cohn, and Mackenzie Skylar Cohn have made a significant impact on the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community through their long-time support of JDRF. Suzanne and Norman became involved with JDRF in the 1970’s when they were one of the first Gala Chairs. Their tie to JDRF became more personal and even stronger when their granddaughter, Sydney was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 7 in 2007 and Sydney’s sister, Mackenzie Skylar was diagnosed 18 months later at the age of 7.

It was at that point that Lea and Matthew Cohn immediately jumped in to support JDRF in whatever way they could. They, along with their daughters, created the Cohn Sisters walk team and led the team for over 10 years as the top walk team in the country year after year, and continue to comfort newly diagnosed families and advocate for JDRF. Matthew has served two terms on the Eastern Pennsylvania Board and also led the board as board president from 2018-2021. He has held roles for the International Board of Directors and currently is the Vice Chair for the JDRF Global Mission board. He has also been a mentor for other board presidents. Sydney and Mackenzie Skylar volunteered as Youth Ambassadors supporting walk, gala and advocacy efforts. They also were Children’s Congress delegates and had the opportunity to share their voice in D.C. to move forward JDRF’s advocacy priorities. Together, they have been a part of key clinical trials that have helped research advancements come to fruition, such as the artificial pancreas or closed loop system. Since the Cohn’s involvement 16 years ago, their family has raised more than $3 million for T1D research as well as continues to inspire countless others to join them in this fight.

“Our dream is that in our lifetime type one will become type none and JDRF is working to make our dream a reality.” – Suzanne & Norman Cohn

We are so grateful for the incredible impact the Cohn Family has had on the research being done at JDRF. They have been a part of our past, our present and will continue to move JDRF into the future until the cures are found. Please join us on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel to  celebrate the tremendous impact the three generations of one family have made on the T1D community. For more information about the One Dream Gala, please visit our website or contact Amanda Vinciguerra at avinciguerra@jdrf.org.