National Volunteer Week is April 17-23! All week long, JDRF will be honoring our remarkable volunteer partners who dedicate themselves to creating a world without type 1 diabetes (T1D). Your limitless passion and dedicated efforts are advancing our shared mission. This year’s National Volunteer Week theme is T1D changemakers. Who exactly is a T1D changemaker? Individuals who take action to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, treat, and prevent T1D. From board, event committees and office volunteers, to advocacy leaders and youth ambassadors, we thank each and every one of you who share your time, talent and knowledge with us. Together, we will continue to push forward until living in a world without T1D becomes a reality.

During National Volunteer Week, we would love to recognize our 2022 volunteer award recipients! These are JDRF volunteer partners who embody what it means to be a T1D changemaker. We are proud to honor Jeff Giles and Rachel Lupardus for their noteworthy contributions to the JDRF Kansas and Missouri Chapter. Jeff & Rachel are both invaluable members of the JDRF family and our community and we thank them for being a T1D changemaker and lending their time and talent to bringing us closer to our goal of curing T1D!

Jeff Giles

Jeff has been a regular supporter of JDRF for years and joined the St. Louis Community Board of Directors in July 2021. He immediately stepped up to support JDRF’s mission. Shortly after joining the board, this fall he began fundraising for his first JDRF One Walk and raised over $10,000 in just 24 hours and ultimately raised more than $17,000. He joined the Corporate Development Committee and helped to make many connections in the community leading to new Gala sponsorships, auction items, and Fund A Cure donations.

When asked why Jeff volunteers at JDRF, he responded “I volunteer at JDRF because I’ve seen firsthand how T1D affects the physical, emotional and mental well-being of young people (like my nephew, Luke) as well adults. I am committed to supporting JDRF, because I know the collective efforts of an engaged group of caring and driven people working together can and will lead to a world without T1D!”.

Rachel Lupardus

Rachel has been an incredible asset to JDRF for over 20 years. She has served on the Kansas City Community Board of Directors multiple times and served as the Treasurer for many years. Rachel was nominated for the 2022 Volunteer Award due to her role in the Kansas City Dream Gala. Rachel is the COO of Trozzolo Communications group. Trozzolo Communications Group founder Pasquale Trozzolo was our first Board President and Trozzolo has fully embraced JDRF since our chapter was established. Trozzolo provides all of the gala design for our chapter pro bono and Rachel has helped to keep this relationship strong and thriving.

Rachel is always thoughtful about how we continue to be successful. She uses her incredible skills in finance and operations to help us think about how to successfully accomplish our goals. She is such an important volunteer and has been vital to the success of our chapter!

Please join me in giving a huge thank you and congratulations to Jeff & Rachel!