By now you should have received an email from Dr. Aaron J. Kowalski, JDRF President and CEO, outlining how our organization is reimagining in-person events throughout the remainder of the fiscal year. As Aaron said, to protect the health and safety of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not hold any in-person events through Tuesday, June 30.

I am proud of the bold steps JDRF is taking to ensure the safety of the general public during these times. As the Executive Director of the Illinois Chapter, I wanted to reach to all of you to let you know that we are thinking of you in these tough times.

We have taken a hard look at our upcoming fundraising and educational events and how best to manage these efforts moving forward. Here is our brief plan, which will be flexible given the constant developments of COVID-19 and our communities.

1. TeeUp Fore T1D – We will be cancelling this event due to its timing in April. We appreciate everyone’s support and commitment to our mission. We are working on ways to keep our community connected in a safe and successful way. For more information please contact Maggie McNally.
2. Real Estate Games – The May 21 event will be postponed until early fall, and a new date will be shared shortly. We will be encouraging everyone to set up their teams now and begin their fundraising efforts. For more information please contact Michael Mayberry.
3. PDRC T1D Connections Forum – This wonderful community effort in Central Illinois will be reimagined into a virtual education event. In the meantime, we send all our support to the healthcare workers and thank them for their commitment and courage. For more information please contact Jennifer McDonald.
4. YLC One Party – Our young professionals have agreed to reimagine this event. We will find a way to continue to support our community with outreach, mentorship and fundraising. For more information please contact Christine Bissler.

While we will face some challenges in the upcoming weeks, the fight against T1D will not stop. We are as dedicated as ever to the vision of a world without T1D and know you are too. If you are able, please consider making a donation to help us keep our work going as we fund groundbreaking research that will cure this disease and, in the meantime, create a less-burdened life for all those affected.

In addition to the changes in the events above, our physical offices are closed at this time until further notice. I can assure you that we are hard at work remotely and our staff is available via email or phone. You can find all our contact information on our website. Be sure to visit our website for information on coronavirus and T1D, new developments in research, local activities, and ways to be involved.

We will continue to be transparent as decisions are made, and I am happy to connect with you on any questions you may have.

Please stay healthy and stay safe!
Mimi K. Crabtree
Executive Director, JDRF Illinois.
312-423-7191 | mcrabtree@jdrf.org